RealTalk MS

The annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology is underway in Chicago this week, and one of the highlights is the presentation of the John Dystel Prize for Research in Multiple Sclerosis, awarded jointly by the National MS Society and the American Academy of Neurology.

This year's winner of the Dystel Prize is Dr. Ludwig Kappos, a physician-scientist at the University Hospital Basel in Basel, Switzerland, and the director of the Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel.

Dr. Kappos has played a major role in how clinical trials in MS are conducted. He helped establish the Expanded Disability Status Scale, or EDSS, which is the gold standard for measuring disability in people with MS, and Dr. Kappos and his team have advanced our current understanding of a key driver of disability in MS, known as progression independent of relapse activity, or PIRA.

Dr. Kappos will be delivering the Dystel Prize lecture at the American Academy of Neurology meeting this week, and he's joining us to share a preview of that lecture in a conversation you won't want to miss.

We're also sharing news about a blood test used to monitor MS disease activity that has just been approved by the European Union.

We'll give you the details of a study focused on whether disease-modifying therapies can impact neurodevelopmental birth defects in children born to mothers with MS.

We'll explain why yaks and Tibetan antelope may have opened a door to neuroprotection and myelin repair for people living with MS.

And we'll tell you where healthcare providers and patients may differ when it comes to defining high-quality MS care.

We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

This Week: The John Dystel Prize for Multiple Sclerosis Research is awarded :22

A blood test to monitor MS disease activity is approved by the EU 2:28

Researchers determine whether disease-modifying therapies have an impact on neurodevelopmental birth defects among children born to mothers with MS 4:21

Researchers studying yaks and Tibetan antelope may have uncovered a pathway to neuroprotection and even myelin repair 7:24

Healthcare providers and people living with MS share their perspectives on what needs improvement in delivering high-quality MS care 10:01

Dr. Ludwig Kappos reflects on how MS clinical trials need to change 13:33

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I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts!

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LINKS

If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com

STUDY: Association of Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Congenital Anomalies with Prenatal Multiple Sclerosis Treatment: Real World Historial Cohort Studyhttps://ascpt.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cpt.70235

STUDY: A Gain-of-Function Retstat Variant from High-Altitude Adaptation Promotes Myelination Via a Neuronal Dihydroretinoic Acid-RXR-Y Pathway https://www.cell.com/neuron/fulltext/S0896-6273(26)00013-9

ARTICLE: Areas for Improvement for High-Quality Multiple Sclerosis Care: Insights from Interviews with People with Multiple Sclerosis, Providers, and Clinical Educators https://sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1936657426000300

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RealTalk MS Episode 451 Guest: Dr. Ludwig Kappos

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An exercise program can be hard to start and even more difficult to stick with. But the evidence-based benefits speak for themselves. For people living with MS, it can mean improving quality of life without having to rely on a pill, injection, or infusion. And exercise is 100% affordable!

Dr. Robert Motl, the Director of the Exercise Neuroscience Research Laboratory at the College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois Chicago, joins me to discuss how exercise can improve MS-related brain fog, reduce fatigue, and perhaps even support myelin repair.

We'll also share the results of a study that shows having mononucleosis is a significant risk factor for developing MS.

And we'll tell you about a powerful imaging agent that can identify which immune cells are causing the inflammatory activity that drives MS, determine disease severity, and track the immune system's response to disease-modifying therapy. It's a potential game-changer in MS care.

We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

This Week: Evidence-based benefits of exercise for people living with MS :22

Study results show that having mono increases the chance that someone will develop MS 1:28

Researchers have created an imaging agent with the potential to be a game-changer in diagnosing and treating MS 4:29

Dr. Robert Motl explains how and why exercise can be medicine for people with MS 10:04

Share this episode 31:50

Next week 32:10

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Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/450

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I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts!

Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283

And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group!

