Multiple sclerosis progression and the impact of progression independent of relapses

What is the real multiple sclerosis (MS)? How we define and understand inflammation and progression in MS is changing and consequently challenging how MS is managed. Discover the evolution of MS understanding in our exclusive webinar featuring expert neurologists and leading researchers Professor Helmut Butzkueven and Associate Professor Anneke Van Der Walt.

Learn the meaning of terms like PIRA (progression independent of relapses), smouldering MS, and RAW (relapse-associated worsening) and how these concepts redefine our understanding of inflammation and progression in MS and reshape research, treatment, and patient care.

Presenter

Professor Helmut Butzkueven

Helmut Butzkueven (MBBS 1992, FRACP 2000, PhD 2002), is an academic neurologist specialising in Multiple Sclerosis research. He is the Van Cleef Roet Professor of Neuroscience, Monash University and Director of Neurology at Alfred Health (both in Melbourne, Australia). He is also the Managing Director of the MSBase Foundation, a global MS registry which commenced in 2004, and monitors outcomes in over 93,000 patients in 41 countries. His overarching research theme and clinical interest is the use of registry data, clinical MRI data, cognitive testing, genomics and patient self-monitoring tools to optimize benefit and safety of MS therapies for people with MS and define strong predictors of disability worsening for application in clinical trials. He also co-leads dedicated international drug safety and pregnancy outcome cohort studies in MSBase.

Associate Professor Anneke Van Der Walt

A/Prof Anneke van der Walt is the Director of the Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Unit and Neuro-ophthalmology Service, Alfred Health, Melbourne. She leads the MS and Neuro-ophthalmology Research group in the Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School Monash University. She is the Chief Operating Officer for the MSBase Foundation that oversees the research and operational program of the MSBase Registry. The MSBase registry is a international multiple sclerosis outcomes registry operates in more than 35 countries and contains more than 90,000 patient records.

A/Prof van der Walt’s main research focus is on the implementation of better monitoring of cognitive and cerebellar function in the MS clinic, using digital biomarkers and neuroimaging. In addition, she is passionate about developing a better understanding of the long-term safety of MS treatments, especially for women. Her work is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia and MS Australia.

Published February 2024