Dr. Ahmad Abulaban obtained his Bachelor's Degree in Medicine and Surgery from King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He completed his residency training in Adult Neurology in 2015 at King Abdulaziz Medical City-National Guard-Riyadh. He obtained Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Fellowship and Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship in 2019/2020 from Yale University, USA.
Dr. Abulaban is duly certified by the American Board of Clinical Neurophysiology. He was appointed as an Assistant Professor at the College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2020. He was appointed as a Consultant Neurologist at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He is currently the Residency Training Program Director of Adult Neurology and the Neurosciences and Vision Block Coordinator for Undergraduate Students.
Also, Dr. Abulaban has been serving as the Research Officer of the Saudi Multiple Sclerosis Chapter since 2020. He has multiple publications in the field of Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology. He received numerous research awards.
Dr. Ahmed Osman Shatila obtained his BSc in Biology from the Wayne State University in the United States. He continued his medical education from the Medical College of Wayne State University from where he also conducted his residency in neurology and his fellowship in neurophysiology from. Dr. Shatila’s interests include inpatient neurology including, but not limited to Stroke, IV TPA program development, status epilepticus. He is also interested in helping facilities to develop a Neuro Hospitalist model where the inpatient care can develop independently from the outpatient services. This includes a combination of patients, resident and nursing education, inpatient consulting services and inpatient neurology services.
Prof. Akram Al-Mahdawi, CABM, MRCP, FRCP (Edin), is a distinguished Consultant Neurologist and the Head of the Iraqi Neurological Council at Baghdad Teaching Hospital's Neurology Unit. Prof. Al-Mahdawi graduated from Basra College of Medicine in 1983 and completed his postgraduate training in Internal Medicine, earning both a diploma in medicine and board certification from the Arabic Board of Medicine in 1990. Prof. Al-Mahdawi subsequently obtained his MRCP from London and later became a Fellow of both the Royal College of Physicians of London and Edinburgh. Prof. Al-Mahdawi serves as a Professor of Neurology at both Baghdad College of Medicine and Al-Mustansiriya College of Medicine. Additionally, Prof. Al-Mahdawi is a Consultant Neurologist at Baghdad Teaching Hospital. Prof. Al-Mahdawi holds key leadership positions as the Chairman of the Iraqi Neurology Council under the Iraqi Board for Medical Specialization and the Chairman of the Iraqi Neurology Society. Prof. Al-Mahdawi is also a member of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), the Iraqi representative in the World Federation of Neurology (WFN), a member of the Arabic Neurology Council, and a member of the Movement Disorder Society. Throughout his career, Prof. Al-Mahdawi has published 32 papers in various medical journals across different fields of medicine. Prof. Al-Mahdawi has also supervised 8 MSc and 6 PhD doctorate dissertations, contributing significantly to medical education and research in Iraq.
Aksel Siva, MD, is Emeritus Professor of Neurology at Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa School of Medicine, where he completed his medical education and residency. He was the past-chairman the Neurology Department and led the Clinical Neuroimmunology Unit & MS Clinic where currently he continues his research and clinical activities on MS and related disorders and Neuro-Behcet Disease.
He served three consecutive terms as President of the Turkish Neurological Society (2003–2009) and is a founding member of the Turkish MS Society. He was an executive committee member of ECTRIMS (2003–2006), The European Neurological Society (2009 – 2014), member of the European Academy of Neurology scientific program committee (2014 – 2018) and of the Education Executive Committee of The World Federation of Neurology (2002 – 2010).
Professor Siva is a founding member of the Radiologically Isolated Syndrome Consortium-RISC and serves on its core group. He is an active member of the Turkish MS Study Group, EAN, AAN, ANA, and The Guthy-Jackson Charitable Foundation-ICC.
His contributions have been recognized with several national and international awards, including the Dr. Türkan Saylan Medical Science Award of the Istanbul Medical Chamber (2021), the Science and Service Award of the Turkish Neurological Society (2024), the Ted Munsat Education Award of the World Federation of Neurology (2025), and the “Balo Prize” of the Hungarian Neuroimmunology Society (2025).
Alexey Boyko gained his MD and PhD from the Russian State Medical University, Moscow and has been Professor of the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery at this university since 1997. He was the Chief Neurologist of the Department of Health Care of the Government of Moscow in 2001-2015, Director of the Moscow Multiple Sclerosis Center in 2004-2014 and Director of the MS Clinical and Research Center of Neuroclinic (Ysupov Hospital) since 2015. He was elected as a Honourable Professor of Kazan and Yaroslavl State Medical Universities. Professor Boyko has been a member of the "Oslo International Think-tank on Multiple Sclerosis Epidemiology, Analytical Approaches to Study of the Aetiology" at the Center for Advanced Studies of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters in 1994-1995, and worked at UBC MS Center in 1998 (Vancouver, Canada). He is also a member of the Presidium of the All-Russian Society of Neurologists, Co-ordinator of the Medical Consulting Boards of Moscow and All-Russian MS Societies, President of RUCTRIMS, member of ECTRIMS Council. Professor Boyko has published 14 books, 12 chapters in books and more than 750 original publications and is a co-editor of three medical journals. The main interest is epidemiology and genetic of MS, immunopathogenesis, clinical trials in MS, he is a member of several Advisory Boards of ongoing and finished clinical trials.