LINKS

If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com

STUDY: Risk of Multiple Sclerosis Among Persons with Epstein-Barr Virus-Positive Mononucleosishttps://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WN9.0000000000000082

STUDY: A Radiolabeled Dendrimer Non-Invasively Identifies and Tracks Innate Immune Cell Activation in a Mouse Model of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-67907-x

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RealTalk MS Episode 450 Guest: Dr. Robert Motl

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When you join the iConquer MS community, you're no longer just a patient; you become a research partner. Not just a data point in someone's study. You become the person to suggest the study, to help define the study, and to participate in sharing the outcome of the study.

In this week's episode, I talk with the iConquer MS leadership team about what it means to be part of this people-powered research revolution and how iConquer MS keeps people affected by MS at the center of MS research.

The National Institutes of Health has just published a Strategic Plan for Disability Health Research. We're sharing all the details.

And a research team analyzed data from 20 global studies to determine whether anti-CD20 disease-modifying therapies (Ocrevus, Kesimpta, Briumvi) were cost-effective. We're sharing their somewhat surprising results.

And a research team analyzed data from 20 global studies to determine whether anti-CD20 disease-modifying therapies (Ocrevus, Kesimpta, Briumvi) were cost-effective. We're sharing their somewhat surprising results.

We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

This Week: We're talking about people-powered MS research :22

The NIH has published a Strategic Plan for Disability Health Research 1:15

Researchers determine whether anti-CD20 disease-modifying therapies (Ocrevus, Kesimpta, Briumvi) are cost-effective 6:05

Sara Loud, Stephanie Buxhoeveden, and Hollie Schmidt discuss what it means to put people affected by MS at the center of MS research 12:41

Share this episode 36:26

Next week 36:45

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I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts!

Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283

And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group!

LINKS

If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com

iConquer MS https://iconquerms.org

National Institutes of Health Strategic Plan for Disability Health Research https://dpcpsi.nih.gov/disabilityhealthresearch

STUDY: Economic Value of Anti-CD20 Therapies in Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review of Cost-Effectiveness Studieshttps://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/17562864261426816

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RealTalk MS Episode 449 Guests: Sara Loud, Stephanie Buxoeveden, and Hollie Schmidt

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Last week, about 170 MS activists from across the country gathered in Washington, D.C. to participate in the National MS Society's Public Policy Conference. It's hard to come away from this event and not feel outraged by the stories that are shared, but also inspired by the resilience and bravery of the MS Activists who are willing to share some of the worst moments in their MS journey to make sure that our elected representatives in the House and Senate understand why the legislation we ask them to support is so vitally important.

I met so many truly amazing MS activists at this year's Public Policy Conference, and you'll meet some of them in this week's episode. We're also sharing survey results that paint a disturbing picture of the human consequences that resulted from losing Congressional funding to support enhanced premium tax credits for ACA Marketplace Enrollees

The National MS Society has invested $2.3 million in 11 research projects focused on women's health issues and MS. We're sharing details of each new research initiative being funded.

You'll learn about a clinical trial for a novel investigational therapy for MS and other autoimmune diseases.

And we'll tell you about a study that you can participate in from home...and get compensated for your participation!

We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

This Week: We're at the Public Policy Conference :22

Survey results show the human consequences of losing Congressional funding to support enhanced premium tax credits for ACA Marketplace Enrollees 4:45

The National MS Society invests $2.3 million dollars in research projects focused on women's health issues and MS 7:23

The first healthy participant is dosed in the clinical trial for ICP-538 11:24

An opportunity to participate from home in a clinical trial (and there's compensation!) 12:41

MS Activists David, Cliff, and Michelle share their thoughts on attending the MS Society's Public Policy Conference 15:27

Share this episode 30:10

Next week 30:30

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I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts!

Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283

And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group!

LINKS

If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com

Support Jon at WALK MS https://realtalkms.com/walkms

JOIN: Become an MS Activist https://nationalmssociety.org/advocacy

LISTEN: RealTalk MS Episode 446 -- MS Advocacy and the National MS Society's Public Policy Conference with Steffany Stern https://realtalkms.com/446

SURVEY RESULTS: Cost Concerns and Coverage Changes: A Follow-Up Survey of ACA Marketplace Enrollees https://www.kff.org/public-opinion/a-follow-up-survey-of-aca-marketplace-enrollees

PARTICIPATE: A Study to Determine How Well Different Fall Prevention Programs Work for People with Spinal Court Injury and Multiple Sclerosis Email for More Information: [email protected]

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RealTalk MS Episode 448 Guests: David Silbaugh, Cliff Currie, and Michelle Constantine Hibbs

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In 1988, there were just 42 Walk MS events, raising approximately $4 million. In 2025, there were 170 events across the country that raised over $30 million. As the largest private funder of MS research in the world, the National MS Society relies on funds raised at events like Walk MS to continue supporting the work that brings us closer to cures.

