ACTRIMS Forum 2018

Therapeutic Targets in MS: The Frontier and the Future of Disease Modifying Therapy

All Forum sessions strive to include one or more of these disciplines:

Immunology/Inflammation
Neurobiology
Imaging
Clinical studies and trials
Neurorepair

Thursday, February 1, 2018

12:15pm - 1:45pm	NAIMS Symposium
2:00pm - 2:10pm	Opening Address Jack Antel, McGill University
2:10pm - 3:55pm	SESSION 1 - Emerging Concepts in MS Chairs: Michael Levin, University of Saskatchewan; Tara DeSilva, Lerner Research Institute Theme: Highlighting cutting edge studies that inform our understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms in MS, introduce novel measures to capture disease activity, and advance treatment options for affected individuals. This session will be comprised of platform presentations by young investigators selected from submitted abstracts (there will be six 15-min. talks, each consisting of 10-min. presentation and 5-min. Q&A)
	2:10pm - 2:25pm	CCL6 Is Induced in CNS-Infiltrating Myeloid Cells By a GM-CSF Dependent Pathway, Driving Chronic Disability during EAE Patrick Duncker, University of Michigan
	2:25pm - 2:40pm	The Transcription Factor Bhlhe40 Sustains TH17 Cell Pathogenicity in EAE Brian Edelson, Washington University School of Medicine
	2:40pm - 2:55pm	Selective Deletion of AMPA Receptors on Oligodendrocytes Prevents Demyelination and Axonal Injury in Autoimmune Demyelination Kirsten Evonuk, Cleveland Clinic
	2:55pm - 3:10pm	Effect of Age at Puberty on Risk of Multiple Sclerosis: A Mendelian Randomization Study Adil Harroud, McGill University
	2:55pm - 3:10pm	Effect of Age at Puberty on Risk of Multiple Sclerosis: A Mendelian Randomization Study Adil Harroud, McGill University
	3:10pm - 3:25pm	Characterization of MS Brain Lesions Using Flow Cytometry and Histochemistry Evelyn Peelen, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal
	3:25pm - 3:40pm	From T Cell Receptor to Antigen, Systems Approach to Discovering T Cell Antigen(s) in Multiple Sclerosis and Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Naresha Saligrama, Stanford University
	3:40pm - 3:55pm	Disability Specific Drug Discovery in MS: Focus on Vision Alessia Tassoni, University of California, Los Angeles
3:55pm - 4:15pm	BREAK
4:15pm - 5:15pm	Kenneth P. Johnson Memorial Lecture Suhayl Dhib-Jalbut, Rutgers University
5:15pm - 6:00pm	NMSS Barancik Award Presentation and Talk Myelin regeneration: from mechanisms to medicines Robin Franklin, University of Cambridge, UK

Friday, February 2, 2018

7:00am - 8:15am
IMSVISUAL Symposium

8:30am-11:15am
SESSION 2 - The Blood-Brain Barrier
Chairs: Joel Pachter, U Conn; Dritan Agalliu, Columbia

Theme: Blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown is an early event in the formation of MS lesions. This session will provide a review of BBB physiology and how it is interrupted during MS. The mechanism of current disease modifying therapies that affect the BBB will be examined. Novel adhesion molecules, that may be targeted in the future, will be discussed.

 
8:30am - 8:40am
Opening Comments by Session Chairs

 
8:40am - 9:05am
Introduction to the Anatomy and Physiology of the BBB
Britta Engelhardt, University of Bern

 

9:05am - 9:30am
Dynamic Changes to the BBB During MS: Lessons from Imaging

9:30am - 10:00am
BREAK

10:00am - 10:25am
Effects of Current Disease Modifying Therapies on the BBB: Insights into Mechanism of Action
Olaf Stuve, UT-Southwestern

10:25am - 10:50am
Novel Adhesion Molecule Targets in MS
Alex Prat, University of Montreal

10:50am - 11:15am
Panel Discussion

11:30am - 1:00pm
Poster Session 2 / Lunch

1:00pm - 3:45pm
SESSION 3 - Lymphocytes
Chairs: Mike Racke, Ohio State University; Shannon Dunn, University of Toronto

Theme: T cells have been implicated in the pathogenesis of MS by GWAS, histological analyses of MS lesions and animal model studies. An important role of B cells was recently demonstrated by successful clinical trials of B cell depleting agents in MS. This session will provide a review of our current understanding of the roles of T and B cells in the development of MS lesions. Clinical trial data, and putative mechanisms of action, of lymphocyte modulating therapies in MS will be discussed.

