Programme 2026
Northern Connections MS Annual Meeting
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Schedule and timings
We aim to have a diverse programme, led by a range of clinical and academic speakers and mixed with plenty of opportunities to network with colleagues.
Optional Breakfast Session – 8am, Friday 12th June 2026, Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh
8:00am – 9:00am
Breakfast Session – Complex Patient Cases
Dr. Stella Hughes, Belfast HSC Trust
Main Meeting – 9am, Friday 12th June 2026, Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh
Morning Session 1- Chair: Prof. Siddharthan Chandran
09.15am - 09.20am
Welcome & Meeting Aspirations
09.20am - 09.50am
Understanding mechanisms of myelin damage and repair: from fish to human
Prof. David Lyons, University of Edinburgh
09.50am - 10.20am
Extended role of MRI in 2024 McDonald criteria
Prof. Frederik Barkhof, National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery, and University College London
10.20am - 10.45am
Coffee & networking
Morning Session 2 – Chair: Dr. Martin Duddy
10.45am - 11.15am
How to make good research even better
Prof. Malcolm MacLeod, University of Edinburgh
11.15am - 11.30am
Short Research Presentations x 2
Miracle Ozzoude, University of Edinburgh and Francesca Pentimalli Biscaretti di Ruffia, University of Edinburgh
11.30am - 12.00pm
aHSCT in MS – update and future directions
Dr. Gavin Brittain, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield
12.00pm - 13.00pm
Lunch
Afternoon Session 1 – Chair: Dr. Kate Petheram
13.00pm - 14.00pm
Interspecialty Collaborations in MS Care
Dr. Martin Duddy, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Dr. Katy Murray, NHS Forth Valley, Dr. David McKay, NHS Lothian, Dr. Ally Speight, Newcastle University, Dr. Sean Kerrigan, NHS Forth Valley
14.00pm - 14.30pm
MS and Menopause
Dr. Cecilia Simonsen, Vestre Viken Hospital Trust, Norway
14.30pm - 14.45pm
Short Research Presentations x 2
Dr. Elisa Nédélec, Northumbria University and Dr. Nogol Motamedgorji, Belfast HSCT
14.45pm - 15.15pm
Coffee & networking
Afternoon Session 2 – Chair: Dr. Paul Gallagher
15.15pm - 15.40pm
Preventative Strategies in Eradicating MS
Prof. David Hunt, University of Edinburgh
15.40pm - 16.25pm
Debate: First degree relatives of PwMS should be offered pre symptomatic screening
Dr. Karen Chung, University College London vs. Dr. James McDonald, NHS Fife
16.25pm - 16.30pm
Closing Remarks
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OTHER EVENTS
Past Programmes
Have a look at the programmes from previous meetings to get a feel for some of our other speakers and topics.