EBV-MS Annual Consortium Meeting 2025: Strengthening Collaboration Towards Prevention and Understanding of Multiple Sclerosis
From 17–18 November 2025, the partners of the EBV-MS project gathered in Norway for the annual consortium meeting. Set against the backdrop of Norway’s fjords, the event brought together leading scientists, clinicians, patient representatives, and partners from across Europe to exchange insights and discuss progress in uncovering the role of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in multiple sclerosis (MS).
By: Patricia Moghames
Published:
Highlights from the meeting
Following a warm welcome session, the consortium received updates from the project coordinator, who shared reflections on the reporting period and outlined the next steps for the coming year. Stakeholder engagement was a key focus from the start, with updates on efforts to strengthen collaboration between researchers, clinicians, regulators, and people living with MS.
Throughout the day, partners presented updates across several Work Packages (WPs), highlighting the project’s multidisciplinary approach.
Clinical Trials (WP2) reported ongoing advancements in interventions targeting EBV-related mechanisms in MS, while Epidemiology (WP3) shared analyses investigating EBV exposure and MS risk across different populations.
The Immunology and Biomarkers team (WP4) showcased emerging findings with potential to shape future diagnostic and predictive tools, and EBV and Host Genetics (WP5) provided insights into genetic variations influencing susceptibility to EBV infection and MS development.
Meanwhile, Prevention and Prediction (WP6) highlighted progress in modelling risk factors and preventive strategies, and the Data Integration and Computational Drug Repurposing group (WP9) demonstrated how personalised, multisource data can accelerate discovery and support the translation of scientific insights into new treatment opportunities.
The consortium also discussed data management, communication, and dissemination (WPs 7–8), underlining the importance of sharing findings beyond the scientific community and ensuring visibility and impact at the European and global levels.
The Scientific Advisory Board shared thoughtful recommendations on integrating the scientific and translational aspects of the project, while encouraging ongoing emphasis on data sharing, stakeholder collaboration, and prevention-oriented research.
Capturing the human side of science
Beyond the scientific sessions, the meeting also focused on storytelling and outreach. Partners participated in MedTalk filming, providing fresh perspectives on how EBV-MS research is shaping the future of MS understanding and prevention. These recordings will form part of a new video series to be shared throughout 2026, allowing the public to see the human side of science and the passion driving this collaborative effort, especially on key topics, including clinical research, predictive models, and genetics.
Looking ahead
The EBV-MS Annual Meeting 2025 reflected the consortium’s shared vision: to deepen understanding of the biological mechanisms linking EBV and MS, and to translate these insights into tangible outcomes for prevention and patient care.
As we move into our third year, the meeting underscored one central message: deeper integration: enhanced data sharing and closer collaboration - is essential to fully leverage our collective expertise.
With a strong collaborative spirit and a clear roadmap for 2026, the EBV-MS consortium continues to push the boundaries of research, combining clinical excellence, data innovation, and public engagement to move one step closer to preventing and slowing MS.