The 8th Joint ACTRIMS-ECTRIMS Meeting

The 8^th Joint ACTRIMS-ECTRIMS Meeting, the largest international conference focused on Multiple Sclerosis (MS) research, was held in a virtual format from September 11-13, 2020, with a special encore session featuring Late-Breaking News and a COVID-19 Session on September 26.

At this virtual conference – MSVirtual2020 – world class scientists, neurologists, clinicians and researchers from around the world presented the latest research, clinical trial outcomes and technology and diagnostic advances in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Key topics included:

• Cutting-edge research into the cause of MS, ranging from epigenetics and genetic factors, to defining the intricate immunological and pathological pathways that inform drug discovery and therapeutic interventions.
• Radiological advances and machine learning approaches and how these techniques can help us better understand MS.
• Biomarkers of disease activity and response to therapy, which is critical for the future of personalized medicine in MS.
• The outcomes of recent clinical trials of new agents and interventions, innovations in symptomatic and rehabilitative therapy, and current research on MS and COVID-19.

Sessions included:

1. BD01 – DMTs prevent-slow down cognitive impairment in MS
2. BD02 – DMTs should be trialed in individuals with PPMS and SPMS with or without recent disease activity
3. BD03 – Microglia are protective in MS
4. CS01 – European Charcot Foundation Symposium; How to enhance remyelination in MS
5. FC01 – Free Communication 1
6. FC02 – Free Communication 2
7. FC03 – Free Communication 3
8. FC04 – Free Communication 4
9. HT01 – Hot Topic 1- Strategies to promote remyelination
10. HT02 – Hot Topic 2- Aging and MS
11. HT03 – Hot Topic 3- Developments in pediatric MS
12. HT04 – Hot Topic 4- Grey matter pathology
13. HT05 – Hot Topic 5- Lymphoid follicles and meningeal involvement in MS
14. HT06 – Hot Topic 6- Global perspectives on NMOSD
15. HT07 – Hot Topic 7- MOG mediated disease
16. LB01 – Late Breaking News
17. MTE01 – CNS in disorders in children
18. MTE02 – Neuro-ophthalmology of MS
19. MTE03 – B-cell-directed therapy in MS
20. MTE04 – Choosing the right MS disease therapy for individual patients
21. MTE05 – Immune disorders of the CNS other than MS
22. NS01 – Nurses’ Session 1- Advanced nursing activities
23. NS02 – Nurses’ Session 2- Unique contributions of MS nursing
24. PL01 – Plenary Session 1- Welcome and Paty Lecture
25. PL02 – Plenary Session 2- ACTRIMS-ECTRIMS Lecture and Closing
26. PS01 – Strategies for disease modification
27. PS02 – Innate immunity in MS pathology and repair
28. PS03 – Biomarkers
29. PS04 – Impact of the environment and lifestyle and MS risk and clinical course
30. PS05 – Pharmacological management of progressive MS
31. PS06 – Lymphocyte subsets in MS
32. PS07 – Radiological advances I (NAIMS-MAGNIMS)
33. PS08 – Epigenetics and genetic factors
34. PS09 – Personalized approaches to MS
35. PS10 – Gut-CNS axis and the microbiome in MS
36. PS11 – Radiological advances II
37. PS12 – Sex-related factors in pathogenesis and management
38. PS13 – Innovations in symptomatic and rehabilitative therapy
39. PS14 – The impact of MS on neurons and glia
40. PS15 – Visual outcome measures in MS (IMSVISUAL)
41. PS16 – Machine learning approaches
42. SS02 – Special Session- COVID-19
43. YI01 – Young Investigators 1
44. YI02 – Young Investigators 2