Young Scientist Summit in Clinical Neuroimmunology
May 26-28, 2021

A core value of ACTRIMS is to mentor, educate and foster the careers of students, Neurology residents, postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty who are interested in MS-related research and/or clinical practice. To continue enhancing this mission, ACTRIMS launched the Young Scientist Summit in Clinical Neuroimmunology in 2019 and is excited to continue to build upon its success virtually in Spring 2021.

The purpose of this Summit is to educate young investigators who do not have clinical training and are engaged in multiple sclerosis-related research about MS diagnostic criteria, clinical subtypes, epidemiology, neuropathology, and treatment. The long-term goal is to forge bridges between the bench and bedside that will help junior PhD investigators formulate research questions and projects and to seek collaborations with their physician colleagues, that are more likely to lead to translational advancements in MS. Attendees of this exclusive program are selected from a pool of nominees from leaders in the ACTRIMS community. This program is a great opportunity for scientists to better understand how their research impacts patients with MS, become informed about current approaches in the diagnosis and treatment of MS, as well as to network and receive one-on-one career advice.

This program is a great opportunity for scientists to both better understand how their research impacts patients with MS and become informed about current approaches in the diagnosis and treatment of MS, as well as network and receive one-on-one career advice.

Sessions will include education presentations, workshops and networking. If your work is selected for the Data Blitz session on Friday, May 28, you will present your abstract and then participate in the Q&A session that will follow. The best talk in each category will be decided by a judging committee, and the top speakers will receive a monetary award.

The deadline to submit your application is Friday, April 30, 2021. Those who are accepted into the program will then receive directions on how to participate.

