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 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

Episode 36: Advancing MS Knowledge through the ECTRIMS Fellowship 09/26/2024

Episode 36: 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

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

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

Episode 35: NMOSD and MOGAD Part I 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/32952432

ECTRIMS-EAN Vaccination Consensus Statement (eanCast) 09/04/2024

ECTRIMS-EAN Vaccination Consensus Statement (eanCast) The following episode has been produced by the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) in collaboration with the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), and has been published on both the EAN and ECTRIMS Podcast channels to ensure our joint communities have access to it. In this episode of eanCast: Weekly Neurology, host Melinda Magyari is joined by ECTRIMS Podcast host Brett Drummond to talk about the ECTRIMS-EAN Vaccination Consensus Statement with lead author Susana Otero of the Department of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital, Barcelona, Spain and the Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Catalonia (Cemcat). Read the full article . /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/32874998

Environmental, Genetic, and Epigenetic Risk Factors in MS 08/15/2024

Environmental, Genetic, and Epigenetic Risk Factors in MS Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex and multifaceted neurological disorder. While MS has a genetic component, it is not a classic genetic disease. For this reason, a large amount of research has been done to identify environmental factors that may also be involved. In this episode, host Brett Drummond of MSTranslate talks with Emmanuelle Waubant, Professor of Neurology and Paediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco, about the latest findings on the role that environmental, genetic, and epigenetic risk factors play in MS. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/32543187

Myelin plasticity and repair 07/23/2024

Myelin plasticity and repair The next major step forward in the management of MS involves finding treatments that can repair damaged myelin. If successful, it would offer the potential to start to reverse some of the symptoms experienced by people living with MS. Bruno Stankoff, a neurologist of the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris and vice president of ECTRIMS, and Gianvito Martino, scientific director of the San Raffaele Scientific Institute in Milan, discuss this important MS research area with host Brett Drummond of MSTranslate. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/32081302

Lifestyle Modifications in MS 06/25/2024

Lifestyle Modifications in MS People living with MS want to be able to improve their quality of life and take control of a disease that is often filled with uncertainty. In this space, no topic has generated more interest or discussion than lifestyle modifications such as diet and exercise. What is the current evidence on how effective they can be at helping manage the disease? Robert Motl, professor of kinesiology and nutrition, and rehabilitation sciences at University of Illinois-Chicago, and Kathryn Fitzgerald, assistant professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins University, join host Brett Drummond of MStranslate. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/31880652

The Impact of Ageing on MS 06/05/2024

The Impact of Ageing on MS While multiple sclerosis (MS) has been traditionally described as a disease of young adults, the significant improvements in treatments over the past few decades has meant that researchers and clinicians are now increasingly handling questions related to the impact of ageing. In this episode, host Brett Drummond of MSTranslate talks with Anneke Van Der Walt, Director of MS and Neuroimmunology and Neuro-ophthalmology at Alfred Health in Melbourne, Australia and lead of the MS and Neuro-ophthalmology Research Group at the School of Translational Medicine, Monash University; and Professor Frederik Barkhof, Chair of Neuroradiology, Brain Repair & Rehabilitation at University College London's Queen Square Institute of Neurology and Professor in Neuroradiology at the Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine at VUmc in Amsterdam, on the key takeaways from a recent international workshop on ageing. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/31597417

Artificial Intelligence in MS Research 05/16/2024

Artificial Intelligence in MS Research Artificial intelligence (AI) can be a powerful tool to help enhance our understanding of MS disease processes, improve our diagnostic accuracy, better predict disease course, and identify optimal treatments. How is AI being used in MS research currently and what may it be able to do in the future? Host Alan Thompson, Editor in Chief of MS Journal, talks with Arman Eshaghi of the Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, and Daniel Ontaneda of the Cleveland Clinic Neurological Institute’s Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis in the United States. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/31333192

Prioritising Women's Health Topics in MS Research 04/20/2024

Prioritising Women's Health Topics in MS Research In a landscape where funding is increasingly difficult to obtain, the importance of conducting research that has the greatest impact has never been more important. In the case of women with MS, a large-scale scoping review,* conducted on behalf of the International Advisory Committee on Clinical Trials in MS, sheds light on the research gaps related to female health. ln this episode, host Brett Drummond of MSTranslate talks with two of its authors -- Lindsay Ross, an assistant professor at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, and Ruth Ann Marrie, professor of medicine and community health sciences at the University of Manitoba in Canada. *Ross, L., Finlayson, M., Amato, M. P., Cohen, J. A., Hellwig, K., Tintore, M., Vukusic, S., Salter, A., & Marrie, R. A. (2024). Priority setting: women's health topics in multiple sclerosis. Frontiers in neurology, 15, 1355817. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/30807313

Spotlight on Young MS Researchers 03/29/2024

Spotlight on Young MS Researchers The ECTRIMS Congress offers a valuable opportunity for young researchers to gain experience and exposure. Joonas Lehikoinen from Helsinki University Hospital and the University of Helsinki Neurocenter, along with Ahmed Abdelhak from the University of California, San Francisco, received poster abstract prizes at MSMilan2023. Host Brett Drummond from MSTranslate talks with them about their research, experiences, and advice for young researchers preparing abstracts for ECTRIMS2024. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/30578618

