Dr. Carmen Espejo and Dr. Georgina Arrambide, researchers at Cemcat and Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, are the first authors of the article.
The research findings propose to modify the McDonald 2017 criteria. However, they emphasize that it is not necessary to assess the presence of optic nerve lesions in all patients, only in those in whom diagnosis using the current criteria is not possible.
The meeting, held between November 29 and December 2 in Barcelona, brought together experts and opinion leaders in the field of multiple sclerosis from around the world. The McDonald criteria are the clinical criteria used to diagnose multiple sclerosis. Established in 2001, by an international panel of experts in the disease led by Ian McDonald, they have been modified in revisions in 2005, 2010 and 2017, with the aim of facilitating their use in clinical practice, shortening the time to diagnosis and initiation of treatment and improving case detection.
The grant program offers young researchers the opportunity to further their training in the field of multiple sclerosis.
The award recognizes people with an outstanding career for their relationship with the University and their social impact.
The list, published by Clarivate Analytics, identifies the most influential experts, who are among the top 1% most cited in their specialty in various areas of expertise.
Xavier Montalban, Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center of Catalonia (Cemcat), Head of the Neurology Service of the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and of the Clinical Neuroimmunology research group of the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, as well as Vice-President of the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, has been awarded for his significant contribution to the development of research within the Catalan Institute of Health.
A study, led by researchers from Cemcat and the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), identifies what type of information patients need to develop a web platform that will be useful to them when involving- se in making decisions about their treatment.
Supervised by Dr. Herena Eixarch and Dr. Carmen Espejo, the research work focuses on the aging of the immune system and its impact on the evolution of the disease.
This strategy protects almost two thirds of patients. It also reduces the waiting time between vaccination and initiation of immune suppressive treatment. The study was carried out by René Carvajal, Mar Tintoré and Susana Otero-Romero, researchers at Cemcat, led by Xavier Montalbán, and the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital.
