BEHIND-MS Annual Meeting 2025

Advancing Research on Epstein-Barr Virus and Multiple Sclerosis

Posted on November 12, 2025  •  3 minutes  • 493 words

BEHIND-MS Annual Meeting 2025: Advancing Research on Epstein-Barr Virus and Multiple Sclerosis

From 10–11 November 2025, partners of the BEHIND-MS project gathered in Heidelberg, Germany, for the annual consortium meeting, hosted at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ). The meeting brought together leading scientists, clinicians, and patient engagement experts from across Europe to discuss the project’s progress and next steps in uncovering the complex links between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and multiple sclerosis (MS).

Day 1: Scientific Progress

The meeting opened with a warm welcome and a project overview followed by an in-depth review of the different Work Packages. Teams presented new data and updates, highlighting advances in single-cell sequencing, immune profiling, virological mapping, as well as neuropathological analyses. This will develop comprehensive atlases of virus and immune cell interactions in both the blood and the brain of people with MS.

Subsequent sessions covered the status on both the in vitro MS models which will investigate interactions between the virus, immune cells and brain cells reprogrammed from the same patient as well as the prodromal mouse model of MS.

The day concluded with updates on potential biomarkers and a brief report from the EBV-MS project, reinforcing collaboration and knowledge exchange across EU-funded initiatives.

The first day ended on a convivial note, with a consortium dinner, allowing participants to connect informally and strengthen cross-partner collaboration.

Day 2: Data Integration, Dissemination, and Future Outlook

The second day focused on the integrative and translational dimensions of the project. The progress on data science and management was presented, emphasizing interoperability and the creation of shared analysis pipelines. This was followed by updates on bioinformatics roadmaps to integrate multi-omic and clinical datasets across cohorts to construct cell-to-cell communication networks.

The Dissemination, Communication, and Exploitation session showcased several exciting developments. Alongside an overview of recent outreach efforts and upcoming communication plans, Jana Hlaváčová, patient representative in the External Advisory Board, presented and discussed plans to co-organize a patient engagement workshop with the consortium in 2026, strengthening the dialogue between researchers and people with MS. The team also officially launched the self-narrative documentary initiative, where young researchers involved in BEHIND-MS will film their experiences throughout 2026. This creative project aims to highlight the human side of scientific collaboration and inspire more young scientists to join interdisciplinary research initiatives.

The External Advisory Board provided valuable feedback, commending the consortium’s collaborative spirit and scientific rigor, while encouraging the team to further highlight patient perspectives and translational relevance.

Finally, the Project Coordination team summarized management updates and outlined the strategic outlook for 2026, including upcoming milestones, data integration goals, and preparation for the project’s next review phase.

Looking Ahead

The BEHIND-MS Annual Meeting 2025 marked another important milestone for the consortium. Through dynamic discussions and cross-disciplinary collaboration, partners reaffirmed their shared commitment to uncovering how EBV infection contributes to MS onset and progression!