About the Symposium
Welcome to the 2026 Mellen Center Update in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). This marks our 18th annual symposium, and we are thrilled to present a robust, forward-looking agenda that reflects the latest advances in MS research, clinical care, and rehabilitation.
This comprehensive CME symposium brings together leading experts in multiple sclerosis (MS) and related neuroimmunologic disorders to provide timely updates on advances in diagnosis, treatment, and interdisciplinary care. Through a full day of lectures and focused breakout tracks, participants will explore emerging therapies, mechanisms of disease progression, rehabilitation strategies, and practical approaches to complex clinical challenges.
The program opens with a keynote presentation by Jiwon Oh, MD, PhD, Medical Director, Barlo Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Program, St. Michael’s Hospital and University of Toronto, highlighting the evolving role of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors in multiple sclerosis. This session will review the scientific rationale for BTK inhibition, emerging clinical evidence, and the potential implications of these therapies for MS disease management, setting the stage for the day’s in-depth discussions.
Additional sessions will address new developments in MS rehabilitation, mechanisms of MS progression, hormonal influences, autoimmune encephalitis, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, vaccination considerations, infection risk associated with disease-modifying therapies, and the expanding role of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Case-based discussions and expert-led presentations will emphasize evidence-based, practical strategies that can be applied directly to patient care.
Designed for neurologists, advanced practice providers, nurses, and rehabilitation specialists, this symposium emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and real-world application to enhance clinical decision-making and improve outcomes for individuals living with multiple sclerosis.
Best Regards,
Devon Conway, MD, MS
Symposium Director
Objectives
At the completion of this activity, the participant will be able to:
- Describe updates in the use of multiple sclerosis disease-modifying therapies such as BTK inhibitors and how to manage infection risks.
- Summarize recent updates in the treatment of Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder and autoimmune encephalitis.
- Describe the latest approaches and models of rehabilitation for MS patients.
- Describe the mechanisms that contribute to MS disability progression and the influence of hormones on the disease.
- Discuss interdisciplinary strategies for managing fatigue, heat intolerance, and spasticity in MS patients.
- Describe the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in medicine, highlighting its impact on diagnosis, treatment, and patient outcomes.
- Outline the considerations in topics such as wheelchair use, targeted psychological care and vaccinations for 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.