Biyoteknoloji ve Multipl Skleroz Araştırma Derneği Türkiye MS Derneği
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Scientific Programme

Fourteen sessions over the three days of the international programme (Days 2, 3 and 4), each opening with a debate and closing with discussion, alongside satellite symposia, oral abstract presentations and a Pre-Dinner Summary and Thoughts on Day closing each evening.

Istanbul MS Days XI — Scientific Programme

30 March – 3 April 2027 · Papillon Zeugma Resort, Belek, Antalya, Türkiye

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Day 1 — 30 March 2027

All sessions on this day will be held in Turkish, except for the Young Investigators & European Charcot Foundation Fellowship Community Special Session.

  1. 13:00-14:30
    Panel I

    How recent advances in MS biomarkers are shaping diagnostic and treatment approaches today and in the near future

    MS biyobelirteçlerindeki son gelişmelerin bugün ve yakın gelecekteki tanı ve tedavi yaklaşımlarına yansımaları

  2. 14:30-15:15

    Satellite Symposium

    Uydu Sempozyumu

  3. 15:15-15:30 Coffee BreakKahve Arası
  4. 15:30-17:00
    Panel II

    Current approaches to the treatment of MS

    MS tedavisinde güncel yaklaşımlar

  5. 17:00-17:45

    Satellite Symposium

    Uydu Sempozyumu

  6. 17:45-18:00 Coffee BreakKahve Arası
  7. 18:00-19:00
    Panel III

    Young Investigators & European Charcot Foundation Fellowship Community Special Session

  8. 19:00-20:00

    Panel IV

    1. 19:00-19:20

      Will new advances in neuroimmunology change the immunopathogenesis of MS?

      Nöroimmünolojideki yeni gelişmeler MS immünopatogenezini değiştirecek mi?

    2. 19:20-19:40

      What might PET studies change in how we understand and approach MS?

      PET çalışmaları MS’yi anlama ve yaklaşımımızda neleri değiştirebilir?

    3. 19:40-20:00

      How will artificial intelligence affect the diagnosis and treatment of MS in the future?

      Yapay zekâ gelecekte MS tanı ve tedavisini nasıl etkileyecek?

  9. 20:00-20:15

    Discussion

    Tartışma

Day 2 — 31 March 2027

  1. 09:00-10:30

    Official Opening & Presentation of the Istanbul MS Days Award

    1. 09:00-09:20

      Opening Ceremony

      • 5-minute inspirational video “Patients’ Voice: What do our patients expect from us?”
      • Short comments on the video by Rana Karabudak and Hüsnü Efendi
    2. 09:20-09:35
      Welcome address 1

      Tree of Life: The interconnected roots of existence

      Orhun Kantarci

    3. 09:35-09:50
      Welcome address 2

      From roots to fruits in MS & Autoimmunity

      Aksel Siva

    4. 09:50-10:00

      Presentation of the Istanbul MS Days 2027 Award

      Hüsnü Efendi, Orhun Kantarci, Rana Karabudak, Aksel Siva

    5. 10:00-10:30
      2027 Istanbul MS Days Award Lecture

      How to rejuvenate the nervous system: Roots up or branches down

      Catherine Lubetzki

  2. 10:30-10:45 Coffee break
  3. 10:45-12:20
    Session 1

    Seeds of MS

    Chairs & discussantsEda Tahir Turanlı, Ellen Mowry, Anthony Traboulsee

    1. 10:45-11:00
      Introductory debate

      Is inheritance of MS genetic or epigenetic?

      ModeratorEda Tahir Turanlı

      Genetic Anthony Traboulsee
      Epigenetic Ellen Mowry

      Followed by an electronic live voting

    2. 11:00-11:20

      Genetic risk of MS is underestimated

      Philip L. De Jager

    3. 11:20-11:40

      Epigenetic inheritance of MS shapes diversity in MS outcomes

      Nabeela Nathoo

    4. 11:40-12:00

      Is EBV the only trigger of MS or tip of the iceberg?

      Alberto Ascherio

    5. 12:00-12:20

      Q&A and discussion

  4. 12:20-13:45

    Lunch & In-Lunch Satellite Symposium

  5. 13:45-15:20
    Session 2

    Seeds to Initial Roots of MS

    Chairs & discussantsDimitrios Karussis, Batu Erman, Anat Achiron

    1. 13:45-14:00
      Introductory debate

      Does the immune system have a master regulatory cell?