Apply here

Funded in Part By

Program

Wednesday, May 26
5:00 – 5:10 pm	Opening / Welcome Benjamin Segal, The Ohio State University
5:10 – 6:00 pm	Novartis Presentation
6:00 - 8:00 pm	Welcome Reception / Networking Event
Thursday, May 27
9:00 – 9:45 am	Introductory Remarks and Case Study I Benjamin Segal, The Ohio State University
9:45 – 10:05 am	Clinical MS Subtypes and Course Relapsing-remitting versus Secondary Progressive MS versus Primary Progressive MS; Demographic characteristics of each subtype- Diagnostic criteria; Typical MS symptoms/ signs Stephen Krieger, Mount Sinai
10:05 – 10:25 am	Epidemiology and Environmental Factors Geographic risk; Vitamin D; Cigarette smoking; Obesity; EBV Helen Tremlett, University of British Columbia
10:25 – 10:45 am	Genetics and Epigenetics of MS Concordance rates / twin studies; prominent MS risk alleles; epigenetic modifications Jennifer Graves, University of California, San Diego
10:45 – 11:00 am	Live Q&A session with Krieger, Tremlett, and Graves Moderator: Ellen Mowry
11:00 – 11:30 am	BREAK
11:30 – 11:50 am	Neuropathology of MS: The white matter lesion Classical features / white matter lesion subtypes (i.e. active, chronic active / smoldering, chronic inactive; Lucchinetti-Landsman classification; shadow plaques); Composition of inflammatory infiltrates; Axonopathy / Demyelination / Astrocytosis David Pitt, Yale University
11:50 am – 12:10 pm	Neuropathology of MS: The cortex, deep grey matter, and meninges Grey matter involvement / cortical lesions; Meningeal inflammation / follicles Martina Absinta, National Institute of Health
12:10 – 12:30 pm	Neuronal and Axonal Damage in EAE / MS Tara DeSilva, Lerner Research Institute
12:30 - 12:45 pm	Live Q&A session with Pitt, Absinta, and DeSilva Moderator: Peter Calabresi
12:45 – 2:00 pm 12:45 – 1:30 pm	LUNCH Novartis Workshop
2:00 – 3:00 pm	Live Workshops Attendees will select a workshop. Women and underrepresented minorities in MS Research: Challenges, strategies and support networks Moderator: Emmanuelle Waubant Discussants: Mitzi Joi Williams, Jiwon Oh, Rhonda Voskuhl, Dorlan Kimbrough, Tirisham Gyang Global perspectives on MS research: Moderator: Daniel Ontaneda – ask Dan if he has the discussants from the other orgs and if we need to follow up Discussants: Representatives from LACTRIMS, PACTRIMS, MENACTRIMS
3:00 – 3:30 pm	BREAK
3:30 – 3:50 pm	Case Study II Daniel Ontaneda, Cleveland Clinic
3:50 – 5:05 pm	Paraclinical Tests and Outcome Measures
	3:50 – 4:10 pm	Immunological markers OCBs, IgG index, anti-aquaporin-4 antibodies, ENA, research studies Mitzi Joi Williams, Founding Director, Joi Life Wellness Group
	3:10 – 4:30 pm	MRI: Typical Findings / Research Applications Jiwon Oh, University of Toronto
	4:30 – 4:50 pm	Visual Measurements and Optical Coherence Tomography Dorlan Kimbrough, Duke
	4:50 – 5:05 pm	Live Q & A session with Williams, Oh, Kimbrough Moderator: Trisham Gyang
5:05 – 5:50 pm	Panel Discussion Challenges and limitations in the discovery of new biomarkers and their translation to the clinic or as outcome measures in trials Moderator: Daniel Ontaneda Discussants: Stephen Krieger, Olaf Stuve, Scott Zamvil, Jiwon Oh
5:50 – 6:00 pm	Closing
Friday, May 28th
9:00 – 9:30 am	Workshop on fellowships and grant opportunities Ursula Utz, NIH; Doug Landsman, NMSS
9:30 – 11:30 am	Data Blitz
11:30 am – 12:45 pm	Workshop: Animal Models of MS (EAE and chemically induced demyelination) Topics of discussion: How individual models accurately simulate, or differ from, human disease; Translatability of animal model findings to the clinic. Appropriateness of different animal models for studying inflammatory, neurodegenerative, demyelinating and/ or repair pathways potentially relevant to MS. Moderator: Olaf Stuve Participants: Greg Wu, Peter Calabresi, Tara DeSilva, Rhonda Voskuhl, Scott Zamvil
12:45 – 1:15 pm	LUNCH
1:15 – 1:20 pm	Announcement of awardees- Data Blitz
1:20 – 2:20 pm	Enhancing translational research: How to forge collaborations with clinicians Discussants will provide examples of how discoveries in animal models, imaging studies, epidemiological studies, etc. have led to collaborative clinical studies; basic scientists on the panel will describe how they forged collaborations with clinicians. Moderator: Greg Wu Discussants: Jiwon Oh, Tara DaSilva, Ellen Mowry, Scott Zamvil Helen Tremlett
2:20 – 2:30 pm	BREAK
2:30 – 2:50 pm	Neuromyelitis Optica and MOG Ab Mediated Disease Clinical presentation, demographics, serologies / work – up, treatment Scott Zamvil, UCSF
2:50 – 3:10 pm	MS Clinical Trial Design Basic elements of clinical trial design (inclusion / exclusion criteria, randomization, placebo versus head-to-head, outcome measures, Phase 1 vs. 2 vs. 3, etc.) Ellen Mowry, Johns Hopkins University
3:10 – 3:30 pm	Current Disease Modifying Therapies Disease-Modifying Therapies: Mechanism of action / efficacy / side effects / customized approaches / aggressive versus escalation approaches; Autologous Bone Marrow Transplantation Emmanuelle Waubant, University of California, San Francisco
3:30 – 3:45 pm	Live Q & A session with Zamvil, Mowry, Waubant Moderator: Ben Segal
3:30 – 3:55 pm	Case Study III Management of RRMS patient with breakthrough disease activity Tirisham Gyang, The Ohio State University
3:55 – 4:20 pm	Disease-Modifying Therapies on the Horizon Ongoing and planned clinical trials, including of neuroprotective and pro-regenerative therapies Rhonda Voskuhl, University of California, Los Angeles
4:20 – 4:30 pm	Closing Remarks Benjamin Segal, The Ohio State University

Sponsorship Opportunities

All sponsorship opportunities are available on a first-come, first-served basis. In addition to the recognition outlined with each support opportunity, sponsors will also receive corporate acknowledgment: • On the Young Scientist Summit in Clinical Neuroimmunology webpage with a link to the supporting company’s corporate website • In Young Scientist Summit in Clinical Neuroimmunology e-mail communications

Prep Package - $15,000

Cultivating connectedness in virtual meetings is of utmost importance. Help build engagement by providing attendees with a Young Scientist Summit “Prep Package” shipped to their home prior to the virtual event. The Prep Package will include ACTRIMS branded swag such as a notebook, pen, and coffee mug. A special welcome postcard will be included in each package and will feature corporate recognition of the exclusive Prep Package sponsor. Specific swag to be confirmed at ACTIRMS’ discretion and production is included.

Virtual Networking Event - $7,500

Independent Scientific Workshops - $15,000 each

The Young Scientist Summit will feature three independently supported workshops. Each workshop sponsor will be responsible for developing scientific content that showcases the important link between bench science and patients. Promotional content is prohibited. Workshops will be limited to 45 minutes with 30 minutes dedicated to education and 15 minutes for Q&A. Complete the Industry Supporter Application Form to indicate your interest in sponsoring a workshops. ACTRIMS will then provide each supporter an application form for review and approval by ACTRIMS Leadership. Workshop dates and times are to be confirmed.

Young Scientist Summit in Clinical NeuroimmunologyMay 26-28, 2021