The ECTRIMS Podcast

The world is better when its people are connected. The ECTRIMS Podcast aims to be a sounding board for MS experts & advocates to discuss innovative work in MS research, treatment and care with the greater MS research community, while offering a collaborative platform for MS and healthcare experts to promote & nurture the advancement of research.

MS Nursing: Listening, Leadership, and the Role of AI in Patient Care 11/13/2025

MS Nursing: Listening, Leadership, and the Role of AI in Patient Care At every stage of the MS journey, nurses are the steady link between patients, families, and the healthcare team. In this episode, host Brett Drummond speaks with Amy Perrin Ross, MS Specialist Nurse and Program Coordinator at Loyola University Chicago (USA), and Miguel Ángel Cortés-Vicente, Multiple Sclerosis Consultant Nurse at CEMCAT – Centre d’Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya (Spain), about the evolving role of MS nurses — from care coordination and patient engagement to leadership in research and innovation. They share insights from the 2025 ECTRIMS Congress Nurse Sessions, exploring how nurses are advancing health literacy, supporting shared decision-making, and integrating AI to improve patient care. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/38981530

Why We Need to Talk More About Mental Health in MS 10/29/2025

Why We Need to Talk More About Mental Health in MS While much of MS care focuses on physical symptoms, mental health challenges—like depression, anxiety, loneliness, and stigma—often go under-recognised. In this episode, host Brett Drummond speaks with Dr. Rebecca MaGuire, psychologist and MS researcher at Maynooth University, who also lives with MS herself. Together they discuss why mental health must become a core part of MS care, what the latest research reveals, and how clinicians and communities can better support emotional wellbeing throughout the MS journey. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/38643435

Patient Community Day 2025 10/15/2025

Patient Community Day 2025 Patient Community Day 2025 set a new attendance record, highlighting the growing desire among people living with MS to connect with experts leading the charge in understanding the disease and advancing effective treatments. After the event wrapped up in Barcelona, host Brett Drummond caught up with Julie Petrin, Director of Impact and Evaluation at MS Canada and a person living with MS, and Non Helena Smit, CEO of MS South Africa, to reflect on key takeaways and share what they’re looking forward to at next year's event in Toronto. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/38469595

Positive Remyelination Trial Results: Late Breaking at ECTRIMS 2025 10/02/2025

Positive Remyelination Trial Results: Late Breaking at ECTRIMS 2025 At the late breaking abstracts session at ECTRIMS 2025 in Barcelona, the CCMR-Two trial revealed promising results for myelin repair in MS using the diabetes drug metformin and the antihistamine clemastine. Straight from his presentation, trial lead Dr. Nick Cunniffe of the University of Cambridge sat down with host Brett Drummond of MStranslate to discuss the full results of CCMR-Two, our current understanding of myelin repair biology, and the next steps for remyelination clinical trials and potential future MS therapies. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/38425195

Final Day Highlights of ECTRIMS 2025 09/26/2025

Final Day Highlights of ECTRIMS 2025 On the final day of ECTRIMS 2025 in Barcelona, the spotlight turned to MS treatment, including long-awaited clinical trial results. Dr. Sharmilee Gnanapavan, Consultant Neurologist at Barts Health and Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (UK), joins host Brett Drummond to reflect on key takeaways from the 41st Congress and what the MS community might look forward to at MSToronto 2026. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/38211180

Day 2 Highlights of ECTRIMS 2025 09/25/2025

Day 2 Highlights of ECTRIMS 2025 Dr. Barry Singer, Director and Founder of The MS Center for Innovations in Care, joins host Brett Drummond to discuss the key takeaways unveiled on the second day of ECTRIMS 2025 in Barcelona. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/38211175

Day 1 Highlights of ECTRIMS 2025 09/24/2025

Day 1 Highlights of ECTRIMS 2025 The 41st Congress of ECTRIMS opened in Barcelona with Professor Maria Pia Amato of the University of Florence delivering the ECTRIMS Lecture. In this conversation with host Brett Drummond, she highlights the key takeaways from Day One of ECTRIMS 2025 and shares insights on cognition and what's shaping the future of multiple sclerosis research and care. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/38211170

Pre-Day Highlights of ECTRIMS 2025 09/23/2025

Pre-Day Highlights of ECTRIMS 2025 Direct from Barcelona, listen to Alvaro Cobo Calvo from the Multiple Sclerosis Center of Catalonia (Cemcat) and host Brett Drummond discuss the highlights of ECTRIMS 2025 Pre-Day, which is focused on specialised topics in MS and related neuroinflammatory autoimmune diseases such as MOGAD and NMOSD. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/38211165

