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Course Information

About the Symposium

Welcome to the 2024 Mellen Center Update in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). This is our 16th symposium and we are excited to introduce some structural changes this year. We will have our usual afternoon rehabilitation track, but instead of two other afternoon tracks, we will consolidate into one track with shorter, more impactful presentations. Our hope is that this will offer attendees more “bang for their buck” and help to reduce the “fear of missing out” that comes with choosing between multiple simultaneous talks.

I am thrilled to announce that Dr. John Corboy will be our keynote speaker. Dr. Corboy is Professor of Neurology at the University of Colorado and has had a distinguished career in the field of MS. In particular, Dr. Corboy has been a leader in addressing the question of when it is appropriate to discontinue disease-modifying therapies in MS patients. He was the lead investigator of the DISCOMS study, a multi-center randomized discontinuation trial, the results of which will be discussed. Additionally, Dr. Amy Kunchok will be discussing neurologic complications of immune checkpoint inhibitors, an effective new immunotherapy for cancer. Dr. Cohen will also be updating us on trending three letter acronyms in MS, giving us the latest on BTK (Bruton’s tyrosine kinase) inhibitors, NFL (neurofilament light chain), and EBV (Epstein-Barr virus).

Our afternoon rehabilitation track will include engaging talks on high-tech mobility devices for MS and the best approach to patients with an early diagnosis of MS. In our clinical/research track, a number of important topics will be discussed including the evidence behind extended interval dosing of natalizumab and the latest on pregnancy and breastfeeding in the MS patient. Dr. Justin Abbatemarco will be giving us an update on the criteria proposed by the International Myelin Oligodendrocyte Antibody Disease (MOGAD) Panel for the diagnosis of MOGAD. We’ll finish off the afternoon with a round-table discussion of how MS patients are using social media and how to address patient questions that arise from content seen online.

A number of other fascinating talks are also planned for this year’s symposium, which will be offered both in-person and virtually. We welcome you to join us for the Mellen Center Update and believe you will find the program stimulating and educational!

Best Regards,


Devon Conway, MD, MS, Symposium Director

Objectives

At the completion of this activity, the participant will be able to:

  • Describe new updates in multiple sclerosis disease-modifying therapies including BTK inhibitors and extended interval dosing with natalizumab.
  • Explain the results of the DISCO-MS study and current approaches to disease-modifying therapy discontinuation in multiple sclerosis patients.
  • Describe the role of health-related quality of life in children with multiple sclerosis.
  • Summarize the role of wellness and women’s health in management strategies for patients with multiple sclerosis.
  • Critically appraise neurologic complications of immune checkpoint inhibitors.
  • Explain updates in clinical research pertaining to multiple sclerosis and the proposed diagnostic criteria for myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease.
  • Describe the latest MS rehabilitation, including dry needling, mobility devices, and high-intensity aerobic exercise.

Target Audience

This update is intended for health care practitioners engaged in the care of patients with MS and related disorders. We will cover a broad range of topics of value to health care professionals from a wide array of backgrounds including, physicians, nurses, physician assistants, physical, occupational, and speech therapists, psychologists and other health care practitioners who treat patients with MS.