ACTRIMS Forum 2017

Environmental Factors, Genetics, and Epigenetics in MS Susceptibility and Clinical Course

Thursday, February 23, 2017

2:00pm - 2:10pm  Opening Address
Jack Antel, McGill University
2:10pm - 3:55pm

SESSION 1 - Young Investigator Platform Presentation
Chairs: Anne Cross, Washington University in St. Louis; Matteo Paz Soldan, University of Utah

Theme: Highlighting cutting edge studies that inform our understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms in MS, introduce novel measures to capture disease activity, and advance treatment options for affected individuals. This session will be comprised of platform presentations by junior faculty selected from submitted abstracts (these will be eight 10 minute presentations with a 5 minute Q&A after each)
   2:10pm - 2:25pm S1.1 Wnt/Beta-catenin signaling reduces central nervous system inflammation in MS
Claudiu Diaconu, Columbia University Medical Center
   2:25pm - 2:40pm S1.2 Using Diffusion Tensor Imaging to Quantify Effects of Autologous Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation in Multiple Sclerosis Patients
Jenny Feng, Cleveland Clinic
   2:40pm - 2:55pm S1.3 An Arg1-iNOS- dendritic cell activates myelin-specific CD4+ T cells in an H2-Mβ2-dependent manner
David Giles, University of Michigan
   2:55pm - 3:10pm S1.4 Induction of CNS-targeted autoimmunity leads to increased influenza mortality in mice
Justin Glenn, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
   3:10pm - 3:25pm S1.5 Progressive degeneration of RNFL and GCL is seen in pediatric MS in comparison to monophasic demyelination and controls
Guilia Longoni, The Hospital for Sick Children
   3:25pm - 3:40pm S1.6 Natalizumab therapy is associated with changes in JC Virus antibody indices over time
John Peters, University of Pennsylvania
   3:40pm - 3:55pm S1.7 SNPs in NRM and GPANK1 miRNA target regions are associated with risk of pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis
Brooke Rhead, University of California - Berkeley
   3:55pm - 4:10pm S1.8 Investigating early evidence of multiple sclerosis in a prospective study of high risk family members
Zongqi Xia, University of Pittsburgh
4:10pm - 4:30pm  BREAK
4:30pm - 5:45pm  SS1. NAIMS Symposium on the Role of Imaging in Understanding Environmental Factors and Genetics in MS Susceptibility and Clinical Course
6:00pm - 7:00pm  KJ1. Kenneth P. Johnson Memorial Lecture
Stephen Hauser, University of California-San Francisco
7:00pm - 9:00pm  PS1. Poster Session 1 / Opening Networking Event

