Explore every episode of the podcast The ECTRIMS Podcast

Three days of science, debate and discovery.

For the final episode in our special MSToronto2026 podcast series, ECTRIMS Executive Committee member Jaume Sastre-Garriga joins host Brett Drummond direct from Toronto.

Together, they unpack the key insights from Day Three, including the Late Breaking Abstract session, before stepping back to reflect on the Joint Meeting as a whole.

What stood out across the week? Which developments and conversations could have lasting significance? And as thousands of researchers and clinicians prepare to leave Toronto, what comes next for the MS field?

Recorded at the 10th Joint ACTRIMS-ECTRIMS Meeting, this is our final dispatch from Toronto – bringing together the science, conversations and ideas that shaped an extraordinary week.

This ECTRIMS podcast episode is supported by an educational grant from Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Diseases. Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi, and UCB. Educational grant providers have no input into the podcast series content. 

Today, our special podcast series brings together two major voices from the North American MS community:

• Tim Coetzee, National Multiple Sclerosis Society
• Pamela Valentine, MS Canada

Scientific progress in MS is accelerating. But is that progress reaching the people who need it?

Alongside their reflections on the key takeaways and conversations from Day Two of MSToronto2026, Tim and Pamela join host Brett Drummond to look beyond individual studies and ask some bigger questions about where the MS field goes next.

Where does the MS community need progress most urgently? How can researchers, clinicians, patient organisations and people affected by MS work together more effectively? And how do we make sure scientific advances ultimately translate into meaningful change in people's lives?

This ECTRIMS podcast episode is supported by an educational grant from Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Diseases. Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi, and UCB. Educational grant providers have no input into the podcast series content. 

Day One at MSToronto2026 – and we're taking you inside one of the meeting's headline lectures.

Our special MSToronto2026 podcast series continues with Daniel Reich – the MSToronto2026 Lecturer – as he joins host Brett Drummond to reflect on some of the key takeaways from the first full day in Toronto.

Then, we go deeper. What if imaging could help us connect the dots in MS - from disease mechanisms to networks to the person living with MS?

Fresh from his lecture, Unifying Multiple Sclerosis: Imaging from Teams to Tissue to Biology, Daniel takes the conversation beyond the stage:

·      What can imaging reveal about the biology driving MS?

·      How is it changing the way we understand what is happening in the brain?

·      And where could the next generation of imaging take MS research?

Recorded direct from Toronto, our MSToronto2026 series is only getting started. Follow the ECTRIMS Podcast as we bring you new conversations and highlights direct from Toronto throughout the Joint Meeting.

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This ECTRIMS podcast episode is supported by an educational grant from Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Diseases. Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi, and UCB. Educational grant providers have no input into the podcast series content. 

The ECTRIMS Podcast is on the ground at MSToronto2026 – bringing you the conversations, insights and highlights as they happen.

Kicking off our special MSToronto2026 Joint Meeting Series, Ann Yeh joins host Brett Drummond direct from Toronto to unpack the highlights of Pre-Day.

Before the 10th Joint ACTRIMS-ECTRIMS Meeting officially begins, Pre-Day puts the spotlight on paediatric MS and related neuroinflammatory diseases – and some of the important questions shaping the field right now.

What stood out? What should clinicians and researchers take away? And which conversations are already setting the stage for the meeting ahead?

🎙️ This is just the beginning. Listen now, and follow the ECTRIMS Podcast throughout MSToronto2026 as we bring you new episodes direct from Toronto across the week.

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LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

MSToronto2026 takes place in Toronto, Canada, on the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples. Toronto is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit.

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This ECTRIMS podcast episode is supported by an educational grant from Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Diseases. Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi, and UCB. Educational grant providers have no input into the podcast series content. 

Can clinicians identify MS progression as it happens, or does confirming meaningful disability worsening require months of observation?

Early recognition of multiple sclerosis (MS) progression is critical to informing clinical decisions. Yet distinguishing genuine disease progression from temporary fluctuations remains one of the challenges in routine MS care.