 
1:00pm - 1:10pm
Opening Comments by Session Chairs

 
1:10pm - 1:35pm
An Introduction to the Role of Lymphocytes in MS
Jennifer Gommerman, University of Toronto

 
1:35pm - :00pm
B Cell Targeting Agents: Mechanism of Action in RRMS and PPMS
Anne Cross, Washington University in St. Louis

2:00pm - 2:30pm
BREAK

2:30pm - 2:55pm
HSCT in MS: Reshaping the Immune System and Long Term Impact on Disease Activity
Amit Bar-Or, University of Penn

2:55pm - 3:20pm
Alemtuzumab: Paradoxical Effects on Autoimmunity in Individuals MS
Alasdair Coles, University of Cambridge

3:20pm - 3:45pm
Panel Discussion

3:45pm - 4:00pm
BREAK

4:00pm - 5:00pm
Cutting Edge Developments in MS Research
Chair: Benjamin Segal, University of Michigan

 
4:00pm - 4:15pm
Nanocrystalline Gold As a Novel Remyelination Therapeutic for Multiple Sclerosis
Michael Hotchkin, Clene Nanomedicine, Inc.

 
4:15pm - 4:30pm
Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells Are Co-Opted By the Immune System to Cross-Present Antigen and Mediate Cytotoxicity
Leslie Kirby, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

 
4:30pm - 4:45pm
Genetic Risk Variant for Multiple Sclerosis Drives Astrocyte Responses Associated with Lesion Formation.
Gerald Ponath, Yale University

 
4:45pm - 5:00pm
Natalizumab Extended Interval Dosing Is Associated with a Reduction in Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML) Risk in the Touch® Registry
Lana Zhovtis Ryerson, NYU Langone Health, New York University

5:00pm - 6:30pm
Awards Reception

Saturday, February 3, 2018

6:30am - 7:45am	A Multiple Sclerosis Virtual Reality Experience: Reaching Diagnosis, Delivering Treatment, and Setting Goals for Long-Term Success This CME activity is provided by Med Learning Group. This activity is supported by an educational grant from Abbvie, Celgene Corporation and Genentech. .
8:00am - 9:50am	SESSION 4 - Microglia and Macrophages Chairs: V. Wee Yong, University of Calgary; Susan Gauthier, Cornell University Theme: The otogeny and biology of microglia will be reviewed. Cutting edge research on the beneficial and destructive effects of microglia and macrophages during inflammatory demyelinating disease will be discussed.
	8:00am - 8:10am	Opening Comments by Session Chairs
	8:10am - 8:35am	Pathogenic and Beneficial Effects of Microglia in Neuroinflammatory Disease Katerina Akassoglou, University of California - San Francisco
	8:35am - 9:00am	In Vivo Imaging of Microglial Activiation in MS Caterina Mainero, Harvard
	9:00am - 9:25am	Targeting Microglia and Macrophages to Promote Repair in MS: Effects of Current Disease Modifying Therapies on Myeloid Cells and Future Directions Veronique Miron, University of Edinburgh
	9:25am - 9:50am	Panel Discussion
9:50am - 10:05am	BREAK
10:05am - 11:55am	SESSION 5 - Astrocytes Chairs: David Pleasure, UC Davis; Nicola Allen, Salk Institute Theme: A general overview of astrocyte biology will be given. Cutting-edge research on the heterogeneity of astrocytes and their contribution to lesion progression and resolution in MS will be discussed.
	10:05am - 10:15am	Opening Comments by Session Chairs
	10:15am - 10:40am	An Overview of Astrocytes and Their Potential Role in CNS Pathology and Repair Michael Sofroniew, UCLA
	10:40am - 11:05am	Neurotoxic Astrocytes and Potential Role in MS Pathogenesis Shane Liddlelow, Stanford
	11:05am - 11:30am	S1P Receptor Modulation of Astrocytes in Animal Models of MS: Implications for a Role of Astrocytes in SPMS Francisco Quintana, Harvard
	11:30am - 11:55am	Panel Discussion
11:55am - 1:00pm	LUNCH
1:00pm - 3:15pm	SESSION 6 - Oligodendrocytes and Their Precursors Chairs: Tom Lane, University of Utah; Babette Fuss, Virginia Commonwealth Theme: Chronic disability in MS may be due in part to a failure of oligodendrocyte differentiation and remyelination. The focus of this session is novel strategies for promoting these processes in patients.
	1:00pm - 1:10pm	Opening Comments by Session Chairs
	1:10pm - 1:35pm	Oligodendrocyte Differentiation and Myelination: An Overview Wendy Macklin, University of Colorado
	1:35pm - 2:00pm	Enhancing OPC Differentiation in the Setting of MS Charles Ffrench-Constant, University of Edinburgh
	2:00pm - 2:25pm	Strategies to Identify Candidate Remyelinating agents for MS Clinical Trials Paul Tesar, Case Western Reserve
	2:25pm - 2:50pm	Remyelinating Agents: From Bench to Bedside Ari Green, University of California - San Francisco
	2:50pm - 3:15pm	Panel Discussion
3:15pm - 3:25pm	Closing Remarks
3:45pm - 5:00pm	Innovations in Managing Immune Dysfunction in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis This CME activity is provided by Projects In Knowledge. This activity is supported by an educational grant from EMD Serono, Inc.