Prof. Bassem I. Yammout is currently Professor of Neurology at the American University of Beirut Medical Center and director of the Neurology Institute at Harley Street Medical Center in Abu Dhabi. He graduated from medical school at AUB in 1984, received his training in neurology at the University of Cincinnati-Ohio in the USA, and followed by a fellowship at the Montreal Neurological Institute-McGill University in Canada. He received his American Board in Neurology and joined the faculty at the American University of Beirut in 1988. He is currently head of clinical research at the Multiple Sclerosis Center, president of MENACTRIMS (Middle East North Africa Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis), member of the MSIF (Multiple Sclerosis International Federation) Scientific Advisory Board, and fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. Prof. Yammout is one of the leading experts on multiple sclerosis in the Middle East with recent research on epidemiology of the disease in the region, quality of life of patients in the Middle East. In addition, he is currently the principal investigator on several ongoing international multiple sclerosis research trials. Prof. Yammout has authored many research and review papers and is currently Chief Editor of the MS newsletter “MS today”, and on the editorial board of “Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders”, “Journal of Multiple Sclerosis” and “Pediatric Neurology”.
Dr. Beatriz Canibano was born in Madrid (Spain) and is a graduate of Cadiz University. She obtained her medical degree at the Faculty of Medicine in Cadiz University in Spain. Her residency was at “Puerta del Mar” University Hospital in Cadiz. She has a Master’s Degree in Neuroimmunology from Barcelona’s University. Dr. Beatriz has more than 10 years’ experience in multiple sclerosis, with special interest in pregnancy and cognitive impairment. She is a reviewer in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders journal and has published various peer-reviewed articles. Since 2016, she is a member of the MS Unit at Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
Bruno Stankoff, MD, PhD, is a neurologist, professor of neurology in Sorbonne-Université, Paris, expert in multiple sclerosis care and research since 20 years. He is leading the MS clinics of Saint Antoine Hospital, belonging to Sorbonne Universités, APHP (Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris), and colead the research team entitled « Repair in Multiple Sclerosis: from basic science to clinical translation”, at the Brain and Spinal Cord Institute (ICM, INSERM UMR_1127/CNRS 7225). He is also co-leading the work package “Multiple Sclerosis” of the ICM/IHU of translational Neuroscience. His main expertise domains are, the search for pharmacological strategies for remyelination, and the development of translational imaging techniques for the assessment of tissue injury and repair in MS, with a specific interest in molecular imaging. He has recently initiated several programs aimed at imaging by PET remyelination, neurodegeneration and innate immune cells mediated inflammation in MS. His has peerreviewed more than 100 international articles (prestigious journal such as Nature Reviews, Science Translational Medicine, Brain, Annals of Neurology, J Neurosci…), and published more than 100 peerreviewed international articles. He is member of several international and national representative structures: ECTRIMS Council and executive committee, MAGNIMS European imaging network, OFSEP steering committee, foundation ARSEP medico-scientific committee, French MS Society (SFSEP), Brain Research Foundation (FRC).
Prof. Celia Oreja-Guevara is Vice Chair of Neurology at the University Hospital San Carlos and Professor of Neurology at the University Complutense, Madrid, Spain. After gaining her medical degree from the University of Madrid, Prof. Oreja Guevara completed her PhD thesis in Neuroimmunology at the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Munich, Germany. Prof. Oreja Guevara then completed a residency in the Department of Neurology at the University of Bochum, Germany, followed by a one-year fellowship in neuroimaging at the University Hospital San Raffaele, Milan, Italy. Since then, Prof. Oreja Guevara has held several posts, including: Senior Neurologist at the University of Dusseldorf, Germany, Head of Neurology, Hospital de Fuenlabrada and Chair of the Multiple Sclerosis Center, University Hospital La Paz, both in Madrid, Spain.Prof. Oreja Guevara’s main areas of research interest are clinical and neuroimaging correlations in MS, family planning, the use of optical coherence tomography symptomatic therapy, neuromyelitis optica (NMO), and the evaluation of new drugs for the treatment of MS and NMO. She is Co-Chair of the Multiple Sclerosis Panel of the European Academy of Neurology and also a member of the Education Committee of the EAN and serves as an expert for the Scientific Advisory Group on Neurology of the European Medicines Agency. In addition, Prof. Oreja Guevara has held leadership positions in a number of national organisations and academic societies, including the Demyelinating Diseases Group and the Neuroimaging Group of the Spanish Neurological Society. She has participated as a principal investigator in several MS and NMO clinical trials.
