Demyelination and Remyelination: New Biology, Better Monitoring, Smarter Therapies*
Date: October 18, 2026
Time: 11:45 am to 12:45 pm
Room: Coral 4
Track: Interactive Lunch Workshop (ILW)
Session Description
Demyelination is a key pathological feature across a wide spectrum of disorders affecting the peripheral and central nervous systems, including immune-mediated, metabolic, hereditary, toxic, and infectious neuropathies. Collectively, these conditions are highly prevalent and contribute substantially to disability through impaired nerve conduction, sensory loss, weakness, and pain. Importantly, demyelination is often a treatable and potentially reversible process—making it a critical target for both mechanistic discovery and therapeutic innovation.
This session will highlight recent advances in understanding the cellular and molecular drivers of myelin injury and repair, with emphasis on neuron–glia interactions, immune mechanisms, biomarkers, and translational models that bridge basic science to clinical care. We will also discuss evolving treatment paradigms, including immunotherapies, neuroprotective and promyelinating strategies, and approaches to improve monitoring of disease activity and recovery. The overarching goal is to accelerate progress from pathophysiology to precision therapeutics that restore myelin and improve outcomes for patients with demyelinating disorders.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to:
- Discuss key mechanisms of demyelination and remyelination.
- Describe emerging therapeutic approaches for demyelinating disorders, including immunotherapies, neuroprotective strategies, and promyelinating treatments.
- Apply new knowledge of biomarkers and disease monitoring tools to improve diagnosis, treatment selection, and assessment of recovery in patients with demyelinating disorders.
Speakers
Impact of Multiple Sclerosis Patient Immunoglobulins in Demyelination and Remyelination
Description
B cell–depleting therapies have significantly improved outcomes for individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), underscoring the important role of B cells in disease pathogenesis. As our understanding of MS evolves, defining the cellular effects of B cells and their immunoglobulins is essential for advancing targeted therapies and promoting myelin repair.
This presentation will examine the role of CNS-resident immunoglobulins in demyelination and remyelination in MS. Participants will explore the cellular mechanisms through which B cells and their antibodies contribute to disease activity and review emerging evidence of their impact on myelin injury and importantly on repair. How these findings enhance our understanding of the efficacy of B cell–depleting therapies will be discussed. Topics will also include the implications of these discoveries for the development of future therapeutic strategies aimed at promoting remyelination and improving long-term neurological outcomes.
Attendees will leave with a greater understanding of the immunological mechanisms underlying multiple sclerosis and the increasingly evident role of B cells and immunoglobulins in disease progression, treatment response, and the pursuit of regenerative therapies.
Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders- Do Presymptomatic Serum Biomarkers Portend Future Disease?
Description
Early identification of disease activity remains a critical goal in the management of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). As research into serum biomarkers continues to advance, there is growing interest in their potential to predict disease onset, monitor disease activity, and guide treatment decisions before irreversible neurological injury occurs.
This presentation will explore the emerging role of serum biomarkers in predicting disease onset, relapse, and remission in demyelinating diseases, with a particular focus on neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. Participants will review current evidence supporting the use of presymptomatic biomarkers, examine their relationship to disease activity and clinical outcomes, and discuss how biomarker-driven approaches may improve risk stratification, disease monitoring, and personalized treatment strategies. Topics will also include ongoing research and future directions for integrating serum biomarkers into routine clinical care.
Attendees will leave with a greater understanding of the evolving role of serum biomarkers in NMOSD and practical insights into how these advances may enhance early diagnosis, predict disease course, and support precision medicine approaches in the management of demyelinating disorders.
