Agenda
05-12-2025 08:00 am
Registration & Morning Coffee
08:00 - 09:00
05-12-2025 09:00 am
Session I: NMOSD and MOGAD Updates
Eslam Shosha
Associate Professor, McMaster University, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Hamilton Health Science Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Nikolaos Grigoriadis
Professor of Neurology, Head of Neurology Department, AHEPA University Hospital & Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
09:00 - 10:15
Chairs: E. Shousha (SA), N. Grigoriadis (GR)
05-12-2025 09:00 am
MOGAD: Update on Diagnosis and Treatment
Smail Daoudi
President, Mouloud Mammeri University of Tizi-Ouzou, University of Tizi-Ouzou, Tizi-Ouzou, Algeria
09:00 - 09:20
05-12-2025 09:20 am
NMOSD: The Updated IPND 2025 Diagnostic Criteria
Dean Wingerchuk
Head of Department of Neurology, Professor of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, United States of America
09:20 - 09:40
05-12-2025 09:40 am
MENACTRIMS Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of NMOSD
Beatriz Garcia Canibano
Consultant Neurologist, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
09:40 - 10:00
05-12-2025 10:00 am
Panel Discussion
10:00 - 10:15
05-12-2025 10:15 am
Welcome and Introduction
Bassem I. Yamout
Professor of Neurology, Director Neurology Institute, American University of Beirut & Harley Street Medical Center, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
10:15 - 10:30
05-12-2025 10:30 am
Satellite Symposium hosted by Novartis
Jihad Inshasi
Consultant Neurologist, Professor of Neurology, Rashid Hospital & Dubai Medical College, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
10:30 - 11:00
05-12-2025 10:30 am
New Insights into Kesimpta and Its Impact on MS Treatment
Raed Alroughani
Consultant Neurologist, Director of MS Clinic, Amiri and Ibn Sina Hospitals, Kuwait City, Kuwait
Heinz Wiendl
Professor of Neurology and Chair, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
05-12-2025 10:50 am
Panel Discussion
10:50 - 11:00
05-12-2025 11:00 am
Coffee Break
11:00 - 11:15
05-12-2025 11:15 am
Session II: European Charcot Foundation: Updates in Progressive MS
Raed Alroughani
Consultant Neurologist, Director of MS Clinic, Amiri and Ibn Sina Hospitals, Kuwait City, Kuwait
Xavier Montalban
Chairman and Director Dept. of Neurology-Neuroimmunology, Multiple Sclerosis Center of Catalonia, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
11:15 - 12:30
05-12-2025 11:15 am
Update on Progressive MS Research
Tim Coetzee
Chief Executive Officer, US National MS Society, Albany, New York, United States of America
11:15 - 11:35
05-12-2025 11:35 am
Diagnosing Progressive Disease in MS
Xavier Montalban
Chairman and Director Dept. of Neurology-Neuroimmunology, Multiple Sclerosis Center of Catalonia, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
11:35 - 11:55
05-12-2025 11:55 am
Treatment of Progressive MS: Present and Future
Hans-Peter Hartung
Professor and Honorary Professor, Heinrich Heine Universität & University of Sydney, Düsseldorf, Germany
11:55 - 12:15
05-12-2025 12:15 pm
Panel Discussion
12:15 - 12:30
05-12-2025 12:30 pm
Satellite Symposium hosted by Roche
Bassem I. Yamout
Professor of Neurology, Director Neurology Institute, American University of Beirut & Harley Street Medical Center, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
12:30 - 13:00
05-12-2025 12:30 pm
Start Strong, Stay Strong - More than a Decade of Transformation with Ocrevus
Raed Alroughani
Consultant Neurologist, Director of MS Clinic, Amiri and Ibn Sina Hospitals, Kuwait City, Kuwait
12:30 - 12:40
05-12-2025 12:40 pm
Ocrevus SC - Redefining MS Care presented by M. Maurer (DE)