This week, Brigitte Delaney, an amazing fundraiser and captain of the Many Sisters Walk MS team, shares her story, talks about the origin of the Many Sisters team, and offers her recipe for successful fundraising.

We're also sharing study results that show adhering to the MIND diet slows brain aging (and we'll explain why that matters to someone living with MS)

We'll tell you about NG01, a remyelinating cell therapy that just received an FDA designation that will accelerate its development.

You'll learn about CoPilot Health, Microsoft's new AI health chatbot.

And we're sharing study results that indicate people who receive their MS diagnosis over the age of 50 tend to experience a more severe MS disease course.

We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

This Week: It's WALK MS! :22

Study results show that adherence to the MIND diet slows brain aging 1:24

The FDA grants a designation that accelerates development of a remyelinating cell therapy 4:42

Microsoft launches CoPilot Health, an AI health chatbot 7:17

Study results indicate that people who are diagnosed over the age of 50 often experience a more severe MS disease course 9:32

Brigitte Delaney introduces us to the Many Sisters WALK MS team 12:07

Share this episode 22:28

Next week 22:48

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Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/447

ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION

I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts!

Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283

And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group!

LINKS

If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com

Support Jon at WALK MS https://realtalkms.com/walkms

JOIN: Become an MS Activist https://nationalmssociety.org/advocacy

STUDY: Adherence to the MIND Diet and Longitudinal Brain Structural Changes Over a Decade: Evidence from the Framingham Heart Study Offspring Cohort https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/early/2026/3/11/jnnp-2025-336957

STUDY: Effect of Late-Onset on Multiple Sclerosis Phenotype and Outcome: Evidence from a Multi-National Registry https:/link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00415-026-13632-4

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RealTalk MS Episode 447 Guests: Brigitte Delaney

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175 MS activists are heading to Washington, D.C. next week for the National MS Society's Public Policy Conference. Their mission: to bring the concerns of the MS community directly to lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

When it comes to the legislative support for healthcare and medical research, it's no secret that these are unusual times. Joining me to brief us on the National MS Society's ongoing advocacy efforts and give us a sneak peek at the specific legislative issues we'll be taking to Capitol Hill is the National MS Society's Vice President of Advocacy, Steffany Stern.

We'll also share updated results from an important study that show the risk of developing MS if a close relative is living with the disease is significantly higher than researchers originally thought.

And we'll give you all the details of a Phase 1 clinical trial that's focused on a novel approach to CAR-T cell therapy for MS.

We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

This Week: Preparing for the MS Society's Public Policy Conference :22

I'm asking for your support: 1:37

An update to a 2015 study shows close relatives of people living with MS are 100 times more likely than the general population to develop MS 2:15

A novel approach to CAR-T cell therapy for MS is recruiting for a Phase 1 clinical trial 4:26

Steffany Stern, the Vice President of Research at the National MS Society, shares a major advocacy win and previews next week's Public Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. 7:27

Share this episode 33:04

Next week 33:25

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Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/446

ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION

I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts!

Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283

And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group!

LINKS

If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com

Support Jon at WALK MS https://realtalkms.com/walkms

JOIN: Become an MS Activist https://nationalmssociety.org/advocacy

STUDY: A Prospective Study of Individuals at Risk of Multiple Sclerosis Informs the Design of Primary Prevention Studies https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/acn3.70340

GEMS Study Recruitment https:/nationalmssociety.org/news-and-magazine/news/ms-study-alert-gems

RealTalk MS Ep. 439: Preventing MS with Dr. Bruce Bebo https://realtalkms.com/439

PARTICIPATE: A Study to Assess the Safety and Clinical of Azer-cel in Participants with B-cell Mediated Autoimmune Disorders https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06680037/#contacts-and-locations

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RealTalk MS Episode 446 Guests: Steffany Stern

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It's MS Awareness Week, and this year we're diving into a theme that hits home for millions: Unseen MS. Multiple sclerosis is a master of disguise; it can be entirely invisible to the naked eye while remaining profoundly life-altering for the person living it.