2024 Revisions of the McDonald Diagnostic Criteria: What Neurologists Need to Know 09/19/2025

2024 Revisions of the McDonald Diagnostic Criteria: What Neurologists Need to Know The 2024 Revisions of the McDonald Diagnostic Criteria for MS have been published in The Lancet Neurology. What do these changes mean for clinical practice? In this episode, we are joined by two authors of the paper: Prof. Xavier Montalban, Chair of the International Advisory Committee on Clinical Trials in MS (IACCTMS), and Dr. Jiwon Oh of the University of Toronto. Together with host Brett Drummond of MStranslate, they discuss the significance of the updates, how these changes could expedite diagnosis and reduce misdiagnosis, and what they mean for the future of MS care globally. Reference: Montalban, X. et al. Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis: 2024 revisions of the McDonald criteria. Lancet Neurol. (2025). /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/38211160

Genetics and MS: Recent Discoveries and Future Directions 09/08/2025

Genetics and MS: Recent Discoveries and Future Directions Genetics not only influence the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), but also affect how the disease progresses and how patients respond to different treatments. Professor Philip De Jager, Chief of Neuroimmunology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center joins host Brett Drummond of MStranslate to discuss recent discoveries in MS genetics. They explore what these findings mean for patients and their families, and how these could shape primary prevention and personalised therapies for MS. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/38116025

The Expanding Role of Patient-Reported Outcomes in MS Research 07/17/2025

The Expanding Role of Patient-Reported Outcomes in MS Research Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) have become a critical tool for capturing the lived experience of multiple sclerosis (MS), offering a perspective that extends beyond traditional clinical and imaging metrics. As research increasingly prioritises real-world relevance and individualised care, PROs provide valuable insights into symptoms such as fatigue, mood changes, and cognitive decline—factors that often evade objective measurement but have a profound impact on quality of life. Professor Jan Hillert of Karolinska Institute in Sweden and chair of the Swedish MS Registry joins host Brett Drummond of MStranslate to discuss how patient reported data are being integrated into clinical trial design and observational studies. They also explore current limitations to their use and highlight best practices for validation and interpretation. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/37428815

Biomarkers in MS 06/12/2025

Biomarkers in MS Biomarkers are one of the most exciting and fast-evolving areas in multiple sclerosis research, offering promise for earlier diagnosis, accurate prognosis, and truly personalised treatment. Yet despite their potential, there is still significant debate that limits their widespread application in clinical and research settings. In this episode, host Brett Drummond is joined by two leading voices in this field, Professor Charlotte Teunissen of Amsterdam UMC in The Netherlands and Associate Professor Michael Khalil of Medical University of Graz in Austria to explore the most promising biomarker candidates and when and how they might be implemented. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/36918305

BTK Inhibitors: The Tolebrutinib Trial Results 05/21/2025

BTK Inhibitors: The Tolebrutinib Trial Results Over the past few years, the MS research community has been following developments in a new class of therapies called Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKis). At ECTRIMS 2024, the results of two tolebrutinib trials were presented as late-breaking abstracts by Dr. Robert Fox, Neurologist at the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis at Cleveland Clinic in the US, and Dr. Jiwon Oh, Neurologist at St. Michael's Hospital at the University of Toronto. The full results were recently published in The New England Journal of Medicine. In this episode, host Brett Drummond of MStranslate spoke with Drs. Oh and Fox about the outcomes and what they mean for people with MS. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/36639550

The Role of Diet in Managing MS 04/24/2025

The Role of Diet in Managing MS What do the latest research findings tell us about the role diet can play in the management of multiple sclerosis (MS)? How should neurologists talk about diet with their patients? While people living with MS may view their food choices as a way to exert some control over the disease, the concept of an "ideal diet" remains hotly contested. Dr. Brigit de Jong, Neurologist at MS Center Amsterdam, investigates non-pharmacological interventions, including diet, that determine the clinical outcome and pathogenesis of MS. She joins host Brett Drummond of MSTranslate to discuss the latest evidence on dietary modifications and how they should be communicated and implemented by neurologists. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/36229435