      ModeratorDimitrios Karussis

      Yes Anat Achiron
      No Batu Erman

      Followed by an electronic live voting

    2. 14:00-14:20

      Tregs matter in MS

      David Hafler

    3. 14:20-14:40

      Bregs matter more than Tregs in MS

      Andrew Chan

    4. 14:40-15:00

      Ingress of the Innate: monocyte lineage in MS immune regulation

      Amit Bar-Or

    5. 15:00-15:20

      Q&A and discussion

  6. 15:20-15:35 Coffee break
  7. 15:35-17:10
    Session 3

    Establishing the Root System in MS

    Chairs & discussantsBoris Zalc, Romana Höftberger, Jack Antel

    1. 15:35-15:50
      Introductory debate

      Does the CNS have a master regulatory cell?

      ModeratorJack Antel

      Yes Boris Zalc
      No Romana Höftberger

      Followed by an electronic live voting

    2. 15:50-16:10

      Ependymal Cells: The Glass Child of CNS Glia

      Bruce Trapp

    3. 16:10-16:30

      Oligodendrocytes: Between a rock and a hard place

      V. Wee Yong

    4. 16:30-16:50

      Microglia: Master of cells or Orion?

      Laura Airas

    5. 16:50-17:10

      Q&A and discussion

  8. 17:10-17:25 Coffee break
  9. 17:25-19:00
    Session 4

    Connecting the Root System in MS

    Chairs & discussantsSerkan Demir, Vilas Menon, Darin Okuda

    1. 17:25-17:40
      Introductory debate

      AI will reshape our understanding of MS & autoimmunity

      ModeratorSerkan Demir

      Yes Vilas Menon
      No Darin Okuda

      Followed by an electronic live voting

    2. 17:40-18:00

      How to build AI into the future of medical education

      Janet Hafler

    3. 18:00-18:20

      Using AI to solve the unsolvable: Examples from the real world

      Mika Gustafsson

    4. 18:20-18:40

      Using the roots rather than the fruits of disease to redefine the phenotypes of MS: An AI-based approach

      Heinz Wiendl

    5. 18:40-19:00

      Q&A and discussion

  10. 19:00-19:30

    Pre-Dinner Summary and Thoughts on Day 1

    SpeakerSamia Khoury, Jack Antel

    Highlights, key learning points and faculty perspectives from the day’s sessions

Day 3 — 1 April 2027

  1. 08:00-08:50

    Oral Abstract Presentations

    1. Hall A — Oral abstract presentations in English

    2. Hall B — Oral abstract presentations in English

    3. Hall C — Oral abstract presentations in Turkish

    4. Hall D — Oral abstract presentations in Turkish

  2. 09:00-10:35
    Session 5

    Clinical Branches of MS

    Chairs & discussantsMagd Zakaria, Ludwig Kappos, Brian Weinshenker

    1. 09:00-09:15
      Introductory debate

      Does MS have distinct phases?

      ModeratorMagd Zakaria

      Yes Brian Weinshenker
      No Ludwig Kappos

      Followed by an electronic live voting

    2. 09:15-09:35

      All relapses are equal, but some relapses are more equal than others

      Darin Okuda

    3. 09:35-09:55

      The biology of progressive MS is a continuum that starts from the beginning

      Daniel Ontaneda

    4. 09:55-10:15

      The makeup of cumulative disability in MS: Why do we see “benign” and severe extremes?

      Christina J. Azevedo

    5. 10:15-10:35

      Q&A and discussion

  3. 10:35-10:50 Coffee break
  4. 10:50-12:25
    Session 6

    Imaging Branches and Fruits of MS

    Chairs & discussantsSerhat Okar, Bruno Stankoff, Daniel Reich

    1. 10:50-11:05
      Introductory debate

      Molecular imaging is as important as MRI for understanding the progressive MS phenotype

      ModeratorSerhat Okar

      Yes Bruno Stankoff
      No Daniel Reich

      Followed by an electronic live voting

    2. 11:05-11:25

      After the acute phase, some lesions continue to evolve: Smoldering and slowly expanding lesions in the CNS

      Susan Gauthier

    3. 11:25-11:45

      MS is a diffuse slow burn within the CNS: The smoldering brain and atrophy at distant sites

      Burcu Zeydan

    4. 11:45-12:05

      Skull bone marrow in MS: Lessons from TSPO-PET

      Caterina Mainero

    5. 12:05-12:25

      Q&A and discussion

  5. 12:25-13:50

    Lunch & In-Lunch Satellite Symposium

  6. 13:50-15:35
    Session 7

    Ripening the Fruits of MS

    Chairs & discussantsNur Yüceyar, Emmanuelle Waubant, Sandra Vukusic

    1. 13:50-14:05
      Introductory debate

      Is it time to consider sex hormone-based therapy in MS?

