Welcome to BiogenTalks and Multiple Dialogues of MS. Podcasts are intended for Healthcare Professionals only. Please do not share or distribute. This podcast series contains interviews with some of the world-leading experts in Multiple Sclerosis. In each episode you will receive useful information and advice on important themes and relevant questions.
The 2021 episodes of BiogenTalks are hosted by Professor Derrick Robertson. Professor Robertson is Associate Professor of Neurology, Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Division, and Program Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Fellowship Program at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine in Tampa, Florida, USA. His primary research interests include clinical trials assessing novel treatments for both relapsing–remitting and secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis as well as medical student and resident education. Professor Robertson is board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He is a member of the American Neurological Association, American Academy of Neurology, and Florida Society of Neurology.
Why is VUMERITYTM (diroximel fumarate) described as a next-generation fumarate?
Highlights from this conversation include:
Professor Ziemssen is Director of the Center of Clinical Neuroscience with its Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Neuroimmunological Lab and Autonomic Lab at the Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital, in Dresden, Germany.
Dr. Singer is Director and Founder of The MS Center for Innovations in Care at Missouri Baptist Medical Center in St. Louis, USA. He is an Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology at Washington University in St. Louis, USA.
Associated References
Links to SmPCs and additional prescribing information
A scenario-based discussion on the use of VUMERITYTM (diroximel fumarate) in clinical practice.
During this episode, Professor Robertson presents patient scenarios to Professor Ziemssen and Dr. Singer, and asks what their approach would be with regard to prescribing VUMERITYTM.
The scenarios include:
Professor Ziemssen is Director of the Center of Clinical Neuroscience with its Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Neuroimmunological Lab and Autonomic Lab at the Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital, in Dresden, Germany.
Dr. Singer is Director and Founder of The MS Center for Innovations in Care at Missouri Baptist Medical Center in St. Louis, USA. He is an Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology at Washington University in St. Louis, USA.
Associated References
Links to SmPCs and additional prescribing information
Healthcare provider burnout in MS care – why does it happen, and how can we combat it?
Highlights from this conversation include:
Dr. Sullivan is a clinical health psychologist and the Director of Behavioral Medicine at the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, USA. She is also the Director of Caregiver Wellbeing at the Neurological Centre at the Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Sullivan is the principal investigator for several clinical trials, and her research interests are focused on MS pain, exercise and behavioural medicine. She therefore brings a unique perspective to the field of MS care with her combined expertise as a clinical health psychologist and in MS research. She's passionate about psychological health and led the efforts for the Mellen Center to win the national Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award for Best Practices by the American Psychological Association.
Caregiver/care partner burnout in MS care – why does it happen, and how can we combat it?
Highlights from this conversation about care giver burnout, who we refer to as care partners, include:
Dr. Sullivan is a clinical health psychologist and the Director of Behavioral Medicine at the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, USA. She is also the Director of Caregiver Wellbeing at the Neurological Centre at the Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Sullivan is the principal investigator for several clinical trials, and her research interests are focused on MS pain, exercise and behavioural medicine. She therefore brings a unique perspective to the field of MS care with her combined expertise as a clinical health psychologist and in MS research. She's passionate about psychological health and led the efforts for the Mellen Center to win the national Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award for Best Practices by the American Psychological Association.
With up to 13 years of follow-up, how has TECFIDERA® (dimethyl fumarate) impacted on clinical practice for adult patients with RRMS?
Highlights from this conversation include:
Professor Gold is Chair of Neurology at St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum in Germany. He is a founding member and on the board of the German Competence Network of Multiple Sclerosis. He was also on the executive board for ECTRIMS and panel leader for the European Federation of Neurological Societies. Professor Gold has been involved in the drug development programme for Tecfidera® since its inception, including the DEFINE, CONFIRM and ENDORSE trials.
Can diet have a disease-modifying effect on MS?
Highlights from this conversation include:
Professor Giovannoni is an academic neurologist based at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London in the UK. His current research is focused on Epstein Barr virus as a possible cause of MS, MS-related neurodegeneration, biomarker discovery and validation, and MS clinical outcomes.
What do we know about the gut microbiome in MS?