In this episode of the ECTRIMS Podcast, produced in collaboration with the Multiple Sclerosis Journal, host Associate Professor Anneke van der Walt is joined by Professor Helmut Butzkueven (Monash University, Australia) and Professor Tjalf Ziemssen (University Hospital Dresden, Germany) to explore both sides of a timely clinical controversy: Can we detect a progression event in an MS clinic in real time?

Drawing on opposing perspectives published in the Multiple Sclerosis Journal, the discussion examines the value and limitations of disability assessments, longitudinal patient registries, digital monitoring tools and patient-reported changes.

Can routinely collected clinical data help clinicians recognise progression earlier? How reliable are current measures such as the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS)? And what can clinicians do to identify meaningful change when consultation time and resources are limited?

The conversation highlights the importance of balancing early recognition with diagnostic certainty, while keeping the patient's lived experience central to clinical assessment.

Read the accompanying publications in the Multiple Sclerosis Journal:

• YES – Can we detect a progression event in an MS clinic in real time? https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/13524585251409568
• NO – Can we detect a progression event in an MS clinic in real time?https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/13524585251409547
• Accompanying commentary https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/13524585251409579

This ECTRIMS podcast episode is supported by an educational grant from Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Diseases. Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi, and UCB. Educational grant providers have no input into the podcast series content. 

Prof. Sandra Vukusic has been named the 2026 recipient of the Rachel Horne Prize for Women's Research in MS.

In this special episode of the ECTRIMS Podcast, Sandra joins prize founder Rachel Horne and host Brett Drummond to mark the announcement and explore the research behind the recognition.

Sandra reflects on a career dedicated to improving the health and care of women living with multiple sclerosis, beginning with early research into pregnancy and postpartum relapse and evolving to encompass family planning, disease-modifying treatment, breastfeeding, menopause and wider aspects of women's health.

The conversation explores important evidence that women living with MS may be undertreated compared with men, including the potential influence of anticipated pregnancy on treatment decisions. Sandra also discusses how advances in research are helping women living with MS make choices about treatment and family life that were once considered impossible.

Rachel shares why she established the Rachel Horne Prize, the persistent gaps she saw in research addressing women's health in MS, and her hope that one day women's health will simply be an integral part of MS research and care.

A special conversation celebrating scientific achievement, progress — and the work still to come.

In this episode of the ECTRIMS Podcast, host Brett Drummond speaks with Prof. Jeremy Chataway of University College London and Prof. Daniel Ontaneda of Cleveland Clinic about multi-arm, multi-stage clinical trials and their potential to make MS research more efficient and responsive.

The episode comes at an especially timely moment. This week, interim results from the OCTOPUS trial showed that alpha-lipoic acid will progress to the next stage of the trial, while the metformin arm will be stopped. These results provide an early demonstration of the adaptive approach discussed in this episode — although the conversation itself was recorded before the interim results were available.

Together, they discuss:

• How multi-arm, multi-stage trials differ from traditional clinical trial designs
• Why these approaches could be particularly valuable in progressive multiple sclerosis
• How a single trial framework can allow promising treatments to advance while less promising approaches are stopped
• The potential benefits for recruitment, participant experience and reducing the time between trial phases
• The statistical and practical challenges involved in designing and running these complex studies
• How interim outcomes, imaging and biomarkers could help identify promising treatments earlier
• What the OCTOPUS trial is investigating — and how its design is being used to evaluate potential treatments for progressive MS
• Whether the same approach could be used to accelerate the development of remyelination and repair therapies

As the first OCTOPUS interim results now show, the adaptive design discussed in this episode is not simply theoretical. This episode offers a particularly relevant look at the thinking behind the trial and the methodology being used to determine which treatments should move forward and which should not.

This podcast episode is supported by an educational grant from Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Diseases, Bristol Myers Squibb, Roche, Sanofi, and UCB. Educational grant providers have no input into the podcast series content.

The blood–brain barrier is a highly specialised interface that regulates the movement of cells, molecules and nutrients between the circulation and the central nervous system.

