37th Annual McEwan-Jones Lecture/Faculty Research Day: Dr. Gavin Giovannoni
Visiting Professor Speaker: 
Professor Gavin Giovannoni MBBCh, PhD, FCP (S.A., Neurol.), FRCP, FRCPath
Professor of Neurology
Blizard Institute
Medicine and Dentistry
Queen Mary University of London
Title: How will we be managing MS in 2050?
Learning objectives: 1. To review the evidence that the Epstein-Barr Virus causes MS 2. To present strategies for preventing multiple sclerosis 3. To have a working definition of what a multiple sclerosis cure will look like
Although multiple sclerosis (MS) is thought of as a complex autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, there is now overwhelming epidemiological evidence that the Epstein-Bar virus is necessary for someone to develop MS. In other words, EBV is the cause of MS. How EBV causes MS is currently unknown. However, there is virological and immunological evidence that latent-lytic cycling of EBV is driving MS disease activity. I will present the rationale for using an EBV vaccine and for treating EBV-associated infectious mononucleosis as primary MS prevention strategies and for targeting EBV using antivirals and immunotherapy as a treatment strategy. If EBV infection is driving MS disease activity, we have an opportunity to cure multiple sclerosis. However, a definition of what an MS cure looks like needs careful thought so as not to raise unrealistic expectations but to provide a treatment target for the MS community. If the EBV is proven to cause MS, then the treatment landscape in 2050 will be very different to one we are living in at present.
Featuring faculty speakers: (ascending order)
Agessandro Abrahao (SHSC)
Atif Zafar (UHT: SMH)
Aylin Reid (UHN)
Esther Bui (UHN)
Jennifer Rabin (SHSC)
Lorraine Kalia (UHN)
Manav Vyas (UHT: SMH)
Mark Boulos (SHSC)
MaryJane Lim Fat (SHSC)
Raphael Schneider (UHT: SMH)
Sarah Lidstone (UHN)
DIVISION OF NEUROLOGY PUBLICATION AWARDEES
Awardee (Category 1) Clinician Research Pub
Clinical epidemiology, clinical research, education and quality Improvement papers
Awardee (Category 2) Basic Research Pub
Reports of research projects
This event is generously supported by McEwan-Jones Annual Neurological Lecture Fund and formal partnership with the Division of Neurology: Alexion, Amylyx, Argenx, EMD Serono, Lilly, Paladin Labs, Roche and Sanofi.