Highlights from this conversation include:
Professor Giovannoni is an academic neurologist based at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London in the UK. His current research is focused on Epstein Barr virus as a possible cause of MS, MS-related neurodegeneration, biomarker discovery and validation, and MS clinical outcomes.
MS treatment in the era of COVID-19 (part 3): the impact of COVID-19 and the vaccination roll-out on the management and treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis.
This episode uses a case study-based approach to explore the following topics:
Professor Carlo Tornatore serves as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Neurology at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington D.C., USA. He is also Regional Chief of Neurology for MedStar Health, Chairman and Neurologist-in-Chief at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, and Executive Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Patient-Centered Specialty Practice MedStar Georgetown. Professor Tornatore has published extensively in the areas of clinical and translational neuroimmunology and neurovirology, and is actively involved in over 15 MS clinical trials.
Dr. Wallace Brownlee is a Consultant Neurologist and Clinical Lead for the Multiple Sclerosis Service at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, and Honorary Associate Professor at UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology in London, UK. Dr. Brownlee is Principal Investigator for a number of ongoing phase 3 clinical trials in MS and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, and Associate Editor of Multiple Sclerosis Journal, leading on case reports and social media.
MS treatment in the era of COVID-19 (part 4): what the future looks like for consultations and multiple sclerosis research.
This episode covers the following topics:
Dr. Wallace Brownlee is a Consultant Neurologist and Clinical Lead for the Multiple Sclerosis Service at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, and Honorary Associate Professor at UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology in London, UK. Dr. Brownlee is Principal Investigator for a number of ongoing phase 3 clinical trials in MS and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, and Associate Editor of Multiple Sclerosis Journal, leading on case reports and social media.
Professor Carlo Tornatore serves as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Neurology at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington D.C., USA. He is also Regional Chief of Neurology for MedStar Health, Chairman and Neurologist-in-Chief at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, and Executive Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Patient-Centered Specialty Practice MedStar Georgetown. Professor Tornatore has published extensively in the areas of clinical and translational neuroimmunology and neurovirology, and is actively involved in over 15 MS clinical trials.
MS treatment in the era of COVID-19 (part 5): the immunology of COVID-19 vaccinations in people with multiple sclerosis.
This episode is an excerpt from a discussion at the 2021 American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting covering the following topics:
Dr. Barry Singer is Director and Founder of The MS Center for Innovations in Care at Missouri Baptist Medical Center in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. He is an Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology at Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Singer has been an investigator in over 35 MS clinical trials focused on new therapeutics. In 2016, he was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America. His award-winning MS patient education website www.mslivingwell.org was created in 2007 and has been a valuable resource in more than 190 countries.
Dr. Amy Lovett-Racke is a Professor in the Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity and a member of the Infectious Diseases Institute at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio, USA. She is also a Section Editor for The Journal of Immunology and serves as a committee member for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Pathways to Cure MS. She has published extensively on the role of T cells and their interactions with other cells of the immune and central nervous systems in the onset and progression of MS.
Walking impairment in Multiple Sclerosis (MS): Symptoms, evaluation, and the role of exercise.
Walking impairment in Multiple Sclerosis (MS): The latest research.
Sequencing therapies in Multiple Sclerosis: Opportunities and strategic thinking.
Sequencing therapies in Multiple Sclerosis: Managing patients throughout the disease journey.
MS treatment in the era of COVID-19 (part 1): Disease management, virtual consultations and the global data sharing initiative.
MS treatment in the era of COVID-19 (part 2): Immunology, vaccination readiness and the upcoming flu season.
Understanding the effects of MS treatment with patient-reported outcomes (PROs).
Personalized medicine in multiple sclerosis (MS).
Pearls and pitfalls of real-world evidence (RWE).
How can we improve real-world data collection in multiple sclerosis (MS)?
What does the future in RWE look like?
Nursing strategies to improve MS patients´ adherence and persistence.
Key Learnings from up to 13 years of follow-up with TECFIDERA® (dimethyl fumarate) treatment experience.
Safety data from up to 13 years of long-term follow-up with TECFIDERA® (dimethyl fumarate) treatment.
Biogen-127959.
Date of preparation: January 2022.