Dr. Christine Lebrun-Frenay, MD PhD, FAAN, is a Neurologist and Oncologist. She is head in inflammatory neurological disorders clinical research unit and MS center in the university Nice (South East of France) hospital. She is a member of the French Neurological Society, French MS Society (SFSEP), in which she was president and of European and American academies of Neurology. In 2008, she described the first cohort of a subclinical form of MS and subsequently co-founded with American, European, and Turkish colleagues the RIS Consortium which expanded worldwide to collect a unique extensive patients cohort. Her particular research interest includes therapeutical and MRI studies in MS with a specific implication in the description of Radiologically Isolated Syndrome (RIS). Dr. Christine Lebrun-Frenay is the co editor of recommendations in MS for the French MS Society (vaccines, infections and DMTs). She is participating in numerous clinical trials and research studies with international publications in neuroinflammatory diseases. She is a member of several editorial boards of scientific journals, scientific boards and involved in medical evaluations for MS patients' associations. Dr. Christine Lebrun-Frenay has been nominated in 2018 for the executive committee of the ECTRIMS, the French Association for MS research (ARSEP) and in 2020 the excellence price of the Cote d'Azur University and president of the French MS observatory scientific committee (OFSEP).
Dean M. Wingerchuk, M.D., is a neurologist and clinical epidemiologist with specialty expertise in neuroimmunology. He is the director of the Mayo Clinic Division of Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune Neurology.
His clinical focus includes:
Multiple sclerosis
Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMO/NMOSD; Devic's disease)
Transverse myelitis
Optic neuritis
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM)
Myelopathies (spinal cord syndromes)
Other CNS inflammatory diseases
Dr. Wingerchuk is the principal investigator for several research trials of treatments of both neuromyelitis optica and multiple sclerosis, and he studies diagnosis, symptoms and outcomes of these diseases. Dr. Wingerchuk is also active in medical student and resident education and is the director of the Mayo Clinic Arizona Evidence-Based Research, Training, and Informatics (MERIT) Center, which focuses on teaching and application of evidence-based medicine principles to neurological clinical practice and research.
Dr. Shosha is an MS/NMO and autoimmune neurologist at KFSHRC, Riyadh, and Hamilton Health Science Centre, Canada. He is an associate professor of Neurology at McMaster University. He had national and international training, at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Mayo Clinic, Minnesota, USA, Western University, Ontario, and the University of British Columbia, Canada. He is a member of clinical consortium of international panel of diagnostic criteria of NMOSD 2025, and a member of Canadian treatment optimization group 2025. He has several publications in the field of MS and neuroimmunology and serves as an editor/reviewer for several journals.
.
Heinz Wiendl studied medicine in Germany, Switzerland, and the USA, graduating in 1996.
After working as a research fellow at the Institute of Neuroanatomy, Nuremberg, and the
Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology and the Department of Neurology, Tuebingen, he
became head of the clinical research group for multiple sclerosis (MS) in Wuerzburg in 2005
and acted as a vice-chair of the Department of Neurology. In 2010, he was recruited to the
University Hospital Muenster as director of the Department of Neurology – Inflammatory
Disorders of the Nervous System and Neurooncology. From May 2013 until September 2024,
Prof. Wiendl served as head of the Department of Neurology, Muenster – to which the
Institute of Translational Neurology has been associated since 2018. Prof. Wiendl is head of
the Department of Neurology and Neurophysiology in Freiburg since October 2024. His
research focuses on inflammatory neurodegeneration and immune regulation and protection
as well as monitoring MS and its therapy. His achievements have been recognized by both
Sobek awards of the German Society for MS (DMSG) (2004; 2015).
Heinz Wiendl is a member of numerous scientific and academic advisory boards and expert
panels, including editorial boards of international scientific journals in the fields of neurology,
neurosciences, and immunology, as well as for societies, foundations, and project promoters.
He is speaker of the disease-related competence network Multiple Sclerosis (KKNMS) and the
founder and principal investigator of the "Body and Brain Institute" Muenster, a prestigious
research building funded by the German Federal Ministry.
Dr. Jaber Al Khaboori is a Senior consultant neurologist in Khoula Hospital, Muscat, Oman. He graduated from Sultan Qaboos University Hospital Medical School in 1994. He was a distinguished student as he got The Dean award of achievement. His medical training was in royal hospital and got the Award of Oman medical specialty board for the best resident. He passed his MRCP Diploma in 1997 from Glasgow. He neurology training was in London from 1998 to 2003 as a specialist visiting registrar. His main interest is multiple sclerosis and vascular pathology. His research involved in oral treatment for multiple sclerosis and Cannabis use in MS. He has published few papers including MS in Oman. He is running the MS clinic.