12:40 - 12:50
05-12-2025 12:50 pm
Panel Discussion
12:55 - 13:00
05-12-2025 01:00 pm
Friday Prayer Break and Lunch
13:00 - 14:30
05-12-2025 02:30 pm
Session III: MS Treatment
Magd Zakaria
Professor of Neurology, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
Riadh Gouider
Consultant Neurologist, Head of Neurology Department, Razi Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia
14:30 - 15:45
05-12-2025 02:30 pm
Upcoming Therapies in MS
Patrick Vermersch
Vice President of Research in the fields of Life and Health Sciences, University of Lille, Lille, France
14:30 - 14:50
05-12-2025 02:50 pm
MS in Elderlies: To Stop or Not to Stop DMT
Samia Khoury
Director of Abu Haidar Neuroscience Institute and Nehme and Therese Tohme Multiple Sclerosis Center, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
14:50 - 15:10
05-12-2025 03:10 pm
Prognostic Factors Role in Choosing Therapy
Ludwig Kappos
Professor of Neurology, CEO Research Center Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB), University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
15:10 - 15:30
05-12-2025 03:30 pm
Panel Discussion
15:30 - 15:45
05-12-2025 03:45 pm
Satellite Symposium hosted by AstraZeneca: Complement Component 5 Inhibitor Therapies (C5ITs) in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD): Clinical Insights and Real-World Evidence
Bassem I. Yamout
Professor of Neurology, Director Neurology Institute, American University of Beirut & Harley Street Medical Center, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
15:45 - 16:15
05-12-2025 03:45 pm
Role of Complement 5 Inhibitor Therapies (C5ITs) in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD) presented by D. Wingerchuck (US)
15:45 - 15:57
05-12-2025 03:57 pm
Ravulizumab in NMOSD :Clinical Insights and Real-World Evidence
Alexey N. Boyko
Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University and Federal Center of Brain Research and Neurotechnologies, Director Institute of Clinical Neurology & Department of Neuroimmunology and Moscow MS Center, Moscow, Russia
15:57-16:07
05-12-2025 04:07 pm
Panel Discussion
16:07-16:15
05-12-2025 04:30 pm
Session IV: Oral Presentations
Mohammed Al-Jummah
Professor and Consultant Neurologist, InterHealth Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Celia Oreja-Guevara
Consultant Neurologist, Professor of Neurology, Vice Chair of Neurology University Hospital San Carlos, University Complutense, Madrid, Spain
16:30 - 17:30
05-12-2025 04:30 pm
OC1: Long-Term Cognitive Analysis in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis (MS): Is There a Difference Between Benign and Non-Benign MS? presented by S. Paybast (IR)
05-12-2025 04:40 pm
OC2: Epidemiology, Clinical Characteristics, and Treatment Patterns in a Large Pediatric-Onset Multiple Sclerosis Cohort presented by G. Ismail (LB)
16:40-16:50
05-12-2025 04:50 pm
OC3: The Use of Upper Cervical Spinal Cord Area as a Diagnostic Biomarker of Conversion Into Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis presented by S. Al Ghazal (US)
16:50-17:00
05-12-2025 05:00 pm
OC4: Longitudinal AI-Based MS Lesion Segmentation Tool for Heterogeneous MRI Datasets presebted by O. Abdullah (AE)
17:00-17:10
05-12-2025 05:10 pm
OC5: Added Value of Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Imaging With Fluid Attenuated Inversion Recovery (FLAIR) in Evaluation of Patients With Multiple Sclerosis presented by H. K. Hassoun (IR)
16:50-17:00
05-12-2025 05:20 pm
OC6: Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) and Multiple Sclerosis: Investigating Genetic Susceptibility and Disease Severity in Saudi Population presented by E. Nassim Ali (SA)