Friday, February 24, 2017

7:00am - 8:15am SS2. The Emerging Role of Selective S1P-Based Therapeutics in the Management of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis
This CME activity is provided by AcademicCME. This activity is supported by an educational grant from Celgene Corporation.
8:30am-10:15am S2. SESSION 2 - The Diet and Multiple Sclerosis
Chairs: Walter Royal, University of Maryland; Jodie Burton, University of Calgary
Theme: The impact of dietary practices on MS susceptibility and clinical course.
  8:30am - 8:35am Opening Comments by Session Chairs
  8:35am - 9:00am S2.1 Vitamin D supplementation as disease modifying therapy
Ellen Mowry, Johns Hopkins
  9:00am - 9:25am S2.2 Dietary Fats and Susceptibility to MS
Ralf Linker, Friedrich-Alexander University, Germany
  9:25am - 9:50am S2.3 Sodium Chloride Intake and MS
David Hafler, Yale
  9:50am - 10:15am Panel Discussion
10:15am - 10:45am BREAK
10:45am - 12:30pm S3. SESSION 3 – Hormones, Sex Chromosomes and MS: Risk Factors, Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets
Chairs: Wendy Gilmore, University of Southern California; Riley Bove, University of California-San Francisco
Theme: The Influence of Sex Hormones and Chromosomes on MS.
  10:45am - 10:50am Opening Comments by Session Chairs
  10:45am - 10:50am S3.1 The Influence of Sex Chromosomes on MS Susceptibility and Clinical Course
Rhonda Voskuhl, University of California-Los Angeles
  11:15am - 11:40am S3.2 Effect of puberty on MS risk and course
Emmanuelle Waubant, University of California-San Francisco
  11:40am - 12:05pm S3.3 Testosterone and Disability in men with MS
Tanuja Chitnis, Harvard University
  12:05pm - 12:30pm Panel Discussion
12:30pm - 2:00pm PS2. POSTER SESSION 2 & Lunch
2:00pm - 3:45pm S4. SESSION 4 – Microbial Infections and MS
Chairs: Avi Nath, NIH; Matthew Bellizzi, University of Rochester
Theme: The role of viruses as triggers and exacerbators of MS.
  2:00pm - 2:05pm Opening Comments by Session Chairs
  2:05pm - 2:30pm S4.1 HERV-W endogenous retroviruses and MS
Ninella Dolei, Università Degli Studi di Sassari
  2:30pm - 2:55pm S4.2 Evidence Linking HHV-6 with MS
Steve Jacobson, National Institutes of Health
  2:55pm - 3:20pm S4.3 The relationship between Epstein Barr Virus and MS: Arguments for and against
Alberto Ascherio, Harvard University
  3:20pm - 3:45pm Panel Discussion
3:45pm - 4:00pm BREAK
4:00pm - 4:30pm CE1. Cutting Edge Developments in MS Research
  4:00pm - 4:10pm CE1.1 The MS-associated gut microbiome
Sergio Baranzini, University of California-San Francisco School of Medicine
  4:10pm - 4:20pm CE1.2 Predicting visual function clinical outcome in MS: a MRI and OCT metrics study
Christian Cordano, University of California-San Francisco
  4:20pm - 4:30pm CE1.3 Spinal cord gray matter atrophy is detectable at an early stage of multiple sclerosis
Regina Schlaeger, University of California-San Francisco
4:30pm - 5:45pm SS3. International MS Visual System Consortium (IMSVISUAL) Symposium
6:30pm - 7:00pm Cocktail Reception
7:00pm - 10:00pm ND1. NETWORKING DINNER & Award Presentation
Advancing MS Research Through Big Data Approaches
William Marks, Jr., MD, MS-HCM, Head of Clinical Neurology at Verily Life Sciences

Saturday, February 25, 2017

7:00am - 8:15am SS4. Assessing the Value of Neurological Imaging in RRMS to Best Evaluate Neurodegeneration and Patient Outcomes
This CME activity is jointly provided by Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning and the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America. This activity is supported by an educational grant from Teva Pharmaceuticals.
8:30am - 10:15am S5. SESSION 5 - The Microbiome and MS
Chairs: Sergio Baranzini University of California-San Fransicso; Ilana Katz-Sand, Mt. Sinai
Theme: The influence of the microbiota on MS risk and progression.
  8:30am - 8:35am Opening Comments by Session Chairs
  8:35am - 9:00am S5.1 An Introduction to the Microbiome and Disease
Irah King, McGill University
  9:00am - 9:25am S5.2 Probiotics as a Therapy for MS
Howard Weiner, Harvard University
  9:25am - 9:50am S5.3 The gut and pediatric MS
Helen Tremlett, University of British Columbia
  9:50am - 10:15am Panel Discussion
10:15am - 10:30am BREAK
10:30am - 12:40am S6. SESSION 6 – Genetics and Epigenetics of MS
Chairs: Phil DeJager, Harvard University; Chris Cotsapas, Yale
Theme: The role of genes and epigenetic changes as risk factors and disease modulators in MS.
  10:30am - 10:35am Opening Comments by Session Chairs
  10:35am - 11:00am S6.1 MS-specific DNA methylation profiles in immune cells
Lisa Barcellos, University of California-Berkeley
  11:00am - 11:25am S6.2 Epigenomic Changes in pathology-free regions of the MS brain
Patrizia Casaccia, Mount Sinai
  11:25am - 11:50am S6.3 Immunogenetics of MS
Jorge Oksenberg, University of California-San Francisco
  11:50am - 12:15pm S6.4 Genes that regulate Vitamin D levels and the Risk of MS
J. Brent Richards, McGill University
  12:15pm - 12:40pm Panel Discussion
12:35pm - 1:00pm CL1. Closing Remarks
1:15pm - 2:30pm SS5. A Virtual Reality Experience of Current and Emerging Therapies: Personalizing the Management of Multiple Sclerosis
This CME activity is jointly provided by Med Learning Group and Ultimate Medical Academy/CCM. This activity is supported by an educational grant from AbbVie Inc