Prof. Jihad Inshasi is a Consultant Neurologist at Rashid Hospital, Dubai Health Authority (DHA), and a Professor of Neurology at Dubai Medical College (DMC/DHA). He developed and currently directs the Multiple Sclerosis and the Dystonia Clinics at Rashid Hospital/DHA. Prof. Inshasi is the Head of the Scientific Committee and a Founding and Board Member of the Emirates Neurology Society (EMINS/EMA). With the EMINS Board Members, he has organized numerous neurology meetings, particularly in the field of multiple sclerosis. He is founding and executive board member of the MENACTRIMS. He is also a Founding Member, and ex-President of the Emirates League against Epilepsy (ILAE). He is a member of the medical advisory committee of the recently established National MS Society (NMSS). Prof. Inshasi has authored and co-authored many scientific papers published in peer-reviewed journals. He has participated as principle and leading investigator in phase 2, 3 & 4 drug trials and has conducted an array of research projects in the field of multiple sclerosis. Prof. Inshasi is a member of several local, regional and international associations, societies and advisory boards committees. He is a member and Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology (FAAN) and a member and Fellow of the European Academy of neurology (FEAN)
Dr. Jiwon Oh is a staff neurologist, scientist, and Medical Director of the Barlo Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Program at St. Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto and specializes in the care of people living with MS. Dr. Oh’s research focuses on developing advanced MRI techniques in the spinal cord and brain for use in clinical settings. She leads the MRI research program at St. Michael’s Hospital, and is the principal investigator on numerous local and multi-center collaborative studies, including the Canadian Prospective Cohort Study to Understand Progression in MS (CanProCo), which is a national prospective cohort study designed to better understand progression in MS. Dr. Oh is also the Secretary and an Executive Committee member of the North American Imaging in MS Cooperative (NAIMS) representing a multi-national collaborative MRI research endeavor in MS with over 35 sites in North America. She is deeply committed to caring for people with MS, educating future generations of clinicians and scientists, and contributing to scientific developments that will drive the field forward.
Prof. Magd Zakaria, born in Cairo in 1956, has had a distinguished career in neurology. Prof. Zakaria attended the English School of Cairo (ESC), graduating in 1974, before pursuing medical studies at Ain Shams University, where Prof. Zakaria graduated in 1980 with a grade of "Very Good with Honours." Prof. Zakaria continued his training as a resident in the Neuropsychiatric Department at Ain Shams University, earning a Master’s degree in Neuropsychiatry in 1985 with a grade of "Excellent." Prof. Zakaria advanced through academic ranks, becoming an Associate Lecturer of Neurology until 1989, when Prof. Zakaria received his MD in Neurology. Prof. Zakaria was promoted to Lecturer of Neurology until 1994, then Associate Professor until 1999, and has been a Full Professor since then. From 2015 to 2017, Prof. Zakaria served as the Head of the Neuropsychiatric Department at Ain Shams University. In addition to his academic roles, Prof. Zakaria has held significant leadership positions, including President of the Egyptian Multiple Sclerosis Society since 2017 and a member of the MENACTRIMS Board. Prof. Zakaria is Egypt’s Brain Health Champion for the Brain Health Organization and a member of the International Medical and Scientific Board (IMSB) of the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF). Prof. Zakaria also serves on the International Working Group for the Access of Medication (IWGA) of the MSIF, the ParadigMS Board, and the Multiple Sclerosis Data Alliance (MSDA) Advisory Group, where Prof. Zakria was recognized as one of the MSDA Champions of Data Collection in 2022. Prof. Zakaria is a member of the editorial board of the Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders (MSARD) journal and has been the principal investigator in several Phase III international MS drug trials. Prof. Zakaria is also a member of the MSBase Registry, where Egypt ranks seventh among 42 countries in patient enrollment by country. Additionally, Prof. Zakaria is a member of the Angel’s Global Steering Committee for Stroke and the National Coordinator of the RES-Q initiative for stroke management. Prof. Zakaria has played a leading role in the reimbursement by the Egyptian government of several MS medications, including Interferons, Teriflunomide, Dimethyl Fumarate, Fingolimod, Ponesimod, Ocrelizumab, Natalizumab, Cladribine, and Siponimod, as well as in the reimbursement of TPA and Thrombectomy for acute stroke management.
Mar Tintore is Professor of Neurology, University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia and the clinical Coordinator of Neurology in the Neurology Department at the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Centre of Catalonia (Cemcat) at the Hospital Vall d’Hebron in Barcelona, Spain. She also serves on the Clinical Ethics Committee. Dr. Tintoré is the current President of ECTRIMS "European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis” and has authored or co-authored over 250 articles in peer-reviewed journals and has an h-index of 60.
Dr. Maurice Dahdaleh graduated from Westminster Medical School (Imperial College), London University and did his training in Internal Medicine and Neurology in the United Kingdom. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, London. He worked in Jordan at the Jordan University Hospital and Medical School as part-time Lecturer and Consultant Neurologist. He developed several interests in Clinical Neurology mainly Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebrovascular disease and Movement Disorders. He is member of many local, regional and international neurological societies and past Chair of Scientific Committee and President of the Jordanian Neuroscience Society. In 1994 he introduced beta-interferon 1a for the first time in Jordan on a patient named basis for the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis. In addition he pioneered the introduction of botulinum toxin in the treatment of focal dystonia and spasticity in the early 1990 and thrombolytic therapy in the management of acute stroke in 1996. From 1998 he worked in the United Kingdom as honorary Consultant Neurologist at St. Mary’s Hospital, London. He returned to Amman Jordan in 2008 as Consultant Neurologist mainly in the Private sector with affiliation to Khalidi Hospital Medical Center and the Arab Medical Center. He is a member of many regional advisory boards on multiple sclerosis, co-authored several papers on multiple sclerosis and is a founding member of MENACTRIMS.