17:20-17:30
05-12-2025 07:30 pm
Congress Dinner
19:30 - 22:30
05-12-2025 08:30 am
Registration & Morning Coffee
08:30 - 09:00
06-12-2025 09:00 am
Session V: Neuroimaging in MS
Alexey N. Boyko
Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University and Federal Center of Brain Research and Neurotechnologies, Director Institute of Clinical Neurology & Department of Neuroimmunology and Moscow MS Center, Moscow, Russia
Saeed Bohlega
Consultant Neurologist, Professor of Neurology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
09:00 - 10:15
06-12-2025 09:00 am
Differential Diagnosis of MS: Neuroimaging Features
Mohammad Ali Sahraian
Professor of Neurology, MS Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
09:00 - 09:20
06-12-2025 09:20 am
Imaging of Smouldering Disease in MS
Bruno Stankoff
Professor of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Pierre and Marie Curie University, Hôpital Saint-Antoine & Hôpital de la Salpetrière, Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France
09:20 - 09:40
06-12-2025 09:40 am
The Evolving Role of MRI in the 2024 McDonald Criteria
Seraj Makkawi
Associate Professor and Consultant Neurologist, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
09:40 - 10:00
06-12-2025 10:00 am
Panel Discussion
10:00 - 10:15
06-12-2025 10:15 am
Coffee Break
10:15-10:30
06-12-2025 10:30 am
Satellite Symposium hosted by Merck
Jihad Inshasi
Consultant Neurologist, Professor of Neurology, Rashid Hospital & Dubai Medical College, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
10:30 - 11:00
06-12-2025 10:30 am
Optimizing Treatment Pathways: Insights from Mavenclad Clinical and Real-World Data
Jiwon Oh
Consultant Neurologist, Professor of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
Raed Alroughani
Consultant Neurologist, Director of MS Clinic, Amiri and Ibn Sina Hospitals, Kuwait City, Kuwait
10:30 - 11:00
06-12-2025 11:00 am
Session VI: Immunopathogenesis of MS
Jihad Inshasi
Consultant Neurologist, Professor of Neurology, Rashid Hospital & Dubai Medical College, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Aksel Siva
Emeritus Professor of Neurology, Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
11:00 - 12:15
06-12-2025 11:00 am
EBV and MS: Recent Updates
Oivind Fredvik Grytten Torkildsen
Professor of Neurology, Head of Section for Neurology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
11:00 - 11:20
06-12-2025 11:20 am
Immunology of MS: Peripheral vs Central Chronic Inflammation
Heinz Wiendl
Professor of Neurology and Chair, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
11:20 - 11:40
06-12-2025 11:40 am
Genetic and Environmental Factors in MS
Jaber Al Khaboori
Senior Consultant Neurologist, Khoula Hospital, Muscat, Oman
11:40 - 12:00
06-12-2025 12:00 pm
Panel Discussion
12:00 - 12:15
06-12-2025 12:15 pm
Satellite Symposium hosted by Sanofi
Bassem I. Yamout
Professor of Neurology, Director Neurology Institute, American University of Beirut & Harley Street Medical Center, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
12:15 - 12:45
06-12-2025 12:15 pm
Welcome and Introduction
Bassem I. Yamout
Professor of Neurology, Director Neurology Institute, American University of Beirut & Harley Street Medical Center, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
12:15 - 12:20
06-12-2025 12:20 pm
The HERCULES Trial: Efficacy and Safety Outcomes
Jiwon Oh
Consultant Neurologist, Professor of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
12:20 - 12:30
06-12-2025 12:30 pm
Translating Data to Clinical Practice
Patrick Vermersch
Vice President of Research in the fields of Life and Health Sciences, University of Lille, Lille, France
