European Multiple Sclerosis Platform

09/10/2026

We are back with the second episode of the season focused on Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Management. Hosts Anna Revilla and Elisabeth Kasilingam are joined by Stijn Denissen and Joke Soetaert for a deep dive into how AI tools are impacting healthcare, the shift from "Dr. Google" to "Dr. AI," and the practical opportunities and safety challenges of these technologies.

Tune in to Episode 2 of Season 3 and tell us in the comments what you want us to cover next this season!

We are continuing Season 3 with a brand-new episode on Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Management. Hosts Anna Revilla and Elisabeth Kasilingam are joined by Stijn Denissen and Joke Tsuta for a conversation about the impact of AI in healthcare, the shift from "Dr. Google" to "Dr. AI," and the o...

08/10/2026

Today is 👁️

For many people living with multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) or MOG antibody-associated disease (MOGAD), the first signs of the disease often appear in the eyes.

Optic neuritis, an inflammation of the optic nerve, can cause blurred vision, pain on eye movement, reduced colour perception or sudden vision loss. It is a common early symptom of MS. In NMOSD and MOGAD, optic nerve attacks tend to be more severe and more likely to recur, and the damage can be permanent if treatment is delayed.

An accurate diagnosis is therefore essential. NMOSD and MOGAD are rare and are frequently misdiagnosed as MS. Some MS treatments are ineffective in NMOSD and may even worsen the disease.

Science is advancing. The updated McDonald criteria now include the optic nerve in the diagnostic process for MS, recognising the central role of vision in these conditions. They also place greater emphasis on careful differential diagnosis, including antibody testing for NMOSD and MOGAD.

Yet across Europe, little is known about how people with NMOSD and MOGAD are diagnosed, treated and supported.

The new edition of EMSP's MS Barometer aims to change that. For the first time, it will include NMOSD and MOGAD, providing the first comprehensive Europe-wide picture of quality of care and access to treatment and services for people living with these conditions. Results will be published in 2027.

🔗 Learn more about the MS Barometer: emsp.org/projects/ms-barometer-2025-2027/

06/10/2026

Today is European Carers Day

For people living with Multiple Sclerosis, the specialist nurse is often the person holding the whole care pathway together. They coordinate across services, provide psychological support, advise on social benefits, and are there when people need them most.

But our MS Nurse PROfessional workload survey shows that 66% of MS nurses spend most of their time on administrative tasks. As a result, essential parts of care are left undone. As MS prevalence rises, this pressure will only grow.

The answer is practical:

🖥️ better digital tools,

💰 affordable access to advanced training, and

♾️ streamlined administrative processes,

so nurses can focus on the specialised care only they can give.

On 1 December, EMSP brings this discussion to the European Parliament with "Advanced and Specialist Nursing: A Practical Answer to Europe's Health Workforce Challenge", hosted by MEP Billy Kelleher MEP.

📅 Tuesday 1 December 2026, 16:00–18:00 CET

📍 European Parliament, Brussels & Online

Register here: https://bit.ly/4egA671

30/09/2026

Patient-generated data is changing what counts as evidence, and patients need to be part of that conversation.

Last week, our CEO Elisabeth Kasilingam Emsp spoke in Dublin at the European Federation of Neurological Associations Conference, marking 25 years of the organisation.

Her session, "Patient-Generated Data: Unlocking Value for Care, Research and Innovation", looked at the growing value of patient-generated data and how it can be used to drive meaningful change.

Our Impact of MS Symptoms (IMSS) survey shows that people with MS experience an average of 14 symptoms, with fatigue, cognitive impairment and mobility issues among the most common and debilitating. Yet many report limited access to personalised, coordinated care, particularly for invisible symptoms.

EMSP's Barometer further points to this inequality in access to care across Europe. These experiences rarely show up in clinical endpoints.

When HTA bodies weigh the evidence, they need to be counted, not treated as an add-on.

22/09/2026

Athlete and fitness coach Guillaume Lodini, returns for part two of our marathon preparation series with the things you can change without adding a single kilometre: how you hold yourself, how you place your feet, and how you breathe.

The EMSP Awareness Run 2026 takes place on 18 October at the Antwerp Marathon, and this year you can also take part through any sporting event or your own fundraising campaign. Funds go to EMSP's Young People's Network, supporting people aged 18–35 living with MS, NMOSD and MOGAD.

