European Multiple Sclerosis Platform

The leading voice in Europe advocating for people living with MS

Brussels, Belgium

Posted on May 11, 2024  •  3 minutes  • 485 words

Contribution to the project:

EMSP is leading on the Communication and Dissemination Work Package to ensure that complex research notions that the research consortium partners are leading on is translated in a user-friendly, more accessible manner to provide updates to people with MS, their caregivers and patient organisations. This will include, but not limited to, leading on the development of communication material such brochures and videos with project updates, updating content on the project’s website and social media platforms dedicated to people with MS, and organisation of livestreamed discussions to bring in together people with MS and researchers and healthcare professionals. EMSP will also support consortium partners to know more on effective engagement of people with MS, this way this practice becomes more common among researchers. In other work packages, EMSP will share the relevant, unique sections of this research with its member organisations to further disseminate the reach of the research to interested people with MS.

Team Members:

The main focal point of the project within the EMSP team is Nele Vanbilsen, Project Coordinator at EMSP. Nele will involve EMSP colleagues as needed, especially regarding strategic direction, communication, dissemination, patient engagement, and advocacy.

Nele Vanbilsen

Nele Vanbilsen is a Project Coordinator at EMSP, with a strong commitment to improving the lives of people with neurological conditions through research and collaboration. She obtained her Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology in 2019 and went on to work as a researcher at KU Leuven, where she focused on developing and evaluating attention training for individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

In 2021, she began her doctoral research at Hasselt University under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Peter Feys. Her PhD research explored auditory–motor coupling in people with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), with the aim of better understanding movement and daily functioning in this population.

Elisabeth Kasilingam

Elisabeth Kasilingam is currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of the European Multiple Sclerosis Platform (EMSP) and as Vice-President of the European Patients’ Forum. In these roles, she is highly committed to working towards better quality of life of patients with MS and other chronic conditions by the implementation of successful, results-oriented projects and policy campaigns and actions. Elisabeth entered the European political arena more than 15 years ago, pursuing her interests in the field of human rights and specialising in the health and social sectors.

In her work with EMSP, Elisabeth has been developing capacity-building programmes to support the further development of national MS patient organisations and health and social advocacy campaigns, as well as engagement activities to develop young patient advocates

Emma Rogan

Emma Rogan joined EMSP in 2014 and works as a Campaigns and External Engagement Coordinator. She has degrees in communications, equality and social justice. Previously, Emma has worked in the MS Society of Ireland, multinational companies and small businesses. Also, as a social entrepreneur, she has developed innovative support solutions for young people with MS.