      ModeratorNur Yüceyar

      Yes Emmanuelle Waubant
      No Sandra Vukusic

      Followed by an electronic live voting

    2. 14:05-14:25

      Mixing and matching sex chromosomes to dissect their impact on autoimmunity and MS

      Manu Rangachari

    3. 14:25-14:45

      Too much or too little? How female hormones shape MS across the reproductive lifespan

      Kerstin Hellwig

    4. 14:45-15:05

      How do male sex hormones impact MS?

      Riley Bove

    5. 15:05-15:35

      Q&A and discussion

  7. 15:35-15:50 Coffee break
  8. 15:50-17:25
    Session 8

    Harvesting better outcomes in MS starts with early diagnosis

    Chairs & discussantsHüsnü Efendi, Xavier Montalban, Bassem Yamout

    1. 15:50-16:05
      Introductory debate

      Will earlier diagnosis using the 2024 McDonald criteria meaningfully reduce long-term disability in MS?

      ModeratorHüsnü Efendi

      Yes Xavier Montalban
      No Bassem Yamout

      Followed by an electronic live voting

    2. 16:05-16:25

      The multiple sclerosis diagnostic tree re-envisioned: New roots and branches

      Ellen Mowry

    3. 16:25-16:45

      Imaging gold standards for validating MS diagnostic criteria: Lessons from RIS and beyond, with potential implications for treatment outcomes

      Christine Lebrun-Frénay

    4. 16:45-17:05

      How should MS diagnostic criteria best be validated from a statistical perspective?

      Maria Pia Sormani

    5. 17:05-17:25

      Q&A and discussion

  9. 17:25-17:40 Coffee break
  10. 17:40-19:15
    Session 9

    Grafting the MS tree to bear a different fruit

    Chairs & discussantsJiwon Oh, Hans Lassmann, Hans-Peter Hartung

    1. 17:40-17:55
      Introductory debate

      Can directly targeting microglia meaningfully improve outcomes in MS?

      ModeratorHans-Peter Hartung

      Yes Jiwon Oh
      No Hans Lassmann

      Followed by an electronic live voting

    2. 17:55-18:15

      CAR-T cell therapy in MS: What could it offer beyond current treatments, and at what risk?

      Refik Pul

    3. 18:15-18:35

      Where are the promised remyelination therapies for MS?

      Thomas Berger

    4. 18:35-18:55

      Can endogenous neural stem and progenitor cells be mobilized for CNS repair in MS?

      Orhan Aktaş

    5. 18:55-19:15

      Q&A and discussion

  11. 19:15-19:45

    Pre-Dinner Summary and Thoughts on Day 2

    SpeakerCristina Granziera, Nikolaos Grigoriadis

    Highlights, key learning points and faculty perspectives from the day’s sessions

  12. 19:45-20:00 Pre-dinner break

Day 4 — 2 April 2027

  1. 08:00-08:45

    Morning Satellite Symposium

    All panellists

  2. 09:00-10:35
    Session 10

    Describing what to pick better in MS

    Chairs & discussantsAxel Petzold, Thomas Berger, Mohammad Ali Sahraian

    1. 09:00-09:15
      Introductory debate

      We already have pretty good clinical, biofluid and imaging biomarkers: Do we still need more biomarkers for MS?

      ModeratorMohammad Ali Sahraian

      Yes Axel Petzold
      No Thomas Berger

      Followed by an electronic live voting

    2. 09:15-09:35

      Unmet needs in imaging biomarkers for MS

      Nicola De Stefano

    3. 09:35-09:55

      Unmet needs in blood biomarkers for MS

      Hayrettin Tumani

    4. 09:55-10:15

      Unmet needs in CSF biomarkers for MS

      Eric Thouvenot

    5. 10:15-10:35

      Q&A and discussion

  3. 10:35-10:50 Coffee break
  4. 10:50-12:25
    Session 11

    Picking the hard-to-reach fruits in MS

    Chairs & discussantsYeşim Beckman, Maria Matilde Inglese, Riadh Gouider

    1. 10:50-11:05
      Introductory debate

      Cognitive and behavioral impairment is the most common and prominent disability in MS

      ModeratorYeşim Beckman

      Yes Maria Matilde Inglese
      No Riadh Gouider

      Followed by an electronic live voting

    2. 11:05-11:25

      Cognitive disability starts very early in MS

      Naila Makhani

    3. 11:25-11:45

      Radiomic features of cognitive impairment can be seen long before patients report symptoms

      Korhan Büyüktürkoğlu

    4. 11:45-12:05

      The hidden roots of cognitive impairment in MS: From cellular pathology to network failure

      Tanja Kuhlmann

    5. 12:05-12:25

      Q&A and discussion

  5. 12:25-13:50

    Lunch & In-Lunch Satellite Symposium

  6. 13:50-15:25
    Session 12

    Mimics of MS — From Roots to Fruits

    Chairs & discussantsMelih Tütüncü, Uğur Uygunoğlu, Romain Marignier

    1. 13:50-14:05
      Introductory debate

      Can autoimmune mimics of MS be reliably distinguished from MS?