12:30 - 12:40
06-12-2025 12:40 pm
Panel Discussion
12:40 - 12:45
06-12-2025 12:45 pm
Lunch Break
12:45 - 14:00
06-12-2025 02:00 pm
Session VII: Special Populations in MS
Maurice Dahdaleh
Consultant Neurologist, Khalidi Hospital and Medical Center, Amman, Jordan
Ahmed Shatila
Consultant Neurologist, Mafraq Hospital, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
14:00 - 15:15
06-12-2025 02:00 pm
Pediatric MS: The MENA experience
Samar Farouk Ahmed
Consultant Neurologist, Ibn Sina Hospital, Kuwait City, Kuwait
14:00 - 14:20
06-12-2025 02:20 pm
DMTs During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Kerstin Hellwig
Consultant Neurologist, MS Specialist, St. Josef Hospital & Ruhr University, Bochum, Germany
14:20-14:40
06-12-2025 02:40 pm
RIS: When to Treat With the New Diagnostic Criteria
Christine Lebrun-Frenay
Neurologist, University of Nice, Nice, France
14:40 - 15:00
06-12-2025 03:00 pm
Panel Discussion
15:00 - 15:15
06-12-2025 03:15 pm
Satellite Symposium hosted by Biogen
Raed Alroughani
Consultant Neurologist, Director of MS Clinic, Amiri and Ibn Sina Hospitals, Kuwait City, Kuwait
15:15 - 15:45
06-12-2025 03:15 pm
New Heights of Efficacy and Flexibility with Tysabri SC
Patrick Vermersch
Vice President of Research in the fields of Life and Health Sciences, University of Lille, Lille, France
15:15 - 15:45
06-12-2025 03:45 pm
Coffee Break
15:45 - 16:00
06-12-2025 04:00 pm
Session VIII: Hot Topics in MS
Jiwon Oh
Consultant Neurologist, Professor of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
Sarmad AlMashtah
Consultant Neurologist, Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq
16:00 - 17:15
06-12-2025 04:00 pm
Biomarkers in MS: How to Use Them?
Marcello Moccia
Associate Professor, University of Naples, Naples, Italy
16:00 - 16:20
06-12-2025 04:20 pm
How to Setup AI for MRI Interpretation at your Center
Ahmad Abulaban
Consultant Neurologist, National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
16:20 - 16:40
06-12-2025 04:40 pm
Remyelination in Multiple Sclerosis: Present and Future Perspectives
Sandra Ahmed
Professor of Neurology, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
16:40 - 17:00
06-12-2025 05:00 pm
Panel Discussion
17:00 - 17:15
06-12-2025 05:15 pm
Closing Ceremony and Awards Presentation
Bassem I. Yamout
Professor of Neurology, Director Neurology Institute, American University of Beirut & Harley Street Medical Center, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
17:15 - 17:30
06-12-2025 09:00 am
Nursing Session I
Joelle Massouh
Clinical Manager of Neurology Institute and Multiple Sclerosis Center, Harley Street Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
09:00 - 10:45
06-12-2025 09:00 am
The Evolving Role of the MS Nurse: Global Perspectives
Kathleen Costello
Registered Nurse and Board Certified Adult Nurse Practitioner (CRNP), Consortium of MS Centers and International Organization of MS Nurses, Castle Hayne, North Carolina, United States of America
09:00 - 09:30
06-12-2025 09:30 am
Optimizing Symptom Management in MS: Practical Strategies for Nurses
Piet Eelen
Clinical Nurse Specialist Multiple Sclerosis, National Multiple Sclerosis Center (NMSC), Melsbroek, Belgium
09:30 - 10:00
06-12-2025 10:00 am
Empowering Neuroimmunology Care in MENA: Voices from the Frontline
Kathleen Costello
Registered Nurse and Board Certified Adult Nurse Practitioner (CRNP), Consortium of MS Centers and International Organization of MS Nurses, Castle Hayne, North Carolina, United States of America
Sumaira Ahmed
Patient Advocacy Leader, The Sumaira Foundation, Boston, United States of America
