American Academy of Neurology – 2006 Meeting Highlights

MS Highlights of the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology - April 2006

Sponsored by the Postgraduate Institute for Medicine

	Release date: April 2006 Expiration date: April 2007 Estimated time to complete activity: 1 hour This educational program is supported through an educational grant from Biogen IDEC and Elan Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Program Overview
	Each year the American Academy of Neurology, at its Annual Meeting, hosts several sessions devoted to highlighting the best research in select neurological topics from more than 1,400 scientific poster and platform presentations. Pertinent abstracts in the multiple sclerosis arena are selected for a session, where expert academicians summarize the most interesting and relevant research presented.

Goal Statement
	Since not all treating MS clinicians can attend the AAN Annual Meeting, MSLeaders has recruited the same two discussants chosen by AAN for their session to provide a recap of the Scientific Highlights for our viewers.

Target Audience
	This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of neurologists and physicians involved in the management of patients with multiple sclerosis.

Learning Objectives
	At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be able to: Review basic science research into the pathogenesis of MS and the mechanisms of action of MS therapies Discuss clinical aspects of MS diagnosis and classification Discuss treatment options, including results of the latest clinical trials Report on imaging studies as they relate to the diagnosis and management of MS

Faculty:
	Robert J. Fox, MD (Program Chair) Staff Neurologist and Medical Director The Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Cleveland Clinic Foundation Dr. Fox is staff neurologist and medical director at the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis, Cleveland Clinic Foundation. He received a medical degree from Johns Hopkins University and neurology residency training at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. His research training and experience includes a master's degree in clinical research from Case Western Reserve University, a Potiker Fellowship in Multiple Sclerosis at the Mellen Center, site principal investigator for many clinical trials and principal investigator and co-investigator on NIH and National MS Society-funded grants. Dr. Fox is also a member of the clinical advisory committee for the Ohio Buckeye Chapter of the National MS Society and the general advisory council for the Cleveland Clinic General Clinical Research Center. His current research interests focus on innovative MRI techniques to evaluate MS treatments and tissue recovery after injury. Samia Khoury, MD Associate Professor of Neurology Brigham and Women's Hospital Samia Khoury, MD, received her medical diploma from the American University of Beirut, Lebanon in 1984 having been elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society in 1983. She completed her neurology residency at the Case Western Reserve University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio in 1988. She then came to the Brigham and Women's Hospital as a research fellow at the Center for Neurologic Diseases. In 1991, after the completion of her fellowship, she was appointed instructor in medicine and then assistant professor of neurology in 1994. In 1998 she was promoted to associate professor of neurology, and was also appointed as the director of the Clinical Immunology Laboratory at the Center for Neurologic Diseases at Brigham and Women's Hospital. In 2001, she was additionally appointed as the co-director of the Partners Multiple Sclerosis Center, Boston. Her accomplishments are summarized in three areas: 1) A well funded basic research program that addresses clinically relevant questions in MS; 2) Expertise in mechanistic studies complementing cutting edge clinical research; 3) Expertise in running a first rate clinical program for MS. Dr. Khoury has been well funded since establishing her laboratory and has maintained continuous funding through the NIH and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Her stature in translational research is evident in her ability to secure NIH funding for basic research as well as receiving an Autoimmunity Centers of Excellence award (U19) for clinical trials/mechanistic studies. Dr. Khoury's commitment to translational research is evident by her involvement in clinical trials at the MS center. Her major interest in this regard is the performance of Phase I and II trials with mechanistic studies. She is the principal investigator of three trials funded by the NIH heavily emphasizing mechanistic studies. Paul O'Connor, MD Director, MS Program University of Toronto Paul O'Connor, MD, is the director of the MS Clinic at St. Michael's Hospital and director of the MS program at the University of Toronto. He also serves as director of the division of neurology at St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto. Dr. O'Connor's research interest is in the development of new treatments for MS and in that capacity has served on the steering committee for numerous drug trials with various roles including chairman. He has numerous peer-reviewed publications on this subject and remains very active in the field.

Instructions for Credit
	Physician Continuing Education Accreditation Statement This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of the Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM) and Healthology. The Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM) is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Credit Designation Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) TM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Fee Information There is no fee for this educational activity. Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM) assesses conflict of interest with its instructors, planners, managers and other individuals who are in a position to control the content of CME activities. All relevant conflicts of interest that are identified are thoroughly vetted by PIM for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies utilized in this activity and patient care recommendations. PIM is committed to providing its learners with high-quality CME activities and related materials that promote improvements of quality in healthcare and not a specific proprietary business interest of a commercial interest. The following faculty reported a real or apparent conflict of interest: Robert J. Fox, MD (Program Chair) Type of financial relationship: Consultant Grants/Research Support and Honorarium for; Genentech, Merck, Biogen IDEC, Questcor and TevaNeuroscience. Samia Khoury, MD Type of financial relationship: Grants/Research Support and Consultant for; Diachi, DiaMed, Biogen IDEC, Peptimmune and Repligen. Paul O'Connor, MD Type of financial relationship: Grants/Research Support and Consultant for; Schering, Novartis, Biogen IDEC and Bio Ms. The following planners and managers reported a real or apparent conflict of interest: Thomas Maxwell Mundy, MD (Healthology) No financial interest/relationships relating to the topic of this activity. Jan Hixon, RN, BSN, MA (PIM) No financial interest/relationships interests relating to the topic of this activity.


Method of Participation
	There are no fees for participating and receiving CME credit for this activity. During the period April 2006 through April 2007, participants must: 1) read the learning objectives and faculty disclosures; 2) study the educational activity; 3) complete the post-test by recording the best answer to each question in the answer key on the evaluation form; and 4) complete the evaluation form. A statement of credit will be issued only upon receipt of a completed activity evaluation form and a completed post-test with a score of 70 percent or better. Your statement of credit will be mailed to you within three weeks.

Media
	Internet

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use
	This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA. The Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM), Healthology Inc. and Biogen IDEC and Elan Pharmaceuticals Inc. do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications. The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of PIM, Healthology Inc. and Biogen IDEC and Elan Pharmaceuticals Inc. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications and warnings.

Disclaimer
	Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any procedures, medications or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient's conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer's product information and comparison with recommendations of other authorities. Produced by Healthology Inc. © 2006 Sponsored by the Postgraduate Institute for Medicine Supported through an educational grant from Biogen IDEC and Elan Pharmaceuticals Inc.