Dr. Maya Zeineddine is a Lebanese Senior Clinical/Ambulatory Care Pharmacist specialized in neurology and multiple sclerosis. Dr. Zeineddine, winner of the "Best Clinician" and "Positive Attitude" awards, completed several internships at major hospital and community pharmacies in Lebanon and the US and graduated from LAU with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree with distinction in June 2011. In August 2015, Dr. Zeineddine successfully passed the Multiple Sclerosis Specialization examination and became the first and only Multiple Sclerosis Certified Pharmacist in Lebanon and the Middle East. From September 2011 to August 2020, Dr. Zeineddine worked as the ambulatory care pharmacist of the Multiple Sclerosis Center of the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC). In December 2015, Dr. Zeineddine was appointed as Executive Secretary of the Middle East North Africa Committee for Research and Treatment in Multiple Sclerosis (MENACTRIMS). Dr. Zeineddine is an active researcher and a public speaker. Dr. Zeineddine has multiple publications, is involved in several international clinical trials in the field of neurology and multiple sclerosis, and is a member of several national and international professional organizations. From 2015 until 2022, Dr. Zeineddine was also the fund coordinator at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society of Lebanon (MSSL). Dr. Zeineddine is currently the leader of the Neuropsychiatry Listserv at IVPN-Network and is a PhD candidate in "Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases" at the Tropical Institute of Neurology at Limoges University, Limoges, France. In May 2023, Dr. Zeineddine was invited by the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation to join their International Medical and Scientific Board, representing the Middle East and North Africa region in the aim of improving the quality of life of people affected by multiple sclerosis.
I am a clinical and research neurologist, with particular interest in cognitive neurology, neuroimaging, multiple sclerosis and related disorders.
I have finished my residency program at Al-Azhar university, Cario Egypt.
I have joined the Neuroimaging research lab at San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy, as a research fellow for one year [ECTRIMS/MAGNIMS neuroimaging research fellowship]. I have participated in a number of neuroimaging research in multiple sclerosis.
Prof. Mohammad Ali Sahraian is currently a professor of clinical neurology and the director of the MS Research Center at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, as well as the vice-chancellor for the Iranian MS Society. Prof. Sahraian undertook his board of neurology and fellowship in medical education from Tehran University of Medical Sciences (2002) and then received training in Multiple Sclerosis at the University Hospital Basel (Switzerland). Prof. Sahraian has served as an investigator on several clinical trials and other research aspects of Multiple Sclerosis and Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders (NMOSD). Prof. Sahraian has published more than 400 articles in peer-reviewed journals and presented abstracts on MS and NMOSD at international meetings. Prof. Sahraian has been invited to deliver several lectures on clinical and radiological aspects of demyelinating disorders at different international meetings. Prof. Sahraian has published the MRI Atlas of Lesions in Multiple Sclerosis and has authored the "Multiple Sclerosis" chapter in the Encyclopedia of Diagnostic Imaging. Prof. Sahraian is also one of the authors of the MRI Training CD-ROM, which was translated into four languages.
Dr. Al Jummah is professor of Neurology and obtained his MBBS from King Faisal University while he did his Neurology training and two fellowships at the University of Alberta, Canada. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada (FRCPC) obtained in November, 1995 and American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in November, 1997. Mohammed Al Jumah is an experienced health care leader with wide range of knowledge in the national and regional health care priorities and challenges. As a founding member of the King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Dr. Al Jumah was able to successfully lead the establishment of KAIMRC as a model to serve the national and regional health care needs and challenges through translational research. Dr. Al Jumah has served as a chair or a member of many of the national and institutional committees. He has represented the National Guard Health Care in the National Health Dialog, where the members meet the health care stakeholder across the country. He is also the founding member of the National Committee of Biomedical Ethics. Dr. Al Jumah has provided consultancies services to multiple national agencies and international pharmaceutical industry. As a health care provider, academician and researcher he has broad base of national and international network that has enable him to have an extensive experience in the regional needs challenges and opportunities in health care industries.