But what happens when this critical barrier becomes dysfunctional in multiple sclerosis?

In this episode of the ECTRIMS Podcast, host Brett Drummond speaks with Prof. Elga de Vries of Amsterdam UMC and MS Center Amsterdam about the evolving science of blood–brain barrier dysfunction in MS.

They explore how the blood–brain barrier functions in health, how its disruption relates to immune cell infiltration and inflammatory disease activity, and why research increasingly suggests these changes may remain relevant across different stages of MS.

The conversation also looks at innovative blood–brain barrier-on-a-chip models, how existing MS treatments interact with the barrier, and emerging approaches designed to transport therapies more effectively into the CNS.

Finally, they consider an intriguing future direction: could strengthening the blood–brain barrier itself become part of the therapeutic strategy for MS?

This podcast episode is supported by an educational grant from Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Diseases, Bristol Myers Squibb, Roche, Sanofi, and UCB.

Can growing amounts of real-world MS data help clinicians predict disease progression and make more personalised treatment decisions?

In this episode of the ECTRIMS Podcast, host Brett Drummond speaks with Dr. Will Brown from Cambridge University and Dr. Carmen Tur from CEMCAT about the rapidly evolving field of predictive modelling in multiple sclerosis.

They explore why MS is particularly difficult to predict, from its biological and clinical heterogeneity to the lack of sufficiently sensitive, specific and widely available biomarkers. They also discuss how increasingly rich, long-term datasets are allowing researchers to study disease outcomes, treatment journeys and populations traditionally underrepresented in clinical trials.

The conversation examines the methodological challenges that come with real-world data, including missing data, non-random treatment allocation, clinical outcome selection and bias, as well as the opportunities and limitations of AI and machine learning.

Finally, they ask what must happen before predictive models can enter routine clinical care — including robust external validation, calibration, interpretability, equitable representation and evidence that using these tools actually improves clinical decisions and long-term patient outcomes.

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This podcast episode is supported by an educational grant from Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Diseases, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi, and UCB. Educational grant providers have no input into the podcast series content.

Technology is opening new possibilities for how multiple sclerosis is monitored, treated and managed.

In this episode of the ECTRIMS Podcast, host Brett Drummond speaks with Prof. Ellen Mowry of Johns Hopkins University and Prof. Letizia Leocani of Vita-Salute San Raffaele University about how innovative medical technologies could transform MS research and clinical care.

Together, they explore:

• How artifical intelligence, wearable devices and digital biomarkers could help monitor MS progression
• The potential to capture fatigue, cognition, pain, mood, sleep and other symptoms between clinical visits
• How passive monitoring could provide a more complete picture of everyday life with MS
• The growing role of virtual rehabilitation, digital therapies and other technologies in bringing care into people's homes
• Why digital biomarkers require rigorous research and validation before being used in clinical trials

From earlier detection of disability progression to more accessible rehabilitation and personalised symptom management, this episode examines both the opportunities and challenges of using technology to improve MS care.

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This podcast episode is supported by an educational grant from Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Diseases, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi, and UCB. Educational grant providers have no input into the podcast series content.

Could multiple sclerosis one day be detected before symptoms appear? And if so, should we be actively screening people who are at higher risk?

In this episode of the ECTRIMS–MS Journal collaboration series, host Prof. Anneke van der Walt, Controversies Editor at the Multiple Sclerosis Journal, is joined by Prof. Helen Tremlett (University of British Columbia) and Prof. Ruth Ann Marrie (Dalhousie University) to debate one of the most important emerging questions in MS research.

Helen argues that targeted screening should begin now—but only within carefully designed research studies—to better understand how MS develops before clinical symptoms appear. Ruth Ann argues that while prevention is the ultimate goal, the science, ethics and healthcare systems are not yet ready for widespread screening.

