Dear colleagues and friends
On behalf of ECTRIMS and its Executive Committee, it will be our pleasure to welcome you to Milan, Italy, for the 9th Joint ECTRIMS-ACTRIMS meeting on 11–13 October 2023.
As we bring together ECTRIMS and ACTRIMS for the first time since the global pandemic, it is hard to think of a more fitting backdrop for our scientific conversations and discussions than the versatile and vibrant city of Milan. In this international city steeped in scientific history and innovation, our MS research community will come together to share the latest insight into the pathogenesis and diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, as well as discuss the role each of us can play in improving treatment options for people living with MS.
Despite the challenging times we’ve experienced over the past several years, we’ve witnessed an ongoing evolution in both the treatment and journey for those living with and impacted by MS. In the last year alone:
- therapeutic trials in relapsing MS have assessed new agents, particularly in the categories of BTK inhibitors and anti CD20 agents;
- real world registry-based studies have provided novel insights on the comparative effectiveness of initial MS treatment strategies; and
- progressive MS continues to attract a tremendous deal of research regarding the understanding of underlying pathophysiology, body fluid and imaging biomarkers of progression, and treatment.
Our work as MS experts, as we all know, is ongoing.
The disease is one which needs to be continuously evaluated from every possible angle, with translational research helping to bridge bench to bedside. It is imperative that we continue creating opportunities to come together as a committed community of physicians, researchers, and allied health professionals to share, discuss, and network with the very best in our respective disciplines. This year’s joint meeting provides us with just that.
The Scientific Programme Committee comprising a diverse group of members from both societies have worked together to create an informative and inspiring programme for this year’s ECTRIMS-ACTRIMS meeting. MSMilan2023 will include Scientific Sessions, Hot Topic Sessions, and Educational Sessions, along with selected Free Communications, Young Investigator Sessions, Poster Sessions, and Meet-the-Expert Sessions.
In between, delegates will be able to use our NeuroNetwork space to tighten ties with friends and colleagues and make new connections, and to inspire new ideas and catalytic moments that will help innovation in the field of MS. And on a particularly special note, plans are underway to host a post-meeting event for people living with MS to share with them the latest insight unveiled at the joint meeting.
We aim to make the joint meeting a fully inclusive experience. MSMilan2023 will be a hybrid one, offering participants a full range of opportunities to participate onsite and online. While everyone is invited to attend digitally, we hope that as many attendees as possible will travel to Milan in 2023 to enjoy not only the joint meeting, but everything the city has to offer. By connecting face to face with colleagues from other disciplines, institutes, and countries, we can continue making progress now to make a difference for people living with MS in the future.
We look forward to seeing you all in Milan in October 2023.
Massimo Filippi | Local Organising Chair
Mar Tintoré | ECTRIMS President
Mark Freedman | ACTRIMS President