Maya Zeineddine
PhD, Clinical Associate Professor, MS Certified Specialist, Executive Secretary MENACTRIMS, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon
Joelle Massouh
Clinical Manager of Neurology Institute and Multiple Sclerosis Center, Harley Street Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
10:00 - 10:45
06-12-2025 10:45 am
Coffee Break
10:45 - 11:00
06-12-2025 11:00 am
Nursing Session II
Maya Zeineddine
PhD, Clinical Associate Professor, MS Certified Specialist, Executive Secretary MENACTRIMS, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon
11:00 - 12:45
06-12-2025 11:00 am
MS Nurses as Brain Health Champions
Joelle Massouh
Clinical Manager of Neurology Institute and Multiple Sclerosis Center, Harley Street Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
11:00 - 11:20
06-12-2025 11:20 am
New and Emerging Therapies in MS
Samar Farouk Ahmed
Consultant Neurologist, Ibn Sina Hospital, Kuwait City, Kuwait
11:20 - 11:50
06-12-2025 11:50 am
Management of Risks Associated with High-efficacy Therapies
Piet Eelen
Clinical Nurse Specialist Multiple Sclerosis, National Multiple Sclerosis Center (NMSC), Melsbroek, Belgium
11:50 - 12:15
06-12-2025 12:15 pm
MS Research Essentials
Maya Zeineddine
PhD, Clinical Associate Professor, MS Certified Specialist, Executive Secretary MENACTRIMS, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon
12:15 - 12:45
06-12-2025 12:45 pm
Lunch Break
12:45 - 14:00
06-12-2025 02:00 pm
Nursing Industry Talk I hosted by Roche
Joelle Massouh
Clinical Manager of Neurology Institute and Multiple Sclerosis Center, Harley Street Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
14:00 - 14:30
06-12-2025 02:00 pm
From IV to SC: Transition Guidance and Operational Considerations for Nursing Teams presented by S. Kocak (DE)
14:00 - 14:10
06-12-2025 02:10 pm
Hands-On Demonstration presented by S. Kocak (DE)
14:10 - 14:15
06-12-2025 02:15 pm
Managing Patient Expectations presented by S. Kocak (DE)
14:15 - 14:20
06-12-2025 02:20 pm
Real-World Experience and Clinical Practice presented by S. Kocak (DE)
14:20 - 14:25
06-12-2025 02:25 pm
Panel Discussion
14:25 - 14:30
06-12-2025 02:30 pm
Nursing Industry Talk II hosted by Merck
14:30 - 15:00
06-12-2025 02:30 pm
Optimizing Patient Care with IRT: Practical Insights for MS Nursing presented by G. Lee (AE)
14:30 - 15:00
06-12-2025 03:00 pm
Nursing Industry Talk III hosted by Novartis
15:00 - 15:30
06-12-2025 03:00 pm
Navigating MS Treatments: How Nurses Enhance Patient Confidence & Self-Management presented by G. Lee (AE)
15:00 - 15:30
06-12-2025 03:30 pm
Nursing Industry Talk IV hosted by AstraZeneca
15:30 - 16:00
06-12-2025 03:30 pm
Championing Patient Care in NMOSD
Joelle Massouh
Clinical Manager of Neurology Institute and Multiple Sclerosis Center, Harley Street Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
15:30 - 16:00
06-12-2025 04:00 pm
Nursing Industry Talk V hosted by Sanofi
16:00 - 16:30
06-12-2025 04:00 pm
Evolving Concept of Smoldering Neuroinflammation and its Role in Disability Accumulation presented by R. Alsuwaidi (AE)
16:00 - 16:10
06-12-2025 04:10 pm
Role of Nurse: Bridging Between Treating Physician & Patient presented by G. Lee (AE)
16:10 - 16:20
06-12-2025 04:20 pm
Proactive Management for Patients with nrSPMS
Joelle Massouh
Clinical Manager of Neurology Institute and Multiple Sclerosis Center, Harley Street Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
16:20 - 16:30
06-12-2025 04:30 pm
Nursing Industry Talk VI hosted by Biogen
16:30 - 17:00
06-12-2025 04:30 pm
Measuring Novel Efficacy Endpoints and Convenience with Tysabri SC presented by R. Alsuwaidi (SA)
16:30 - 17:00