Together they discuss:

·      Whether MS is entering a new era of prevention research

·      What lessons can be learned from Parkinson's disease and radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS)

·      The ethical and psychological impact of identifying people at risk before symptoms develop

·      How screening programmes could improve—or worsen—health inequalities

·      What research is still needed before screening could ever become part of routine clinical practice

Although they argue opposing positions, both experts agree on one important point: preventing MS is an achievable ambition—but only if research proceeds carefully, ethically and equitably.

This MS Journal Controversies article series has been made open access for the next month for ease of reading.

• "Yes" – High-risk populations should be screened for MS
• "No" – High-risk populations should not yet be screened for MS
• "Commentary" – High-risk populations should not yet be screened for MS

Note: This episode is part of the MS Journal Controversies in MS series, where experts debate opposing viewpoints on important unresolved questions in MS research. The positions argued do not necessarily represent the authors' personal opinions, but rather present the strongest evidence supporting each side of the debate.

Where someone lives can profoundly influence their multiple sclerosis journey.

While advances in diagnosis and treatment have transformed MS care in many parts of the world, millions of people still face significant barriers to diagnosis, specialist care and life-changing therapies.

In this episode of the ECTRIMS Podcast, host Brett Drummond speaks with Dr. Fiifi Duodu and Prof. Alfredo Damasceno about the realities of managing MS patients in diverse healthcare settings and what can be done to improve equity worldwide.

Together, they discuss:

🔹 Why MS diagnosis can take years in some regions, and how the revised 2024 McDonald Criteria are influencing earlier MS diagnosis

🔹 The impact of limited access to neurologists and MRI

🔹 Barriers to disease-modifying therapies and anti-CD20 treatments

🔹 The role of regional initiatives such as AFRICTRIMS and BCTRIMS

🔹 Why greater diversity in MS clinical trials matters

This episode highlights both the challenges and the remarkable progress being made to improve MS care across the globe.

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This ECTRIMS podcast episode is supported by an educational grant from Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Diseases. Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi, and UCB. Educational grant providers have no input into the podcast series content.

Welcome to MS Research Briefs, a new ECTRIMS podcast series delivering an expert guided tour of important new studies in multiple sclerosis research.

In each episode, leading MS experts will take a small number of recently published studies and go beyond the headline findings – exploring what the research shows and how it may influence clinical practice and future discovery.

In this inaugural episode, Prof. Alan Thompson and Prof. Olga Ciccarelli discuss two studies exploring how advanced MRI biomarkers and machine learning may transform the diagnosis and prognosis of multiple sclerosis.

• Paramagnetic Rim Lesions and Development of Clinical MS in Radiologically Isolated Syndrome.
  JAMA Neurology. 2026;83(3):250–258.
• Machine learning-based combination of the central vein sign, cortical lesions and paramagnetic rim lesions: a web-based tool for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
  Brain Communications. 2026;8(2):fcag079.

• Can paramagnetic rim lesions identify individuals with radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS) who are most likely to develop clinical MS?
• Why do paramagnetic rim lesions appear to be stronger prognostic biomarkers while the central vein sign remains a powerful diagnostic biomarker?
• Can machine learning models combining MRI biomarkers outperform traditional dissemination-in-space criteria?
• What role might advanced MRI biomarkers play in future diagnostic criteria and treatment decisions?
• How close are we to AI-supported diagnosis and automated biomarker detection in routine clinical practice?

As advanced MRI biomarkers move from research tools towards clinically meaningful decision-making, this episode explores one of the most important developments in contemporary MS research.

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This ECTRIMS podcast episode is supported by an educational grant from Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Diseases. Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi, and UCB. Educational grant providers have no input into the podcast series content.

Vitamin D and multiple sclerosis have been linked for decades, but how strong is the evidence – and what does it mean for clinical practice?

In this episode of the ECTRIMS Podcast, host Brett Drummond speaks with Prof. Eric Thouvenot from University Hospital of Nimes and Dr. Deborah Mason from Christchurch Hospital about the evolving science behind vitamin D and MS.

Together, they explore:

• Why vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased MS risk
• The influence of latitude, sunlight exposure and genetics
• How vitamin D affects immune regulation and inflammation
• Findings from recent vitamin D supplementation trials

As researchers continue to investigate vitamin D's role in MS, this episode provides a balanced look at what we know, what remains uncertain, and what it means for patient care.