Dr Nikolaos Grigoriadis graduated from the Faculty of Medicine of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He did his PhD thesis and residency in Neurology in the same institution. He has been specialized in clinical and experimental Neuroimmunology and CNS immunopathology in a number of research centers and institutions abroad. He is now Professor of Neurology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and Head of the of the B’ Dept of Neurology, AHEPA University Hospital, the MS Centre (www.ms-center.gr) and the Laboratory of Experimental Neurology and Neuroimmunology (www.neuroimmunology.gr). He is also Affiliated Researcher at the Institute of Applied Bioscience, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH, www.certh.gr ). Professor Grigoriadis is member of various international scientific committees such as the European School of Neuroimmunology, ParadigMS, the subcommittee of ENS for Multiple Sclerosis, the ECTRIMS committee, Co-founder and General Secretary of the Hellenic Academy of Neuroimmunology (www.helani.gr). He is Ex-President and nowadays General Secretary of the Hellenic Neurological Society. He is Ad Hoc reviewer in more than 40 international scientific journals, co-ordinator in more than 50 multicenter clinical trials for MS and principal investigator in collaborative research projects for experimental cell therapies in CNS autoimmune demyelination. His field of interests are: Neuroimmunology; Multiple sclerosis; MG; GBS; experimental models of autoimmune diseases (EAE etc); neurodegeneration; immunomodulation; cell therapies. He has published more than 300 papers in peer reviewed journals (Hirsh Factor:50, Citation Index:10669). He has been awarded several times for his scientific work.
Øivind Torkildsen, MD, PhD, FEAN, is Professor of Neurology and Head of the Section for Neurology and the MS Research Group at the University of Bergen, Norway, as well as a consultant neurologist at Haukeland University Hospital. His research focuses on the pathogenesis and treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), with particular interest in translational and biomarker-driven clinical trials. He currently coordinates the Epstein-Barr Virus and Multiple Sclerosis (EBV-MS) study, a major EU Horizon-funded initiative involving over 15 international research centers. This multidisciplinary project seeks to understand why only a subset of individuals infected with EBV go on to develop MS, and to identify disease-driving mechanisms that may be targeted with antiviral therapies. Prof. Torkildsen has led or contributed to numerous investigator-initiated clinical studies and has played a central role in shaping long-term strategies for MS care and trial design in Norway and Europe. He is also actively involved in mentoring young researchers and advancing collaborative neuroscience across borders.
Prof. Patrick Vermersch is a distinguished neurologist who completed his medical studies at Lille University Hospital in France, specializing in neurology. He further pursued his training in basic research, focusing on cellular biology, and obtained a PhD that explored biochemical abnormalities associated with Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. His early research also included work on the post-transcriptional anomalies of tau proteins before his interests shifted to multiple sclerosis (MS). Currently, Prof. Vermersch heads a department of Neurology at the University of Lille, focusing on MS and other neuroinflammatory diseases, with an emphasis on neuroimmunology and disease evolution markers. He is also the Vice-President of Research in Life and Health Sciences at the University of Lille. In 2000, Prof. Vermersch co-founded the first MS network in northern France to enhance MS care and research. His research now concentrates on prognostic markers in MS and neuroimmunology. He has been involved in numerous treatment protocols for MS and has authored or co-authored approximately 380 scientific papers, with an H-index of 54 (Web of Science).
Dr. Raed Alroughani is a consultant neurologist and the director of MS clinic at Amiri and Ibn Sina hospitals. He completed his neurology residency at the University of British Columbia and subsequently obtained the neurology certification from the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeon (Canada). He completed a fellowship in Multiple Sclerosis at the University of British Columbia. He is actively involved in research and he authored and co-authored more than 200 publications. Dr Alroughani was awarded the National Prize for scientific production in the field of medical science in 2017 and the best researcher award by Amiri Hospital in 2018. He is a founding member and the secretary general of MENACTRIMS. He sits on the executive boards of various scientific associations, steering committees and advisory boards, mainly in the field of MS.
Prof Riadh GOUIDER received his medical degree in 1993. He is currently Professor of Neurology and Head of Neurology Department at Razi University Hospital since 2002 and the Multiple Sclerosis Center since 2018. On a national scale, he is the President of the Tunisian College of Neurology, the President of the Medical-Scientific Council of Tunisian MS Society (ATSEP) since 2014, and the representative on the MSIF Medical-Scientific Council since 2022. He is currently Co-opted Trustee of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN), Co-Chair of the Education Committee and the WCN 2023 Teaching Course Committee since 2022. He was elected as a foreign correspondent member in the French National Academy of Medicine since 2022. Prof. Gouider is Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) since 2019 and Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) since 2018. He became Member of MSBase Scientific Leadership Group (SLG) (MSBase Foundation) since 2022. He is actively involved in Regional Professional Organizations as a Founding member of the Middle East and North Africa Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (MENACTRIMS) since 2013 and Vice President since 2014. He is Honorary President of the Pan Arab Union of Neurological Societies (PAUNS) since 2013 and Founding and Honorary member of the African Academy of Neurology (AFAN) since 2016. Prof. Gouider received several awards from International Societies: AAN, EAN, PAUNS… He authored and co-authored more than 260 papers or book chapters.
Prof. Saeed Bohlega obtains his basic medical training at King Saud University and graduated in 1980. Then in 1982, he went to Canada where he did his training in Neurology at University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC. He trained with Professor Don Paty. He develops specialist interest in Multiple Sclerosis and he did subspecialty training in Neurophysiology. In 1989, he joined as a Consultant Neurologist in the Department of Neurosciences at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre and worked as a Consultant and then as a Senior Consultant and appointed as Professor of Neurology at Al Faisal University. Prof. Bohlega is a member of many prestigious neurological societies like the American Neurological Association and the British Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons. He worked as a Section Head of Neurology then as a Chairman of Department of Neurosciences. Also, he is a founder and a chairperson of the National Saudi Board of Neurology for ten years. He is the chairman of Saudi Multiple Sclerosis Advisory Group. Also, Prof. Bohlega is the President of the Saudi Neurology Society and the President Elect for the PAN Arab Union of Neurological Societies (PANUS).
