ECTRIMS’ annual focused workshops bring together global experts in neurology to discuss relevant and timely topics of interest in MS clinical research and treatment. Participation is by invitation only. The outcomes from these programmes are often published in an internationally recognised journal.
The management of neuroimmunological disorders in women of childbearing age presents complex challenges across the reproductive spectrum. The goal of this Focused Workshop was to gather European and international experts in the field to explore the latest evidence and clinical strategies for managing family planning, pregnancy, and breastfeeding in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD), and Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody-associated Disease (MOGAD).
During the event, participants exchanged perspectives on practical guidance for family planning in general, including medication safety, relapse risk mitigation, hormonal influences, and shared decision-making with patients. Future directions of research were discussed discussed and recommended.
After expert-led sessions and interactive case presentations, the workshop featured discussions that will support a structured Delphi consensus voting process involving all participants, aimed at developing expert-agreed recommendations for reproductive counseling and treatment strategies in these patient populations. This ECTRIMS Focused Workshop was an essential step in laying the groundwork for a clinical guideline that reflects both current evidence and multidisciplinary clinical experience.
Through this collaborative effort and the resulting guideline, the 2026 Focused Workshop will empower and guide clinicians to provide individualised, evidence-based care for women navigating these pivotal life stages while living with these neuroimmunological diseases.
ECTRIMS has hosted a number of Focused Workshops since 2013.
Cancer treatment has been transformed by the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors and CAR T-cell therapies. However, these breakthroughs are also associated with potential neurological adverse effects and complications, the frequency and severity of which can vary depending on the specific therapy. CAR T-cell therapies, in particular, have begun to show significant promise in treating systemic and neurologic autoimmune diseases, demonstrating remarkable efficacy where conventional treatments have fallen short.
Given these advancements, it is essential for neurologists to be knowledgeable in these adverse effects and complications, including their clinical recognition, management, and monitoring. With the early success of CAR T-cell therapy in treating certain autoimmune neurologic diseases, neurologists and other researchers should be prepared for its broader application across a wider range of autoimmune neurological conditions.
This workshop brought together experts in immune checkpoint inhibitors and CAR T-cell therapies to offer a comprehensive update on their mechanisms, neurological complications, and management. It also explored the most effective clinical settings and CAR T-cell therapy approaches for treating various autoimmune neurological diseases. The specific goals were to:
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex and heterogeneous disease with a wide range of clinical presentations and treatment responses. This variability makes it difficult to define what constitutes a “responder” to a given MS therapy. As a result, there is a lack of consensus on how to measure treatment efficacy, which can make it challenging to compare different therapies and make treatment decisions.
This workshop aimed to bring together experts in MS research and clinical practice to discuss the challenges of defining responders and non-responders in MS therapies. The goal of the workshop was to develop a set of recommendations for standardising these definitions. The specific objectives of this workshop were:
The workshop aimed to review current knowledge regarding de-escalating strategies of disease modifying treatments in multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica (NMO), and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease (MOGAD).
It also covered physiopathological and epidemiological background justifying de-escalation and detailed specific situations regarding age, gender, disease subtype, disease form, and individual treatments. The workshop also discussed practical situations and provide recommendations for the management of de-escalating strategies and patient monitoring when de-escalating.
The workshop aimed to produce practical guidance for clinicians, patients & healthcare payers from the review of evidence & expert consensus recommendations. It served as a forum for key opinion leaders in the neurological and haematological communities across Europe to share professional/scientific developments and updates.
The workshop was also expected to lead to published articles with high potential to influence and improve clinical practice & healthcare policy development.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 8th Focused Workshop was held digitally for the first time. The workshop was originally scheduled to take place in Tel Aviv, Israel in 2020. A week full of interesting workshops and live sessions was organised.
The workshop was aimed at improving our understanding of the role of the immune system in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. Many studies pertaining to this subject have been conducted in animal models of human disease. However, the results of many animal studies did not translate well in human multiple sclerosis.
This may relate to a lack of appropriate models or species differences. A group of leading experts in the immunology of multiple sclerosis delivered a series of presentations on this issue.
The incidence and prevalence of MS along with the cost and complexity of its management are increasing, warranting a new MS clinical management paradigm. The use of new technologies allows different ways of communication and intervention that may increase equity, effectiveness, perception of quality of care, and cost optimisation. The latest scientific knowledge and clinical practice in this area were discussed.