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This ECTRIMS podcast episode is supported by an educational grant from Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Diseases. Bristol Myers Squibb, Roche, Sanofi, and UCB. Educational grant providers have no input into the podcast series content.

In this episode of the ECTRIMS Podcast, recorded in collaboration with the Multiple Sclerosis Journal "Controversies in MS" series, host Prof. Anneke van der Walt moderates a discussion between Prof. Andy Solomon and Prof. Enrique Gómez on one of the most debated developments in modern multiple sclerosis diagnosis.

Together, they explore:

• Why misdiagnosis remains a major challenge in MS care
• The role of the central vein sign (CVS) and paramagnetic rim lesions (PRLs) in improving specificity
• Whether expanding diagnostic sensitivity may increase false positives
• The practical realities of implementing advanced MRI biomarkers globally
• The importance of radiology training, implementation science, and AI-assisted imaging
• How clinicians should approach MRI interpretation in real-world practice

This conversation examines the balance between earlier diagnosis, diagnostic accuracy, and equitable implementation of emerging diagnostic tools across different healthcare settings.

This episode is part of the MS Journal Controversies in MS series on The revised 2024 McDonald criteria can solve the misdiagnosis problem in MS. The accompanying Yes, No, and Commentary articles are available to read open access for the next month, compliments of MS Journal.

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) has become one of the most intensely studied topics in multiple sclerosis research. But how strong is the evidence linking EBV to MS, and could targeting the virus change the future of treatment and prevention?

In this episode of the ECTRIMS Podcast, host Brett Drummond speaks with Prof. Gavin Giovannoni and Prof. Tomas Olsson about the evolving science connecting infections, immunity and multiple sclerosis.

Together, they explore:

• Molecular mimicry and how EBV proteins may trigger autoimmune responses
• Whether EBV contributes to chronic CNS inflammation and disease progression
• Emerging therapeutic approaches including antivirals, CAR-T cells, and vaccines

This conversation examines one of the most important scientific questions in MS research  and the therapeutic possibilities that may emerge from it.

New Phase 3 data presented at the AAN conference 2026 provide compelling evidence that fenebrutinib may represent a high-efficacy oral treatment option for people living with relapsing multiple sclerosis.

In this exclusive episode, leading experts Prof. Ludwig Kappos from University of Basel and Dr. Jiwon Oh from Barlo MS Centre join host Brett Drummond to unpack the full FENhance 1 & 2 trial results.

Together, they explore:

• How fenebrutinib performed against teriflunomide in relapsing MS
• Why BTK inhibition continues to generate strong interest across the MS treatment landscape
• What the results reveal about relapse reduction, MRI outcomes, and disability progression
• What the safety profile of fenebrutinib looked like in this cohort of patients

Listen for a deep dive into the science, clinical context, and future implications for MS care.

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This ECTRIMS podcast episode is supported by an educational grant from Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Diseases. Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi, and UCB. Educational grant providers have no input into the podcast series content.

Imaging techniques in multiple sclerosis are evolving rapidly, with MRI and emerging biomarkers playing a central role in diagnosis, prognosis and disease monitoring.

In this episode of the ECTRIMS Podcast, neurologist Gabriel Bsteh and host Brett Drummond explore how MRI, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and imaging biomarkers are reshaping the way clinicians diagnose and manage MS.

They discuss the 2024 updates to the McDonald diagnostic criteria, including the introduction of the central vein sign (CVS), paramagnetic rim lesions (PRL), and the inclusion of the optic nerve.

The episode also examines how imaging biomarkers may be used to:

• Predict disease progression
• Provide prognostic information at diagnosis
• Monitor neuro-axonal damage over time
• Support treatment decisions and personalised medicine

This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in multiple sclerosis, MRI, OCT, biomarkers, and advances in MS research and care.

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This ECTRIMS podcast episode is supported by an educational grant from Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Diseases. Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi, and UCB. Educational grant providers have no input into the podcast series content.

