About the Symposium
Welcome to the 2025 Mellen Center Update in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). This is our 17th symposium and we are thrilled with the agenda for this year’s program. The biggest change to this year’s agenda is that we will be hosting two keynote speakers because we could not decide on just one topic to highlight!
Our first keynote speaker will be Dr. Ralph Benedict. Dr. Benedict is Professor of Neurology at the University of Buffalo’s Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He is one of the most influential neuropsychologists in the field of MS and has made numerous important contributions, including development of the Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Functions in MS (MACFIMS) and evolving our understanding of the relationship between cognition and relapses. He will be speaking to us on the topic of both cognitive relapses and cognitive worsening that occurs independent of relapse activity.
Our second keynote speaker is Dr. Michelle Ploughman, who will be crossing a border to join us from Canada! Dr. Ploughman is Professor of Biomedical Sciences at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Dr. Ploughman is a physiotherapist and a neuroscientist and her research is focused on how lifestyle habits, such as aerobic exercise, can influence recovery in the setting of neurological diseases such as stroke and MS. She will be speaking to us on the topic of neurorestoration and how recent developments can be integrated into clinical care.
A number of other intriguing talks will round out our morning session. Dr. Daniel Ontaneda will be speaking on the newest updates to the McDonald Criteria and how features such as the central vein sign have been incorporated into the criteria. Dr. Marisa McGinley will speak on the challenges of access to care that many persons with MS face and how we can overcome these challenges. Finally, Dr. Robert Fox will be presenting on Phase 3 data for Bruton’s Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) inhibitors, including for the HERCULES study of tolebrutinib in nonrelapsing secondary progressive MS.
Our always-popular rehabilitation track will feature several talks centered on ways to address bothersome symptoms, including a talk on optic neuritis rehabilitation by Alyssa DeCarlo and an approach to central dizziness by Kaitlin Sparks. In our Clinical/ Research track, Dr. Jeffrey Cohen will speak about chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy in MS and Dr. Alise Carlson will present on management of women’s health in neuroimmunological disorders.
A number of other engaging talks are also planned for this year’s symposium, which we believe you will find practical and educational. The program will be offered both for in-person virtual attendance. We look forward to seeing you for another stimulating Mellen Center Update!
Best Regards,
Devon Conway, MD, MS,
Symposium Director
Objectives
At the completion of this activity, the participant will be able to:
- Describe updates in multiple sclerosis disease-modifying therapies, including BTK inhibitors and CAR-T therapy.
- Explain the 2024 updates to the McDonald Criteria and the new role of imaging in the diagnosis of MS.
- Describe the latest approaches to and complexities of neurorestoration for MS patients, including for optic neuritis, dysarthria/dysphagia, and central dizziness/vestibular dysfunction.
- Identify methods for improving access to care for patients with multiple sclerosis.
- Describe the mechanisms that contribute to cognitive disability in patients with MS, including cognitive relapses and PIRA.
- Summarize recent updates in the treatment of MOGAD in adults and children.
- Discuss best practices for addressing women’s health in neuroimmunological disorders.
- Outline strategies for managing topics such as mood disorders and driving safety in patients with MS.
Target Audience
This update is intended for health care practitioners engaged in the care of patients with MS and related disorders. We will cover a broad range of topics of value to health care professionals from a wide array of backgrounds including, physicians, nurses, physician assistants, physical, occupational, and speech therapists, psychologists and other health care practitioners who treat patients with MS.