European Committee for Treatment & Research in Multiple Sclerosis

01/04/2026

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The ECTRIMS podcast features conversations with leading experts across the full spectrum of MS research and clinical care, available whenever and wherever you are.

𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐰:

🎙️ Website: https://ectrims.eu/podcast/
🎧 Spotify: https://bit.ly/4bTWaE8
📱 Apple: https://apple.co/3LWbsxJ

31/03/2026

As we wrap up , we're sharing the history of our founding more than 40 years ago in our award-winning video.

It starts with the vision of one of our pioneering founders, Professor Otto R. Hommes. And it ends with a tribute to our collective achievements, the incredible progress we’ve made since our humble beginnings, and the community we’ve built over more than four decades.

From a small meeting of the "chosen few" in the back of a pub, ECTRIMS has grown into the world's largest professional organisation dedicated to the understanding and treatment of MS and related neurological conditions.

Watch the full video, which won a Finalist Certificate at the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards 👉 https://bit.ly/4lopsgY

📽️ Short film by: Bastien Dreyer & the team at La vie est un film

🎬 Executive Producer: Naomi Smith

27/03/2026

ECTRIMS is proud to stand alongside the global community in supporting the new 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐍𝐌𝐎𝐒𝐃 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝟮𝟳 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡.

As part of , we are highlighting the important work being done by the Supporting Partners of ECTRIMS Patient Community Day.

Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (𝐍𝐌𝐎𝐒𝐃) is a rare autoimmune neurological disease that can lead to vision loss, paralysis, chronic pain, and other severe complications. Yet for many people living with NMOSD, the greatest challenge is often 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.

Raising awareness is essential to changing that reality.

Through global initiatives such as #𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐍𝐌𝐎𝐒𝐃𝐃𝐚𝐲, patient organisations, clinicians, researchers, and advocates are coming together to strengthen recognition of the disease, promote earlier diagnosis, and improve access to care worldwide.

We are proud to support this initiative led by NMO Brasil, alongside partners across the international neurological community.

We are pleased to share a press release from NMO Brasil highlighting the global campaign and the organisations working together to amplify this message.

🔗 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐌𝐒 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞: https://bit.ly/4cyf2ZQ

24/03/2026

🚀 Registration for is now OPEN!

Take advantage of our EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT and secure your place at the 10th Joint ACTRIMS-ECTRIMS Meeting, to be held 21-23 October 2026 in the vibrant city of Toronto, Canada 👉 https://mstoronto2026.org/registration/

What can you look forward to in Toronto?
🔹 Ground-breaking Scientific Sessions
🔹 Hot Topic discussions
🔹 Meet the Expert sessions
🔹 Pre-Day on MOGAD, NMOSD, and rare inflammatory autoimmune diseases
🔹 And much more!

Learn more about registration, abstract submission, hotel bookings, and program: https://mstoronto2026.org/

Every three years, European Committee for Treatment & Research in Multiple Sclerosis and ACTRIMS come together to host a joint meeting to share the latest advancements in research and treatments.

23/03/2026

🧭 𝐌𝐒 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐄𝐂𝐅)

For many people living with 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐬, the symptoms that most affect daily life — such as fatigue, pain, cognitive changes, mobility challenges, and emotional wellbeing — are not always captured by traditional clinical measures like MRI scans or relapse rates.

This featured blog – courtesy of the European Charcot Foundation (ECF) – explores an important question: How do we truly measure whether MS treatments are improving people’s lives?

The blog highlights growing calls within the scientific community to include patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) when evaluating treatments. These tools allow people with MS to report directly on their symptoms and quality of life, helping researchers and clinicians better understand the real-world impact of the disease.

Initiatives such as the Global PROMS Initiative are bringing together people with MS, clinicians, researchers, regulators, and patient organisations to ensure that lived experience becomes a meaningful part of research, clinical trials, and care decisions.

📖 Read the full blog: https://bit.ly/4rbbhNC

🔎 Learn more about the Global PROMS Initiative: https://bit.ly/4sv2Iyg

Throughout March, we will continue showcasing the work of our 𝟰𝟬+ 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀, who are advancing research, education, and support for people living with MS around the world.

19/03/2026

𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞: 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐥 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐲 𝐌𝐒 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫?

This episode launches a new collaborative series between the ECTRIMS Podcast and the Multiple Sclerosis Journals exploring key debates in MS through the voices of people directly affected by the disease.

Host Anneke van der Walt speaks with Jon Strum, MS caregiver and host of the RealTalk MS podcast, and Kathryn Smith, scientist and person living with MS.

Starting from opposing viewpoints – Jon argues the label matters, Kathy argues it does not – the conversation explores how MS disease course labels shape expectations, communication and lived experience.

𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞:

♦️ Why traditional MS labels may not reflect real patient experiences

♦️ The concept of progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA)

♦️ How functional symptoms and quality of life should shape disease description

♦️ The growing importance of patient voice in research and clinical care

Why the MS community may need a new language for describing disease

🎧𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐧𝐨𝐰:
Spotify: https://bit.ly/4bSc2Xl
Apple: https://apple.co/4uDgkcD
Our website: https://bit.ly/4bj5fFY

This MS Journal article series has been made open access for the next month for ease of reading.

“𝐘𝐞𝐬”– The label does matter: https://bit.ly/4rR1DAc

“𝐍𝐨” – The label does not matter: https://bit.ly/4bj5fps

16/03/2026

🎓 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞: 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐬

As part of , we are highlighting the important work being done by the Supporting Partners of ECTRIMS Patient Community Day.