How much do the labels used to describe multiple sclerosis actually reflect the lived experience of people affected by the disease?

In this first episode of the new ECTRIMS–MS Journal collaboration series, host Dr. Anneke van der Walt, Controversies Editor at the Multiple Sclerosis Journal, speaks with Jon Strum, MS caregiver and host of the RealTalk MS podcast, and Kathryn Smith, patient advocate and volunteer with the National MS Society, and person living with MS.

Together they explore a deceptively simple question: does the label given to an MS disease course actually matter?

Jon argues that disease labels shape perception, communication and expectations for people living with MS and their families. Kathryn explains why those same labels increasingly fail to capture the day-to-day reality of living with the disease.

They discuss:

• Why traditional MS disease course labels can feel disconnected from lived experience
• The emotional and practical impact of terms such as relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive
• The concept of PIRA (progression independent of relapse activity) and what it reveals about MS progression
• Why functional outcomes and patient experience should play a greater role in how MS is described
• The importance of patient voice in research, clinical conversations and scientific publishing

Although they begin from opposing viewpoints, Jon and Kathryn ultimately arrive at a shared conclusion: the MS community may need a new language — one that better reflects biology, individual experience and the realities of living with the disease.

Note: This episode is part of the MS Journal Controversies in MS series, specifically its new Controversies: Patient Voice section – a dedicated space highlighting the lived experiences of people affected by MS. Please see the following articles for more information:

• "Yes" – The label does matter
• "No" – The label does not matter
• Commentary

Rehabilitation is more than exercise – it is a personalised process of learning and adaptation that empowers people living with MS to maximise independence, participation and quality of life.

In this episode –  recorded at ECTRIMS 2025 in Barcelona during the joint ECTRIMS–RIMS meeting – host Brett Drummond speaks with Prof. Roshan das Nair from SINTEF and Dr. Blanca de Dios Pérez from University of Nottingham about the evolving role of rehabilitation in MS care.

They explore:

·      Why rehabilitation should be integrated from diagnosis

·      The rise of vocational rehabilitation and supporting people to remain in work

·      Mental health as a core component of MS care

·      Digital technologies for cognitive screening and personalised triage

·      The importance of implementation — turning research into real-world care

·      Moving toward a "community of care" model beyond the clinic

As MS care advances, rehabilitation remains essential for translating medical progress into meaningful everyday outcomes.

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This ECTRIMS podcast episode is supported by an educational grant from Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Diseases. Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi, and UCB. Educational grant providers have no input into the podcast series content.

Clinical trial results unveiled today at ACTRIMS Forum 2026 suggest that fenebrutinib may be a novel and effective treatment option for people living with primary progressive multiple sclerosis.  In this exclusive episode providing the first expert discussion of the complete dataset, FENtrepid trial leads Prof. Amit Bar-Or (University of Pennsylvania) and Dr. Stephen Hauser (University of California San Francisco) break down what the fenebrutinib results really show. Together, they explore:

• Why BTK inhibition is uniquely positioned to address progressive MS biology
• How fenebrutinib compared to ocrelizumab in the Phase 3 FENtrepid PPMS trial
• What the data suggest for patients with non-relapsing, chronic disease

Listen for a deep dive into the science and the clinical implications.

Editorial Note:
At 21:49, the discussion refers to Müller cells. The correct term is Kupffer cells. 

Download the transcript

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This ECTRIMS podcast episode is supported by an educational grant from Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Diseases. Bristol Myers Squibb, Roche, Sanofi, and UCB. Educational grant providers have no input into the podcast series content.

What role does the gut microbiome play in multiple sclerosis — and how close are we to translating microbiome research into meaningful clinical interventions?

In this episode of the ECTRIMS Podcast, host Brett Drummond is joined by Mahesh Desai (Luxembourg Institute of Health) and Ashutosh Mangalam (University of Iowa), two internationally recognised leaders in microbiome and MS research, to explore how gut microbes influence disease susceptibility, progression, and immune regulation in MS.