      ModeratorRomain Marignier

      Yes Melih Tütüncü
      No Uğur Uygunoğlu

      Followed by an electronic live voting

    2. 14:05-14:25

      Neurosarcoidosis: The orphaned mimic of CNS autoimmunity

      Orhun Kantarci

    3. 14:25-14:45

      Diagnosing without a gold standard: Do we need better criteria for Neuro-Behçet disease?

      Aksel Siva

    4. 14:45-15:05

      Other autoimmune mimics of MS, NMOSD and MOGAD

      Eoin Flanagan

    5. 15:05-15:25

      Q&A and discussion

  7. 15:25-15:40 Coffee break
  8. 15:40-17:15
    Session 13

    From seeds to fruits in NMOSD

    Chairs & discussantsNasrin Asgari, Ayşe Altıntaş, Melinda Magyari

    1. 15:40-15:55
      Introductory debate

      Is AQP4-IgG-positive NMOSD our best model for precision therapy in CNS autoimmunity?

      ModeratorMelinda Magyari

      Yes Nasrin Asgari
      No Ayşe Altıntaş

      Followed by an electronic live voting

    2. 15:55-16:15

      What do longitudinal changes in AQP4-IgG and MOG-IgG really tell us about prognosis and treatment?

      Tania Kümpfel

    3. 16:15-16:35

      Beyond attack prevention in NMOSD: What remains unmet in treatment, recovery and long-term outcomes?

      Kazuo Fujihara

    4. 16:35-16:55

      What lies behind double-seronegative NMOSD: A distinct disease entity or a heterogeneous group of disorders?

      Paulus Rommer

    5. 16:55-17:15

      Q&A and discussion

  9. 17:15-17:30 Coffee break
  10. 17:30-19:05
    Session 14

    From seeds to fruits in MOGAD

    Chairs & discussantsNajib Kissani, Silvia Tenembaum, Rana Karabudak

    1. 17:30-17:45
      Introductory debate

      Is MOGAD primarily a post-infectious autoimmune disease of the CNS?

      ModeratorNajib Kissani

      Yes Silvia Tenembaum
      No Rana Karabudak

      Followed by an electronic live voting

    2. 17:45-18:05

      How common is MOGAD, really?

      Zsolt Illés

    3. 18:05-18:25

      From antibodies and cellular mechanisms to clinical outcomes: The biology of MOGAD

      Anne-Katrin Pröbstel

    4. 18:25-18:45

      The treatment saga in MOGAD: Whom to treat, when to start, what to use and for how long?

      Romain Marignier

    5. 18:45-19:05

      Q&A and discussion

  11. 19:05-19:35

    Pre-Dinner Summary and Thoughts on Day 3

    SpeakerBrian Weinshenker, Anthony Traboulsee

    Highlights, key learning points and faculty perspectives from the day’s sessions

  12. 19:35-19:50

    Official closure

  13. 19:50-20:15 Pre-dinner break

Day 5 — 3 April 2027

The sessions on this day are held in Turkish.

  1. 09:30-11:00

    Takeaways from Istanbul MS Days 2027, and their possible implications for future clinical and laboratory research and practice

    Istanbul MS Days 2027’den akılda kalanlar, gelecekteki klinik ve laboratuvar çalışmalara ve uygulamalara olası yansımaları

  2. 11:00-11:15 Coffee BreakKahve Arası
  3. 11:15-12:15

    Takeaways from the Evening on Diagnosis and Treatment in MS

    MS Tanı – Tedavi Gecesinden Akılda Kalanlar

  4. 12:15-12:45

    Highlights from the Oral and Poster Abstracts Presented at Istanbul MS Days 2027

    Istanbul MS Days 2027’de sunulan sözel ve poster bildirilerden öne çıkanlar

  5. 12:45-13:00

    Rational Use of Medicines

    Akılcı ilaç kullanımı

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30 March – 3 April 2027

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