In this episode, we're exploring the spectrum of the MS experience through two distinct, yet deeply connected stories.

First, you'll hear from RealTalk MS team member Kristine Werner Ozug. Kristine shares what it's like to navigate a world that doesn't always see her struggle, and how her "mostly invisible" MS symptoms still dictate the rhythm of her daily life.

Then, you'll meet the two Kims (and a third). Kim W and Kim P, have been together for 16 years. They both live with MS—but in very different ways. While Kim P has navigated RRMS for 18 years with largely invisible symptoms, Kim W was diagnosed with PPMS just three years ago and faces much more visible physical challenges.

Joining our conversation with Kim and Kim is Kim Fredsall, a physical therapist at Gaylord Specialty Healthcare, who provides expert context on bridging the gap between diagnosis and daily management.

We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

This Week: It's MS Awareness Week :22

Kristine Werner Ozug shares her story 1:24

Kim W. and Kim P. share their story 24:49

Share this episode 39:14

Next week 39:34

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Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/445

ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION

I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts!

Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283

And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group!

LINKS

If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com

Support Jon at WALK MS https://realtalkms.com/walkms

JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review

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RealTalk MS Episode 445 Guests: Kristine Werner Ozug, Kim P, Kim W, and Kim Fredsall

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You know them by their trade names such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound. This class of medications is known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. And while they are best known for managing diabetes and promoting weight loss, researchers are finding that these drugs are also effective in a broad range of other health conditions. So, what about MS?

My guest this week is Dr. Ellen Mowry, the principal investigator of a clinical trial to determine whether a GLP-1 drug can reduce brain inflammation and provide neuroprotection in people living with progressive MS.

We're sharing details about the discovery of a new biomarker that not only confirms an MS diagnosis but also predicts the severity of an individual's disease course in the years ahead.

We'll tell you about three studies focused on better managing some of the most common MS symptoms and funded by the International Progressive MS Alliance.

And we'll explain how Merck and the Mayo Clinic are partnering to build a first-of-its-kind drug discovery platform using AI.

We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

This Week: A GLP-1 for MS? :22

I'm asking for your support: 1:31

Researchers discover biomarkers that can predict future disease course 2:13

The International Progressive MS Alliance invests $8.1 million in global studies that address the most common MS symptoms 5:44

Merck and the Mayo Clinic collaborate on AI-driven drug discovery platform 10:02

Dr. Ellen Mowry discusses the clinical trial to determine whether a GLP-1 drug can reduce inflammation in the central nervous system and offer neuroprotection to people with progressive MS 12:20

Share this episode 30:17

Next week 30:38

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Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/444

ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION

I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts!

Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283

And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group!

LINKS

If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com

Support Jon at WALK MS https://realtalkms.com/walkms

STUDY: Large-Scale Proteomics Across Neurological Disorders Uncovers Biomarker Panel and Targets in Multiple Sclerosis https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41747728

International Progressive MS Alliance https://progressivemsalliance.org

JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review

Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com.

RealTalk MS Episode 444 Guests: Dr. Ellen Mowry

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Welcome back to the third and final part of our coverage of the 2026 ACTRIMS Forum. This week's episode bridges the gap between groundbreaking clinical research and the nuanced reality of living with MS every day.

First, we'll dive into the "before" and "after" of a diagnosis, starting with Dr. Helen Tremlett's insights into the MS prodrome—those subtle, early signs that appear years before typical MS symptoms. We'll also talk with Dr. Tremlett about how other health conditions can predict long-term outcomes in sometimes surprising ways.