Saher Hashem graduated from faculty of medicine at Cairo university MBBCH. Honors in the year 1967 and master of neuro psychiatry honors 1972 and neurology doctorate Cairo 1976 where he assigned as lecturer of neurology art Cairo University School of Medicine Kasr Alainy. Prof. Hashem had 2 years post-doctoral training as research fellow in the USA in the years 1976 to 1978 in the field of stroke experimental and sonography and shared the modification of transcranial Doppler with Prof. James f tool in Winston Salem Wake Forest University. Prof. Hashem assigned as assistant Prof. in neurology in the year 1981 where he started his interest in multiple sclerosis lecturing and helped in introducing the first MRI in Egypt in private practice and one of the steering committee of Cairo scan group. Prof. Saher received degree of Prof. Essor of neurology at Cairo University Kasr Alainy School of Medicine in 1986 till now and president of the department of neurology Cairo university till the year 2005 Nd president of the Egyptian society of neurology neurosurgery and psychiatry 2005–2007 and president of the pan Arab association for neuroscience from year 2007—-2009 and was appointed as head of neurology department in Benha University as well as Cairo University. In the year 2003 he with Prof. Farouk Talaat from Alexandria initiated the first Egyptian society for MS and he is the president of this society up till now. He is in the editorial board of JAMA neurology and chief editor of the Egyptian journal of neurology neuropsychiatry and psychiatry. He lectured everywhere in Egypt, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait ,in different neurology aspects as well wrote over 50 articles in EJNNP ,add other international journals and supervised more the 60 master and doctorate thesis. Prof. Hashem also shared international drug trials on DMD drugs in phase 3 used in treatment of MS.
Professor in neurology department, faculty of medicine, Al-Minia University, Egypt. Currently, she is Consultant in Neurology at Ibn Sina Hospital Kuwait and Multiple Sclerosis Certified Specialist. Dr. Samar is Membership at American Academy of Neurology and Member of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN). She Received her degree in medicine (MD) from Minia University, Egypt. She underwent her neurology residency at the same University. She run general neurology clinics and attends specialized MS clinic. She also performs consults on inpatients neurology department and aids management stroke patients for IV-TPA. She is involved in the education and training for medical students and neurology residents. She is member of Residency Examination Committee of Neurology, Kuwait. Dr Samar’s fields of interest are principally directed towards the neuroepidemiology, multiple sclerosis and headache. Dr. Samar is actively involved in research and she authored and co-authored many publications and presentations in peer review journal and congresses. She is involved as co-investigator in many research projects and drug trials. She is member in many local and regional advisory boards committees.
Dr. Samia J. Khoury is the Director of the Abu Haidar Neuroscience Institute, and the Director of the new AUBMC Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Center at AUBMC in Beirut, the first MS center in the region. She is a professor of neurology and immunology at the American University of Beirut. She is a professor of Neurology and Immunology at the American University of Beirut. Until 2013 she was the Jack, Sadie, and David Breakstone professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and served as the co-Director of the Partners Multiple Sclerosis Center, Boston since 2001. In 2007, Dr. Khoury was awarded the prestigious Kuwait Prize for Sciences by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences for her work in immunology. Dr. Samia Khoury received her Medical Diploma from the American University of Beirut, Lebanon, in 1984 having been elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society in 1983. She completed her neurology residency at the Case Western Reserve University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio and her fellowship at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Center for Neurologic Diseases. Dr. Samia Khoury is recognized as a world leader in MS, a disease that affect individuals in their prime and can lead to severe disability. She has published over 200 scholarly articles, reviews, and book chapters. Dr. Khoury’s research is focused on understanding the pathogenesis and mechanism of immune regulation/tolerance in multiple sclerosis. She is also involved in multiple sclerosis clinical trials and investigation of multiple sclerosis biomarkers.
Highly focused, self-motivated and dedicated medical doctor with over several years experience in providing quality care to patients. Efficient at all aspects of emergency care, from initial diagnosis and treatment to management. Strong interpersonal skills; able to maintain positive relationships across cultural and professional lines. Able to communicate effectively while working both independently and as a member of an interdisciplinary team. Seeking an opportunity to be part of a dynamic healthcare environment and contribute to the overall mission of my facility
Dr. Seraj Makkawi is a neurologist and medical educator specializing in Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology. He earned his medical degree from Umm Al-Qura University in 2009, followed by residency training in Adult Neurology in 2016. He then pursued fellowships in Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology (2017) and Clinical Neurophysiology (2018), along with a Master’s in Medical Education, all at the University of Calgary. He is certified in Adult Neurology by both the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
Before returning to Saudi Arabia, Dr. Makkawi worked as a Locum Neurologist and Clinical Lecturer in Calgary. In 2019, he joined King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Jeddah, as Assistant Professor of Neurology, where he was promoted to Associate Professor in 2023. Since 2019, he has also served as Consultant Neurologist at the Neuroscience and Trauma Center, King Abdulaziz Medical City (MNGHA-WR).