Autologous Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for MS 03/27/2025

Autologous Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for MS Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) has gained considerable attention in recent years as a treatment option for multiple sclerosis (MS). As long-term clinical trial data on AHSCT continues to grow, there is increasing debate about where it fits in the current MS therapeutic landscape. Dr. Joachim Burman, Neurologist and Associate Professor at Uppsala University in Sweden, and Dr. Jennifer Massey, Neurologist at St. Vincent's Hospital and a Senior Lecturer at the University of New South Wales in Australia, discuss the latest research and insights on this hot topic with host Brett Drummond of MStranslate. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/35852760

How Real-World Data Is Shaping MS Treatment 02/20/2025

How Real-World Data Is Shaping MS Treatment The rise of multiple sclerosis (MS) registries worldwide has transformed MS research, providing access to vast clinical data spanning years. This development also triggers critical conversations about how best to use real-world data to answer questions over the treatment of people with MS and the potential shift towards personalised medicine. In this episode, guests Professor Tomas Kalincik, Head of the Clinical Outcomes Research (CORe) Unit at the University of Melbourne and the MS Centre at the Royal Melbourne Hospital in Australia, and Maria Pia Sormani, Professor of Biostatistics at the University of Genoa in Italy, share their expert insights on harnessing real-world data with host Brett Drummond of MStranslate. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/35324430

Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis 01/16/2025

Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis Fatigue is a common symptom of multiple sclerosis, significantly impacting the quality of life of people living with the disease. In this episode, Dr. Anne-Laure Dubessy of Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière in Paris and Professor Iris-Katharina Penner of the University Hospital of Bern in Switzerland join host Brett Drummond of MSTranslate to discuss the causes of MS-related fatigue, strategies for managing it, and the latest research developments in this area. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/34724535

Advancing MS Knowledge through the ECTRIMS Fellowship 12/23/2024

Advancing MS Knowledge through the ECTRIMS Fellowship The recent ECTRIMS 2024 in Copenhagen showcased the work of young scientific investigators, including this year's ECTRIMS Fellowship recipients Oscar Ayala from Colombia and Zuhal Abasiyanik from Turkey. Every year, ECTRIMS awards fellowships across various categories to promote knowledge and expertise in the field of multiple sclerosis (MS). Oscar and Zuhal spoke with host Brett Drummond of MSTranslate about the research projects that they will be pursuing and how they believe this opportunity will impact their career. The ECTRIMS Fellowship application period for the 2025 cycle is now open. Apply before the deadline of December 1, 2024 at 23:59 CET. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/32606212

Addressing Diversity in MS Research and Care 12/12/2024

Addressing Diversity in MS Research and Care Nearly three million people worldwide are living with multiple sclerosis (MS), affecting individuals from diverse geographical, ethnic, racial, and socio-economic backgrounds. This diversity raises important questions about how these factors may influence the experiences and outcomes of those with MS, as well as whether research studies and clinical trials have sufficiently addressed this variability. To answer these questions and more, host Brett Drummond of MSTranslate speaks with two leading researchers in this field: Dr. Léorah Freeman, assistant professor at the Dell Medical School Department of Neurology, The University of Texas at Austin; and Dr. Lilyana Amezcua, Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology at the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/34345840

Paediatric Multiple Sclerosis 11/27/2024

Paediatric Multiple Sclerosis While paediatric onset multiple sclerosis is relatively rare, it presents unique challenges. Extensive research efforts are taking place around the world to better understand the disease mechanism of paediatric MS and the similarities and differences that exist with adult onset MS to help determine the best treatment options for children and adolescents. In this episode, host Brett Drummond of MSTranslate explores the topic with Dr. Yael Hacohen of Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and UCL Institute of Neurology in the UK and Dr. Thaís Armangué of SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital in Spain. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/34172590

MS Prodrome: Implications and Future Research Directions 11/07/2024

MS Prodrome: Implications and Future Research Directions If you talk to someone living with MS about their journey, one of the first things they will tell you is that they knew something was wrong long before they received their diagnosis. While this anecdotal evidence has been commonly discussed, it was only relatively recently that the research world has started to investigate this concept. Through this work, the idea of an MS prodrome has been studied, with potential implications for early diagnosis and treatment. Host Brett Drummond of MSTranslate speaks with Prof. Helen Tremlett of the University of British Columbia, a leading expert in recognising and investigating the MS prodrome. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/33623187

