The All-Ireland Multiple Sclerosis Research Network Symposium
26th June 2026, Riddel Hall, Stranmillis Road, Belfast.
| 9.00-
9.30 |
Registration and Coffee |
| 9.30-
9.40 |
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Co-chairs: Dr Michelle Naughton, Queen’s University Belfast & Dr Jill McMahon, University of Galway |
| 9.40-
10.40 |
Session 1. Chair: Dr Jill McMahon
MS diagnosis, treatment and research trials; does age matter? Dr Stella Hughes Consultant Neurologist, Belfast HSC Trust PROMISE: improving mental health supports for MS. Dr Christina Kini-Seery Maynooth University A Statistician in MS Research: Insights from MultipleMS and Beyond. Dr Sinead Moylett, University of Limerick Can Saliva Reflect Neurodegeneration and Inflammation in Multiple Sclerosis? Dr Shima Shapoori, University of Galway |
| 10.40-
11.10 |
Comfort Break & Coffee |
| 11.10-
11.40 |
Session 2. Chair: Dr Rebecca Maguire
Panel Discussion: Putting PPI in Practice. Mr Owen Williams, PPI contributor, Ms Janet Wilson, PPI contributor, Ms Fiona Magill, MS Research Nurse & Dr Michelle Naughton, Research Fellow |
| 11.40-
12.30 |
Short oral presentations / Flash talks
Investigating retinal neurodegeneration and inflammation in Multiple Sclerosis. Ashleigh McMullan Retrospective Reclassification of Belfast Trust Clinically Isolated Syndrome Cases Using the 2017 and 2024 Multiple Sclerosis Diagnostic Criteria: Preliminary Results. Dr Nogol Motamed Gorji Consent: face-to-face or virtual? Experience from the Northern Ireland Multiple Sclerosis Registry. Dr David Cromie A peptide released by parasitic worms shows therapeutic efficacy in preclinical models of multiple sclerosis.Dr Sheila Donnelly |
| 12.30-
13.30 |
Lunch & Poster Viewing |
| 13.30-
14.15 |
Session 3. Chair: Dr Jennifer Dowling
Growing All-Ireland collaborative research in MS. Prof Denise Fitzgerald, QUB and TCD EBV drives pathogenic myeloid cell activation during prodromal MS. Dr Éanna Fennell, University College Cork Iron in the Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Spinal Cord. Dr Andrew Lockhart, Consultant Neurologist, University Hospital Limerick |
| 14.15-
14.30 |
Comfort break |
| 14.30-
15.30 |
Session 4. Chair: Dr Lajos Csincsik
Microglial State Diversity, Formation and Function During Remyelination. Assistant Prof Mike Dolan, Trinity College Dublin Imaging biomarkers of neurodegeneration in MS. Dr Olwen Murphy, Consultant Neurologist, Tallaght University Hospital EBV and biological ageing in MS. Dr Hugh Kearney, Consultant Neurologist, St James Hospital Research at MS Ireland. Dr Rebecca Maguire, Maynooth University (speaking on behalf of MS Ireland) |
| 15.30-
16.00 |
Tea/Coffee & Poster Viewing |
| 16.00-
17.00 |
Keynote address
Understanding mechanisms of myelin damage and repair: from fish to human. Prof David Lyons, University of Edinburgh |
| 17.00-
17.10 |
Closing Remarks and Prizes sponsored by the Ulster Immunology Group, affiliate of the British Society for Immunology |
| 17:10 | Close |