Dr. Makkawi has held several leadership and administrative roles, including Director of the Adult Neurology Residency Program (2020–2023), Coordinator of the Neurosciences and Vision Block (2020–2024), and Assistant Dean of Clinical Affairs (2021–2025). In 2025, he was appointed Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs and Chairman of the Neurology Department. He also leads the Saudi Multiple Sclerosis Chapter, a role he assumed in 2024 after serving as Academic Officer (2020–2024).
His academic and research interests focus on Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology, with a particular emphasis on advancing clinical practice, education, and patient care in these fields.
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Dr. Tim Coetzee serves as President and CEO of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, where he ensures the organization is a financially strong and trusted leader delivering on the mission to cure MS while empowering people affected by MS to live their best lives. Under Dr. Coetzee’s leadership, the Society advances global efforts to end MS by accelerating innovative research, advocating for equitable access to care, and fostering international collaboration. He is deeply committed to ensuring the organization reflects the full diversity of the MS experience—creating an inclusive and welcoming environment where all individuals affected by MS feel supported and represented. With more than three decades of experience in the field, Dr. Coetzee has played a pivotal role in shaping international MS research. He serves as the Chair of the Executive Committee of the International Progressive MS Alliance. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Global PROMS Initiative and on the International Advisory Committee on Clinical Trials in MS. Dr. Coetzee began his career as a lab researcher on a Society-funded team focused on myelin and myelin repair. Prior to joining the Society, he was a faculty member at the University of Connecticut Health Center and received his Ph.D. in molecular biology from Albany Medical College.
Prof. Xavier Montalban is chair of the Department of Neurology and director of the Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Catalonia (Cemcat) at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona, as well as the chief of the Neuroimmunology Research Group at Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR). Prof. Montalban is Professor of Neurology at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) since 2006 and at the University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC) since 2021. From July 2017 to May 2020, he was Professor of Medicine and director of the Division of Neurology at the University of Toronto and Director of the MS Centre at St Michael’s Hospital. Prof. Montalban received his medical license, trained as a Neurology specialist and completed his PhD in neuroimmunology at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. He went on to undertake a postdoctoral fellowship at the Lupus Research Institute, Guy’s & St. Thomas’ Hospital with additional clinical training at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square in London, United Kingdom. Prof. Montalban is the President of the Cemcat Foundation and former President and current Honorary Member of the Council of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS). He is the vice-chair of ECTRIMS & National MS Society Clinical Trials Committee and has been chair of the Medical & Scientific Board of the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF). He is a Board member of the European Charcot Foundation and of the international initiative PROMS. Prof. Montalban is a fellow member of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS). For the past twenty-five years, Prof. Montalban has been in the inception phases and on steering committees of many clinical trials related to multiple sclerosis. He has authored over 750 original and revision publications in international peer- reviewed journals plus several book chapters with over 47.000 citations. He has been awarded with the "Highly Cited Researcher" in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. His Scopus H-Index is 94. Prof. Montalban has been the Principal Investigator (PI) or Collaborator in more than 35 competitive Projects and have participated as PI in more than 150 clinical trials. He has also supervised more than 30 doctoral theses. Among the awards received, it is worth highlighting the 2022 John Dystel Prize, awarded jointly by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the American Academy of Neurology. Prof. Montalban has been editor for the Clinical Cases Section of the Multiple Sclerosis Journal. Recently, he co-directed the development of the first ECTRIMS-EAN Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Guidelines. Prof. Montalban research interests include clinical trials, clinical aspects of MS, MR imaging and biological prognostic factors of disease evolution and treatment response, immunological mechanisms of the disease and other aspects of clinical management of MS. He has been exposed to a vast variety of neurological diseases in both sides of the Atlantic.
Dr. Yaser Al-Malik is an Associate Professor of Neurology and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Dr. Al-Malik is also a Consultant Neurologist and the Head of the Multiple Sclerosis/Neuroimmunology Division in the Neurology Department at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh. Additionally, Dr. Al-Malik serves as the Head of the MS Chapter at the Saudi Neurology Society. Dr. Al-Malik graduated from medical school at Qassim University in 2008. Dr. Al-Malik completed his residency training in Adult Neurology at the University of Calgary, Canada, in 2014. After becoming a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada, Dr. Al-Malik completed a fellowship in Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology at the University of Calgary (2014-2016) and then completed a second fellowship in Clinical Neurophysiology (2016-2017). In addition, his interest in teaching led him to pursue a Master’s Degree in Medical Education (2021). Dr. Al-Malik is involved in clinical research, including industry-sponsored trials, quality assurance projects, and registries. Dr. Al-Malik is also actively involved in teaching residents and medical students in various settings.