The ECTRIMS annual Winter School is aimed at supporting timely international scientific/clinical meetings on topics of interest and importance in multiple sclerosis. Programmes are limited in the number of participants and are held in European locations designed to facilitate discussion and interaction. Outcomes from the programme are often published in an internationally recognised journal.
Winter Schools
Winter Schools
ECTRIMS Winter School 2026
Update on Diagnosis and Treatment of NMOSD and MOGAD
21 - 23 January 2026 – Ljubljana, Slovenia
About this Programme
The 4th ECTRIMS Winter School addressed young clinicians and investigators with an interest in the diagnosis and management of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD).
Organised in collaboration with the MOGAD Eugène Devic European Network (MEDEN), the programme provided a comprehensive overview of these rare yet distinct inflammatory disorders of the central nervous system, covering key aspects from pathology and etiopathogenesis to diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and treatment. Through expert-led lectures, interactive working groups, and practical workshops, participants gained in-depth insights into the latest advances in disease mechanisms, clinical presentation, imaging features, and body fluid biomarker utilisation.
A special focus was placed on seronegative cases and distinguishing NMOSD and MOGAD from multiple sclerosis and other mimicking conditions, as well as on optimising treatment strategies, including immunotherapies and long-term management considerations. At the end of the course, attendees were equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to enhance their clinical practice and research in these evolving fields.
For questions regarding the programme or your application, please contact the ECTRIMS Secretariat at secretariat@ectrims.eu.
Previous Winter Schools
2025: 2024 Revisions of the McDonald Diagnostic Criteria for MS
15-17 January 2025 – Riga, Latvia
The 3rd ECTRIMS Winter School was designed for young clinicians specialising in multiple sclerosis as well as for neurology fellows who wanted to understand the novel diagnostic criteria for MS.
The Winter School aimed to present and critically discuss the 2024 McDonald criteria for the diagnosis of MS. Sessions covered the role of optic nerve MRI, optical coherence tomography and novel imaging, and fluid biomarkers in the revised criteria. Each novel recommendation was presented in light of the current literature, and practical considerations were be made to facilitate the introduction of the novel criteria in clinical practice. The workshop also discussed diagnostic challenges and helped participants understand how to apply the novel diagnostic criteria in specific MS patients.
2024: Body Fluid Biomarkers in Diagnosis, Management and Research of Multiple Sclerosis: From Bench to Bedside
The 2nd ECTRIMS Winter School was directed towards young clinicians specialising in multiple sclerosis – neurologists, researchers, residents, and fellows – who are eager to deepen their understanding of biomarkers and their applications in MS.
The Winter School provided a comprehensive understanding of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood biomarkers for MS differential diagnosis, for monitoring disease activity as well as progression, and for predicting treatment response. Participants gained insights from renowned experts in the field of MS research and biomarkers to broaden their understanding of biomarker discovery, validation, and clinical applications in MS.
The Winter School also included practical workshops, including on statistics, to help better identify, analyse, and interpret biomarkers in MS. These sessions provided a unique opportunity to collaborate and learn from fellow young clinicians and experts in the field.
2022: Use of MRI in Diagnosis, Management, and Research of Multiple Sclerosis
The first annual ECTRIMS Winter School – jointly organised with Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis (MAGNIMS) – was directed towards young MS clinicians and investigators with an interest in diagnosis and management of multiple sclerosis, as well as MS research including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques. MRI plays a key role in the diagnosis and management of people with multiple sclerosis. Appropriate knowledge and expertise in the use of MRI for MS clinical assessment as well as research is central in the career development of any MS expert.
The course aimed to equip participants with the knowledge and expertise needed to diagnose MS, evaluate the effectiveness of drugs in MS, understand the value of non-conventional and quantitative MRI for assessing structural, metabolic and functional damage in MS, and become familiar with the different techniques used for imaging analysis.