Dr. Ilana Katz Sand shares her latest research on the connection between diet, MRI findings, and clinical disability. Dr. Katz Sand also shares her list of foods you want to include and those you need to exclude when you choose the MIND diet. And Dr. Katz Sand explains the complementary roles of lifestyle choices and disease-modifying therapies in creating the most effective MS treatment plan.

Finally, we ground these scientific advancements in the lived experience as Kathy Smith joins us to challenge the clinical labels we use to describe MS, questioning whether terms like "relapsing-remitting" or "secondary-progressive" truly capture the day-to-day reality of her two-decade journey with the disease.

We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

This Week: The 2026 ACTRIMS Forum (Part 3) :22

Dr. Helen Tremlett discusses the prodromal phase of MS, which comorbidities are predictive of better or worse patient outcomes, and the role of the environment in pediatric MS 1:19

Dr. Ilana Katz Sand shares her latest research on the impact of diet on MS 10:44

As someone who has lived with MS for two decades, Kathy Smith takes on the question of whether the current labels like 'relapsing-remitting' or 'secondary-progressive' actually describe what life is like on a day-to-day basis for someone living with MS 22:35

Share this episode 34:29

Next week's episode 34:49

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Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/443

ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION

I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts!

Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283

And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group!

LINKS

If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com

Support Jon at WALK MS https://realtalkms.com/walkms

Find out about ABLEnow Accounts https://ablenow.com

JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review

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RealTalk MS Episode 443 Guests: Dr. Helen Tremlett, Dr. Ilana Katz Sand, and Kathy Smith

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Welcome back to Part Two of our coverage of the 2026 ACTRIMS Forum. This week, we shift our focus to emerging therapies and clinical insights that are re-shaping the future of MS care. From the latest information on stem cell transplantation to evolving treatment strategies to the labels used to describe MS, we're breaking down the complex science into the conversations that matter most to the MS community.

Joining me to discuss one of the most significant presentations from the 2026 ACTRIMS Forum is Dr. Jeffrey Cohen, who opened the event with the Kenneth P. Johnson Memorial Lecture.

Dr. Cohen's lecture, "AHSCT: Current Status and Remaining Questions," tackled a topic of massive interest to both clinicians and the MS community: Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (AHSCT). Often described as "resetting" the immune system, AHSCT is a complex and life-changing procedure that continues to evolve.

In our conversation, Dr. Cohen delves deeper into his lecture, discussing transplant efficacy, the best candidates for AHSCT, the optimal time to consider AHSCT, and how people living with MS may qualify to participate in a clinical trial comparing the benefits of AHSCT with those of high-efficacy disease-modifying therapies.

Joining me for a deep dive into the future of MS care is Dr. Daniel Ontaneda. Our wide-ranging conversation explores the cutting edge of clinical practice and research, including the "early vs aggressive" treatment debate, how incorporating new imaging biomarkers will lead to faster, more reliable, and more accurate MS diagnoses, and whether the current disease classifications still serve the best interests of patient care.

While MS research conferences like the ACTRIMS Forum are never short on world-class expert opinions and groundbreaking data, one perspective is often missing from the room: the voice of someone living with the disease.

That's why I was so glad to have Kristine Werner Ozug, a valued member of the RealTalk MS team, on the ground with me. As someone living with MS, Kristine brings a vital lens to these scientific sessions. After the final gavel fell, I sat down with her to get her "patient-first" perspective on the research that mattered most to her and what she's taking away from this year's Forum.

We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

This Week: The 2026 ACTRIMS Forum (Part 2) :22

Dr. Jeffrey Cohen takes us on a deep-dive into Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (AHSCT) 1:23

Dr. Daniel Ontaneda discusses the ways that today's MS research will impact tomorrow's MS care 10:44

Kristine Werner Ozug shares her "patient-first" perspective on the research that mattered most to her and what she's taking away from the 2026 ACTRIMS Forum 28:17

Share this episode 43:31

Next week's episode 43:54

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Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/442

ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION

I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts!

Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283

And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group!

LINKS

If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com

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RealTalk MS Episode 442 Guests: Dr. Jeffrey Cohen, Dr. Daniel Ontaneda, and Kristine Werner Ozug

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