Multiple Sclerosis International Federation, a Supporting Partner of 𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐌𝐒 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐃𝐚𝐲, is holding a 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 designed to help people better understand multiple sclerosis.

Developed by the Menzies Institute for Medical Research in collaboration with MSIF for World MS Day, the course Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms and Diagnosis explores key topics including:

• The biology and pathology of MS
• MS symptoms and how diagnosis is made
• The impact of receiving an MS diagnosis
• Global barriers to MS diagnosis and possible solutions

The course is designed for anyone interested in learning more about MS, including people newly diagnosed with MS, their families and carers, healthcare professionals who do not specialise in MS, and MS advocates and educators.

📅 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬: 1 May – 15 June 2026

This course forms part of the My MS Diagnosis campaign, which calls for earlier and more accurate diagnosis for everyone living with MS worldwide.

📝 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞: https://bit.ly/43uYehx

This post is part of our MS Awareness Month initiative highlighting the work of more than 40 Supporting Partners of ECTRIMS Patient Community Day, who are advancing education, advocacy, and support for people living with MS around the world.

13/03/2026

🧠 𝗠𝗦 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁: 𝗕𝗲𝗲𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗠𝗦

Many people living with multiple sclerosis experience symptoms that others cannot see — fatigue, brain fog, sensory changes, or shifts in balance. These invisible symptoms can quietly reshape everyday life and sometimes leave people feeling misunderstood.

As part of MS Awareness Month, we are pleased to feature a blog from BeeWellwithMS, a Supporting Partner of ECTRIMS Patient Community Day.

Their new podcast series, “Stranger Things in MS,” opens thoughtful and honest conversations about these invisible neurological experiences. Through a blend of real patient

stories and clinical insight, the series helps make sense of symptoms while offering a space where knowledge is shared with empathy and understanding.

By bringing together clinicians, patients, and multidisciplinary voices, the initiative aims to make complex MS topics more accessible — helping people feel more informed, supported, and confident in their journey.

📖 Read the blog: https://www.ectrimspatientcommunity.eu/stranger-things-in-ms-making-sense-of-invisible-neurological-experiences-introduction

🎧 Learn more about the series: www.beewellwithms.com

Throughout 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵, we will continue highlighting the work of our 𝟰𝟬+ 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀, who provide vital education, advocacy, and support for people living with MS around the world.

Blog courtesy of BeeWellWithMS, a Patient Community Day Supporting Partner Living with multiple sclerosis often means navigating symptoms that others cannot see. Fatigue, changes in thinking, altered sensations, and shifts in balance can quietly reshape everyday life, leaving many people feeling mis...

12/03/2026

📊 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐌𝐒 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐒 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥-𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡

How do researchers understand what it’s really like to live with multiple sclerosis over time? One important answer is 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬.

For #𝐌𝐒𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡, ECTRIMS is highlighting how people living with MS can contribute directly to research by sharing their experiences through these long-term data projects.

In this feature article, Prof Rod Middleton (UK MS Register) and Prof Ruth Dobson(UK MS Pregnancy Register) explain:

🔹 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 and how they collect real-world data over many years
🔹 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬, which study treatments in controlled settings
🔹𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭-𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫, capturing symptoms and experiences doctors may not see
🔹 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥-𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, such as how treatments perform long-term, how lifestyle affects MS progression, and what pregnancy outcomes look like for people with MS
🔹 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐒 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐞 simply by sharing their experiences over time

With more than 𝟱𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗞 𝗠𝗦 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲, these initiatives show how patient voices can help shape future research and improve care.

Read the full article: https://bit.ly/46Wf9L3

10/03/2026

⛵ 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿: 𝗠𝗦 𝗜𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 & 𝗢𝗰𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗦𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲

Multiple Sclerosis Ireland, a Supporting Partner of ECTRIMS Patient Community Day, will host a webinar to launch a new nationwide sailing programme for people living with MS in Ireland in 2026, in partnership with OceansofHope.

📅 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟭𝟮 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
🕒 𝟯:𝟬𝟬 𝗣𝗠 (𝗚𝗠𝗧)

During the webinar, participants will learn more about the programme, including sailing locations across Ireland, dates for 2026, and how to apply.

The initiative was spearheaded by Stephen Fitzpatrick, whose own sailing journey with Oceans of Hope across Europe and Ireland showed how powerful time at sea can be for

people living with MS. Robert Munns, CEO of Oceans of Hope Challenge, will also share insights into the project and its impact.

🔗 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿: https://bit.ly/4b14DU4

This blog is part of our MS Awareness Month initiative highlighting the work of more than 𝟰𝟬 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 of ECTRIMS Patient Community Day.

09/03/2026

💬 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐒

As part of , we are highlighting the important work being done by the Supporting Partners of ECTRIMS Patient Community Day.

Today we are featuring a blog from MS Together, which addresses an often overlooked topic in MS research and care: the relationship between multiple sclerosis and the menstrual cycle.

To help close this knowledge gap, MS Together is supporting and contributing to new research exploring how hormonal changes may affect MS symptoms. Alongside this research, they recently hosted an educational webinar bringing together researchers and clinicians to share emerging evidence, answer questions, and empower people with knowledge about their bodies and their condition.

Open conversations and patient-focused research like this are essential to ensuring that the real experiences of people living with MS help shape future care and understanding.

📖 Read the full blog here: https://bit.ly/4rWRGSs

Throughout this month, we will continue showcasing the work of our 𝟰𝟬+ 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿, highlighting the resources, research, and support they provide to people living with MS around the world.