MSA Symposium 2025

This event is a must for researchers, clinicians and students eager to expand their horizons and engage in atypical parkinsonism and MSA research. Doctors looking to enhance their expertise in diagnosing and managing Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) are warmly invited to participate. The sessions will delve into diverse aspects of MSA diagnosis and management in this year’s symposium, with a focus on the prodromal stage. Specialists in neurology, urology, autonomic, respiratory, and sleep medicine, engaged in MSA patient care are encouraged to join. Connect with leading researchers, clinicians, and peers during breaks and during our exclusive evening networking reception. This is where ideas come to life and collaborations are born. We look forward to welcoming you there!

• Further information

Agenda

9.00-9.30 Registration and coffee

9.30-9.40 Opening remarks. Prof Kailash Bhatia, MSA Trust

9.40 – 10.45 Keynote talks
Chair: Dr Viorica Chelban, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology

• GP2: enabling global genetics research. Prof Andrew Singleton, The Global Parkinson’s Genetics Program
• Distinct progression profiles in MSA - Implications for clinical trials. Prof Wassilios Meisner, University Hospital, Bordeaux, France

10.45-11.40 Recognising Early Signs for Diagnosis and Clinical Trials in MSA
Chair: Dr Valeria Iodice, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology

• When to Suspect Prodromal MSA and What to Do About It. Prof Horacio Kaufmann, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, USA
• Urinary problems in MSA and what can spinal cord imaging tell us. Prof Jalesh Panicker, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology

11.40- 12.00 Refreshments Break

12.00- 13.15 Understanding the Disease: Pathology and Biomarker Insights in MSA
Chair: Prof Henry Houlden, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology

• MSA fluid biomarkers: state of the science and implications for patient care – Dr Viorica Chelban, UCL Queen
• Square Institute of Neurology
• MSA pathology and co-pathology. Dr Zane Jaunmuktane, Queen Square Brain Bank, UCL
• Relationship of somatic SNCA copy number variants in oligodendrocytes to alpha-synuclein inclusions in MSA.
• Caoimhe Morley, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology
• Mapping in vivo histology in MSA using quantitative MRI. Dr Christian Lambert, UCL Queen Square Institute of
• Neurology

13.15-14.25 Lunch break

14.25- 15.25 Improving Care: Patient-Centric Approaches to Managing MSA
Chair: Dr Chris Kobylecki, Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences, Salford

• Shaping MSA Trust Strategy. Karen Walker, MSA Trust
• Care needs in MSA - Results from the MSA survey. Prof Anette Schrag, UCL Queen Square Institute of
• Neurology
• Variation of Quality of Life over the disease course of MSA and the review of potential treatments. Dr Saima
• Sheikh, Wessex Neurological Centre, University Hospital Southampton.

15.25- 15.45 Refreshments Break

15.45- 17.00 Updates on MSA Therapeutics and Clinical Trials
Chair: Prof Vincenzo Libri, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology

• Exenatide and Multiple System Atrophy- lessons regarding trial design. Prof Thomas Foltynie, UCL Queen
• Square Institute of Neurology
• ATH434 Slowed Progression of MSA in a Randomised, Controlled Phase 2 Study. Dr David Stamler, Alterity
• Therapeutics.
• Amlenetug – MSA clinical trials update. Results of AMULET phase II trial and MASCOT phase III trial design,
• Dr Lotte Kjærsgaard, H. Lundbeck A/S
• MSA clinical trial design – guided by voice of the patients and caregivers. Beatrice Yang, H. Lundbeck A/S

17.00- 17.10 Closing remarks

17.10-18.30 Networking reception