The discussion moves beyond simple "good vs bad bacteria" narratives, highlighting why microbial function, community structure, and host–microbiome dialogue are far more informative than individual taxa alone. The speakers examine evidence from animal models and human studies, including twin studies, microbial networks, and immune markers such as IgA coating, to understand whether microbiome changes are drivers or consequences of disease.

They also explore the potential of the gut microbiome as a predictive biomarker, the challenges of causality, and why diet and personalised approaches may be key to restoring immune balance in MS.

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This ECTRIMS podcast episode is supported by an educational grant from Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Diseases. Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi, and UCB. Educational grant providers have no input into the podcast series content.

Cognitive change is one of the most common—and most misunderstood—symptoms of multiple sclerosis. In this episode, host Brett Drummond is joined by Dr. Vicki Levitt (Columbia University) and Dr. Tom Fuchs (MS Center Amsterdam) to explore why cognition remains one of the biggest unmet challenges in MS care.

Although problems with memory, attention, information processing speed, and executive function affect many people with MS, cognitive symptoms are often overlooked in routine clinical practice. The conversation examines why current assessment tools are not widely used, the barriers to implementing cognitive screening in busy clinics, and why measuring cognitive change is becoming increasingly important as treatments continue to improve physical outcomes.

From practical challenges in the clinic to cutting-edge research shaping the future, this episode explores how better measurement, earlier detection, and more personalised approaches could help protect one of the outcomes that matters most to people living with multiple sclerosis.

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This ECTRIMS podcast episode is supported by an educational grant from Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Diseases. Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi, and UCB. Educational grant providers have no input into the podcast series content.

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.

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This ECTRIMS podcast episode is supported by an educational grant from Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Diseases. Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi, and UCB. Educational grant providers have no input into the podcast series content.

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.

This podcast episode is supported by an educational grant from Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Diseases, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi, and UCB. Educational grant providers have no input into the podcast series content.

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.

This podcast episode is supported by an educational grant from Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Diseases, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi, and UCB. Educational grant providers have no input into the podcast series content.

Can damaged myelin be repaired in people living with multiple sclerosis? Results from the CCMR-Two clinical trial presented at ECTRIMS 2025 offered promising new evidence for remyelination using a combination of metformin and clemastine.

Straight from his late-breaking presentation in Barcelona, trial lead Dr. Nick Cunniffe of the University of Cambridge joins host Brett Drummond to explain what the results mean, what researchers are learning about the biology of myelin repair, and the next steps towards developing future remyelination therapies for MS.

This podcast episode is supported by an educational grant from Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Diseases, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi, and UCB. Educational grant providers have no input into the podcast series content.

What were the biggest developments in multiple sclerosis treatment at ECTRIMS 2025? As the 41st Congress came to a close in Barcelona, attention turned to new clinical trial results and what they could mean for the future of MS care.

Dr. Sharmilee Gnanapavan, Consultant Neurologist at Barts Health and Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (UK), joins host Brett Drummond to unpack the key treatment takeaways from ECTRIMS 2025, the research worth watching, and what the MS community can look forward to as the Congress heads to Toronto in 2026.

Sponsorship Disclosure: This ECTRIMS podcast episode is supported by an educational grant from Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Diseases. Bristol Myers Squibb, Roche, Sanofi, and UCB. Educational grant providers have no input into the podcast series content.

What were some of the most important new developments in multiple sclerosis research and treatment at ECTRIMS 2025? Dr. Barry Singer, Director and Founder of The MS Center for Innovations in Care, joins host Brett Drummond to unpack the key research, clinical findings, and emerging treatment developments presented during the second day of the 41st ECTRIMS Congress in Barcelona.

Together, they explore the findings generating discussion among MS experts, what they could mean for people living with multiple sclerosis, and the research and treatment advances that could help shape the future of MS care.

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This podcast episode is supported by an educational grant from Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Diseases, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi, and UCB. Educational grant providers have no input into the podcast series content.

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.

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.

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. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(25)00270-4 (2025).

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.