Uniting researchers, clinicians, and people with lived experience to advance understanding and care
In September, the 2025 ECTRIMS Congress once again brought together the world’s leading researchers, clinicians, and advocates in multiple sclerosis (MS). While the conference was excellent as always, for me, the most meaningful part of the entire conference took place right at the end: Patient Community Day.
Following on from 2024, I once again had the privilege of hosting this year’s event and it was genuinely an honour to share the stage with so many prominent neurologists, researchers and people with lived experience of MS and NMOSD. The atmosphere in the room perfectly captured what ECTRIMS has always stood for: a commitment to collaboration, knowledge, understanding and progress. Importantly, the information discussed reached people living with these neurological conditions all around the globe with a record number of registrations received for both the on-site and online attendance.
The success of the event was made possible by the incredible commitment and dedication of our supporting partners. In 2025, we were joined by 42 patient organisations from 16 countries across 5 continents, all united by a shared goal to improve the lives of people living with MS and related neurological conditions.
The power of lived experience
One of the standout moments of the day was the panel discussion featuring people living with MS and NMOSD, who are actively involved in research. Their stories were powerful, honest and deeply inspiring. Each person highlighted the value of partnership between researchers and participants, showing that breakthroughs happen fastest when people living with these conditions are engaged as true collaborators, not just subjects.
Hearing how these individuals contribute to shaping study design, improving trial accessibility, and influencing research priorities reinforced a core message: research with the community, not just for it, leads to better science and better outcomes. It was impossible not to be moved by their passion and optimism.
Sharing insights from the conference
Patient Community Day also gave us a chance to unpack some of the major themes of the 2025 ECTRIMS scientific program. The excitement and interest around progress in cognition, remyelination, and rehabilitation was clear, each representing a different aspect of how we can improve life for people living with MS and NMOSD today and in the future.
We also explored how nurses continue to play a vital role in providing personalised care, and how AI and digital health technologies are reshaping the way we detect disease activity and predict outcomes.
A sense of optimism
Hosting this event reminded me why MStranslate was founded: to make complex science understandable and accessible for the community it matters most to. The discussions at ECTRIMS 2025 made it clear that progress is accelerating, but equally that the voice of people with MS and NMOSD must continue to guide it.
Patient Community Day in Barcelona wasn’t just a full stop to the week’s research discussions, it was a celebration of how far we’ve come and a reminder of the powerful collaboration that will carry us forward.
Blog courtesy of MStranslate, a Patient Community Day Supporting Partner.