Background
Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects over 10,000 people in Ireland, and is the leading cause of non-traumatic neurological disability among young adults. The All-Ireland Multiple Sclerosis Research Network (AIMS-RN) was established in 2021 with a view to bringing researchers from a variety of disciplines together to promote and further develop research in MS across the island of Ireland. Initially focused on biomedical and clinical research in MS, the network has expanded to include consideration of psychosocial and applied MS research. Separately, MS Ireland, the national MS charity, has identified a need for more accessible research dissemination events to benefit the wider MS community.
Event details
The 2025 AIMS-RN symposium, to be hosted at Maynooth University, aims to bring together a range of stakeholders interested in MS research and advocacy. The programme will include presentations in the fields of biomedical, psychosocial and clinical MS research. A session dedicated to public and patient involvement (PPI) in MS research will include input from people with MS and MS Ireland. Emphasis will also be placed on giving a platform for early career researchers, with a mixture of poster and oral presentations, as well as flash talks, planned.
Audience
With free registration, the symposium is open to all with an interest in MS research, including academics, clinicians/healthcare professionals, policy makers, people with MS and their family members. Emphasis will be placed on sharing research findings and developments in MS in an accessible way, with presentations recorded so that they can reach a wider audience after the symposium has ended.
Impacts
The symposium provides an important opportunity for networking and knowledge sharing among the wider MS community. Key impacts include furthering knowledge and awareness of contemporary research in MS across Ireland, opening up opportunities for collaborations amongst researchers and increasing understanding of MS through public engagement.