MS in the Black Community 03/07/2024

MS in the Black Community With the growing push towards taking a more personalised approach to the treatment and management of multiple sclerosis, it is important to understand the unique issues – both socially and clinically – that may arise among people of different ethnicities. In this episode, Natalie Bursari of The Nerve of My Multiple Sclerosis in the UK and Mitzi Joi Williams of Joi Life Wellness Multiple Sclerosis Center in the US discuss the issues faced by Black people living with MS, with host Brett Drummond of MStranslate. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/30251678

Efforts Towards a Better MS Diagnostic Criteria 02/13/2024

Efforts Towards a Better MS Diagnostic Criteria Discussions are ongoing to change the way MS patients are diagnosed and treated. In this episode, Xavier Montalban, Chair of the International Advisory Committee on Clinical Trials in Multiple Sclerosis, which is leading the discussions, explains the evolution of the McDonald criteria and why these proposed revisions are important for clinicians and patients alike. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/29840228

Factoring in Female Health in the MS Journey 01/31/2024

Factoring in Female Health in the MS Journey Recent global epidemiological data show that approximately 70% of people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis are women. While this may tell us something about the mechanisms behind disease susceptibility, it also raises a number of unique challenges throughout the MS journey. In this episode, Ruth Dobson, Professor of Clinical Neurology at Queen Mary University of London, and Emmanuelle Leray, Professor of Epidemiology at Ecole des hautes études en santé publique in Rennes, France, guide us through the different stages of this pathway and discuss the latest research findings that relate to female health. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/29380233

The Importance of Patient Community Day 01/11/2024

The Importance of Patient Community Day The MSMilan Patient Community Day was designed for people living with multiple sclerosis and related neurological diseases and their caregivers to stay updated and involved in the advancements being made on their journey towards managing their conditions. In this episode, Tim Coetzee, Chief Advocacy, Services & Science Officer and Bonnie Higgins, Director of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in the United States discuss their experiences at MSMilan Patient Community Day, their roles, and why they believe it is important to put people living with MS and other neurological conditions at the centre of everything that we do. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/29380068

Genetics and MS Severity 12/15/2023

Genetics and MS Severity Why do some people with multiple sclerosis (MS) continue to run marathons while others are in wheelchairs years after diagnosis? Genetics partly explains why. Scientists have identified the first genetic marker for MS severity, which could pave the way for new treatments to prevent disease progression. Sergio Baranzini of University of California San Francisco and Adil Harroud of McGill University in Canada discuss their findings with host Brett Drummond of MS Translate. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/29077488

Defining MS Subtypes in Clinical Practice 11/30/2023

Defining MS Subtypes in Clinical Practice Descriptors of multiple sclerosis are currently based on a combination of clinical and MRI features, and include clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting, secondary and primary progressive subtypes. Accumulating evidence suggests that the clinical course of MS is better considered as a continuum, with contributions from concurrent pathophysiological processes that vary across individuals and over time. In this episode, MS Journal Editor in Chief Alan Thompson talks with neurologists Marcello Moccia of the Multiple Sclerosis Unit of the University of Naples Federico II and Angela Vidal of Centre d’Esclerosi Multiple de Catalunya on the new understanding of the key mechanisms underlying progression and the availability of neuroimaging and humoral biomarkers and their implications for clinical care and treatment. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/28854808

The Changing Role of MS Nurses 11/15/2023

The Changing Role of MS Nurses Two sessions at the 9th Joint ECTRIMS-ACTRIMS Meeting (MSMilan2023) focused on nursing. Nurses play a critical role throughout an MS patient's life. And in this episode, we discuss the changing role of MS nurses and the challenges they face, with guests Belinda Bardsley, an N-CRESS (Neuro-Immunology Clinical Research, Education and Support Service) Nurse Manager at Austin Health in Melbourne, Australia; and Ruth Stross, Head of Nursing at Neurology Academy in England. Hosted by Brett Drummond of MS Translate. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/28552859

Discontinuing DMTs in Patients with Stable Relapsing-remitting MS: When and How? 11/10/2023

Discontinuing DMTs in Patients with Stable Relapsing-remitting MS: When and How? Long term use of disease modifying treatments (DMTs) poses challenges in terms of safety and pharmacoeconomics, while preventing disability progression. As such, there is an ongoing debate on how long disease modifying treatments should be continued and if discontinuation should be considered in stable multiple sclerosis. In this episode, Alan Thompson, Editor in Chief of the MS Journal, speaks with Gilles Edan, Professor of Clinical Neurology and chair of the Department of Neurosciences, University Hospital of Rennes; and Eva Strijbis, neurologist at the Department of Neurology, MS Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam University Medical Centers. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/28583563

Day Three Highlights of MSMilan2023 10/13/2023

Day Three Highlights of MSMilan2023 /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/28131689

Day Two Highlights of MSMilan2023 10/12/2023

Day Two Highlights of MSMilan2023 Listen to Clare Walton with MS Society UK and host Brett Drummond discuss the key takeways unveiled on the second day of MSMilan2023. /episode/index/show/191457e9-5e84-4e71-ba90-6e71bc290808/id/28131677

The ECTRIMS Podcast

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