Register or donate: https://emsp.org/events/emsprun26/

21/09/2026

Athlete and fitness coach Guillaume Lodini, who lives with multiple sclerosis, returns for part two of our marathon preparation series with the things you can change without adding a single kilometre: how you hold yourself, how you place your feet, and how you breathe.

The EMSP Awareness Run 2026 takes place on 18 October at the Antwerp Marathon, and this year you can also take part through any sporting event or your own fundraising campaign. Funds go to EMSP's Young People's Network, supporting people aged 18–35 living with MS, NMOSD and MOGAD.

Register or donate: https://emsp.org/events/emsprun26/

11/09/2026

People with MS report an average of 13.7 symptoms, but only half are satisfied with how those symptoms are managed.

These are among the findings of EMSP's Impact of Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms (IMSS) study, recently published in the Multiple Sclerosis Journals.

The study draws on the experiences of 17,151 people with MS across 22 European countries.

Research continues to improve our understanding of disease activity, progression and disability. Far less attention has gone to the symptoms that shape daily life. The IMSS set out to close that gap.

Key findings:

🔹 99% of respondents live with at least one symptom. Fatigue, sensory problems, sleep disturbances, cognitive impairment and balance problems are the most common.

🔹 87% use strategies to manage their symptoms, yet only 50% are satisfied with how their symptoms are managed.

🔹 People see an average of 4.2 healthcare professionals, but only around half experience coordinated care.

Studies like IMSS help make sure that the experiences and needs of people with MS shape decisions on healthcare, research priorities and policy. By bringing together the voices of thousands of people across Europe, IMSS adds to the evidence on unmet needs and supports more person-centred MS care.

It is also a reminder to researchers, healthcare professionals and policymakers that MS is more than a neurological condition. It affects many parts of daily life.

Thank you to the national MS societies that supported data collection, and to everyone with MS who shared their experience.

Elisabeth Kasilingam Emsp Emma Rogan

Read more:

Led by the European Multiple Sclerosis Platform (EMSP), the study explores the experiences of people living with multiple sclerosis (MS)...

07/09/2026

Signing up is the easy part. The struggle comes next, especially for first-time runners: building a training routine that fits your fitness level.

Our series with Coach Guillaume Lodini starts tomorrow where he gives you the tools for building a tailored training programme. An athlete, marathon runner and fitness coach, Guillaume builds his training around three pillars: consistency, interval training and recovery. He takes each one in turn, so that by race day you have built the stamina for your distance and know how to manage your energy along the way. A huge thank you to Guillaume for making these videos for our community.

Not registered yet? Sign up for the EMSP Awareness Run and join patient advocates raising awareness and funds for MS and related disorders.

More information: https://emsp.org/events/emsprun26/

26/08/2026

New MedTalk Video on AI within the EBV-MS study!

🧠 How can artificial intelligence help us better understand multiple sclerosis?

In the latest MedTalk video, researchers from the EBV-MS study explore how AI, systems biology and network science are helping uncover the complex interactions between genes, the immune system and viruses in MS.

The discussion also highlights the importance of explainable AI, developing models that not only make accurate predictions, but also help us understand the biology behind them.

By combining AI with computational biology, we can unlock new insights into MS, support faster drug discovery and bring us closer to more personalised treatments for people living with MS.

🎥 Watch the latest MedTalk and discover how AI is shaping the future of MS research.
https://buff.ly/pUTLf9q

Read the blogpost here: https://buff.ly/LT00jN4

Video produsert av Neuro-SysMed. Handler om hvordan kunstig intelli...

03/08/2026

IMMUTOL Featured in Insight Magazine

IMMUTOL is featured in Insight magazine's special edition, Rethinking Health: Transforming Prevention, Treatment and Care, highlighting the project's vision for transforming the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

The feature explores IMMUTOL's innovative approach of reprogramming the immune system. Rather than simply suppressing immune responses to manage symptoms, the project aims to restore immune tolerance, the body's ability to recognise its own healthy tissues and stop attacking them.

By bringing together experts in immunology, clinical research, biotechnology and patient engagement from across Europe, IMMUTOL is advancing research into therapies that could provide long-lasting disease control while preserving the immune system's natural ability to fight infections.

While this research is still in its early stages, it represents an exciting step towards treatments that move beyond managing autoimmune diseases and closer to addressing their root cause.

Read the full feature in Insight magazine to discover how IMMUTOL is helping to shape the future of autoimmune disease research.

Read here: https://buff.ly/crd5iSk
https://buff.ly/hr3tzge