Episode 37: Future MS Therapeutics 10/24/2024

Episode 37: Future MS Therapeutics Significant progress has been made in multiple sclerosis (MS) treatments over the past 20 years. What does the next 20 years hold for MS therapies? What novel targets are being investigated? What clinical trials are in the pipeline and when can we expect new medications in the market? Host Brett Drummond of MS Translate explores these questions and more with Prof. Heinz Wiendl of University of Freiburg and Prof. Ludwig Kappos of University Hospital Basel. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/32952407

MS Nurses at ECTRIMS 2024 10/10/2024

MS Nurses at ECTRIMS 2024 Nurses play a specialised and unique role in the journey of people living with multiple sclerosis (MS). At ECTRIMS 2024, MS nurses showcased their experiences and insights into how to effectively support patients. In this episode, host Brett Drummond of MSTranslate talks with veteran MS nurses K-J Lazarus of Austin Health in Australia and Fiona d'Young of the Auckland Hospital in New Zealand. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/33389402

Patient Community Day Highlights of ECTRIMS 2024: Part II 10/09/2024

Patient Community Day Highlights of ECTRIMS 2024: Part II The Patient Community Day of ECTRIMS 2024 brought together people living with multiple sclerosis (MS), medical professionals, researchers, and advocates in two interactive sessions. They explored the forefront of MS research and treatment, focusing on groundbreaking topics like remyelination and myelin repair. They disussed promising new therapies that could revolutionise patient care, along with practical lifestyle changes and effective symptom management strategies. In Part II of our Patient Community Day episode, host Brett Drummond of MSTranslate talks to Sumaira Ahmed and Trevis Gleason, who are living with NMOSD and MS, respectively, about their experience attending the event. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/33280217

Patient Community Day Highlights of ECTRIMS 2024: Part I 10/03/2024

Patient Community Day Highlights of ECTRIMS 2024: Part I The Patient Community Day of ECTRIMS 2024 brought together people living with multiple sclerosis (MS), medical professionals, researchers, and advocates in two interactive sessions. They explored the forefront of MS research and treatment, focusing on groundbreaking topics like remyelination and myelin repair. They disussed promising new therapies that could revolutionise patient care, along with practical lifestyle changes and effective symptom management strategies. In Part 1 of our Patient Community Day episode, Elisabeth Kasilingam, Chief Executive Officer of the European Multiple Sclerosis Platform (EMSP) and Vice President of the European Patients’ Forum, talks with host Brett Drummond of MSTranslate about bridging the gap between patients, clinicians, and the scientific community. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/33279372

Day 3 Highlights of ECTRIMS 2024 09/20/2024

Day 3 Highlights of ECTRIMS 2024 Former ECTRIMS President and MS Journal Editor-in-Chief Alan Thompson and host Brett Drummond wrap up the last day of ECTRIMS 2024 with their final thoughts and insights. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/32952367

Day 2 Highlights of ECTRIMS 2024 09/19/2024

Day 2 Highlights of ECTRIMS 2024 Anne Helme, Head of Research at MSIF, and host Brett Drummond discuss the key takeaways unveiled on the second day of ECTRIMS 2024 in Copenhagen, as well as the value of global collaboration. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/32952347

Day 1 Highlights of ECTRIMS 2024 09/18/2024

Day 1 Highlights of ECTRIMS 2024 ECTRIMS Vice President Bruno Stankoff highlights the most relevant insights from day one of ECTRIMS 2024 in Copenhagen, and provides a glimpse of what to expect from the ECTRIMS society in the coming year. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/32952302

Pre-Day Highlights of ECTRIMS 2024 09/17/2024

Pre-Day Highlights of ECTRIMS 2024 Listen to Romain Marignier from CHU de Lyon and host Brett Drummond discuss highlights of ECTRIMS' new Pre-Day on NMOSD, MOGAD, and other rare neurological conditions. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/32688362

Episode 35: NMOSD and MOGAD Part II 09/10/2024

Episode 35: NMOSD and MOGAD Part II Misdiagnosing multiple sclerosis (MS) is not uncommon. Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disorder (MOGAD) can have clinical manifestations similar to MS. In this two-part episode, host Brett Drummond of MSTranslate speaks with Prof. Sara Mariotto of the University of Verona in Italy and Prof. Kazuo Fujihara of Fukushima Medical University in Japan about the latest research on the pathogenesis of these diseases, diagnostic criteria, potential treatment approaches, and any learnings that may be translated to MS. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/32952437

The ECTRIMS Podcast

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