endMS Summer School A huge thank you to co-hosts Drs. Marcia Finlayson, Afolasade Fakolade and Nader Ghasemlou and their local team for a very successful 2026 endMS Summer School "The Diversity of MS Research: From Cells to Clinic to Community" held June 15-18 at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. Please go to page 2 for a special message from Dr. Finlayson.
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endMS Bits and Pieces Newsletter
endMS SPRINT Congratulations to the graduating 2025-2026 endMS SPRINTers! Hannah Bernstein (McGill University), Gabriela Blaszczyk (University of Toronto), Molly Pitkethly (University of British Columbia), Mahir Rahman (University of Calgary), Landon Scholly (University of Calgary), Lauren Strasser (The Hospital for Sick Children), Doriana Taccardi (Queen's University), Thomas Worthington (University of British Columbia), Jennifer Zagrodnik (Memorial University of Newfoundland) and thank you to their SPRINT mentors: Dr. Deepak Kaushik (Memorial University of Newfoundland),Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie (Dalhousie University), and Dr. Robert Simpson (University of Toronto) and their SPRINT community partners: Karen Tweed, Denise Kresic and Barb Van Walleghem. Amazing to see the excellent work they accomplished (and continue to do) through their SPRINT team projects!
Sharing opportunities to learn about multiple sclerosis (MS) research, to network, to attract and retain trainees in the field of MS related research.
July 2026 Issue #41
Welcome to the incoming 2026-2027 endMS SPRINTers! Diala El Masri (Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal), Samantha Ghanem (Queen's University of Kingston), Nitya Khetarpal (Université de Montréal), Fanny Martinez (Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal), Jonathan Monteiro (University of Toronto), Seid Mussa (University of British Columbia), Siddhi Patel (Memorial University of Newfoundland), Preya Patel (University Health Network), Lucia Varela (University of Manitoba) and to their SPRINT mentors: Dr. Chase Figley (University of Manitoba), Dr. Adil Harroud (McGill University), and Dr. Kristen Krysko (St. Michael's Hospital) and their SPRINT community partners: Dorothyanne Brown, Carol Longtin-Steacy and Janice Wilby.
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Special message from Dr. Marcia Finlayson, 2026 endMS Summer School co-host: This June, we were delighted to welcome MS research trainees, faculty, mentors, and community partners from across Canada to Queen’s University and Kingston Health Sciences Centre for the 2026 endMS Summer School. With co-hosts, Drs. Nader Ghasemlou and Afolasade Fakolade, we crafted a theme focused on The Diversity of MS Research: From Cells to Clinic to Community. Our four-day program celebrated the breadth of MS research and highlighted the interdisciplinary partnerships needed to improve research, care, and quality of life for people affected by MS. Sessions explored the symptom variability and daily rhythms that exist in MS, access to diagnosis and care, social determinants of health, neuroinflammation and immunometabolism, MRI as a tool to assess disease, pregnancy and women’s health, rehabilitation, caregiving, and inclusive research practices. Interactive workshops and small-group discussions encouraged trainees to consider how different methods and perspectives could inform their own work. We are especially grateful to the SPRINT partners, mentors, and trainees whose presentations and discussions demonstrated the creativity and value of interdisciplinary collaboration. The graduating SPRINT teams shared the outcomes of their year-long projects, while incoming SPRINTers began building new relationships with their teammates and mentors. The week was filled with laughter, new friendships, and memorable experiences from networking bingo and lively opening conversations to rotating dinner tables, group activities, and evenings exploring historic Kingston. Our nightly dinners brought together participants from different institutions, disciplines and career stages. Trainees described the atmosphere as open, welcoming and genuinely community-oriented, with opportunities to exchange ideas, troubleshoot projects, and form relationships that will hopefully continue well beyond the Summer School. We wish to thank those who helped make this year’s Summer School such a success: the meaningful involvement of community partners throughout the program was central to the week. Their sharing of experiences, priorities and perspectives helped trainees understand how MS affects daily life, families and access to care. These conversations encouraged participants to think beyond disciplinary boundaries and to keep relevance, partnership and translational impact at the centre of their research. Our outstanding local and visiting scientists provided a breadth and depth to advance our understanding of MS, with expertise spanning rehabilitation, basic and translational science, population health, neurology, imaging, women’s health, physical activity, community-based research, and patient engagement. We are grateful to our exceptional volunteers who were essential to the program running smoothly and making everyone feel welcome in Kingston. We were also thrilled to welcome members of the MS Canada research leadership team, including Director, Impact and Evaluation, Dr. Julie Pétrin and the new Vice-President Research & Scientific Engagement, Dr. Jennie Young. Their presentation gave trainees an engaging overview of MS Canada’s research mission, funding programs, community partnerships and broader role in advancing MS research and supporting people affected by MS. The event would not have been possible without the continued support of Dr. Christina Wolfson, Anik Schoenfeldt, the endMS National Training Program, the Summer School Planning Committee, and MS Canada for their leadership and support. It was a privilege for the three of us to co-host such an engaged and inspiring group. We are proud of the collaborations, friendships, and ideas that emerged during the week and look forward to seeing how these trainees continue to shape the future of MS research, care, and community engagement across Canada.
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endMS SPRINT Spotlight & Celebrations
Congratulations to SPRINT alumni, Adam Groh on receiving the Governor General's Academic Medal (Gold), recognizing exceptional academic achievement. Adam recently completed his PhD at McGill University and The Neuro, where his research explored the role of ependymal glial cells in neuroinflammatory disease and helped advance the field of neuroimmunology.
Ziaee SM, Nemati S, Kataria H, Jakova E, Hosseini SM, Ghelich P, McLeod G, Tamayol A, Yong VW, Karimi-Abdolrezaee S. Harnessing microglia capacity to facilitate myelin regeneration in chronically demyelinated brain lesions.Nature Communications. 2026 May 11. * equal contributions,https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-72639-7 Nemati S, Hosseini SM, Bravo-Jimenez MA, Karimi-Abdolrezaee S. Therapeutic reactivation of hippocampal progenitors reverses cognition decline in progressive brain demyelination. Stem Cell Reports. 2026 May 12;21(5). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stemcr.2026.102896 Work was featured on the journal cover.
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On April 16-17 endMS SPRINT mentor Dr. Robert Simpson, SPRINTers Hannah Bernstein, Molly Pitkethly, and Jennifer Zagrodnik, and SPRINT community partner Barb Van Walleghem gathered in Toronto for a two-day collaborative meeting. The team advanced their SPRINT project through manuscript planning, abstract development, and data synthesis, while also presenting their findings during a Lunch and Learn at the BARLO MS Centre.
Publications (alumnae are in bold)
Congratulations to Doriana Taccardi (2025-2026 SPRINTer) on the successful defense of her PhD at Queen's University! Doriana's research explored individual differences and circadian rhythmicity in pain and multiple sclerosis.
Congratulations to SPRINT alumna Karine Thai on the successful defense of her PhD at Centre de recherche du CHUM! Karine's research focused on profiling immune cells in the blood and brain in MS to better understand the evolution of the disease.
Congratulations to SPRINT alumna Risavarshni Thevakumaran on the successful defense of her PhD at McGill University in Biomedical Engineering! We wish Risa all the very best as she starts the MD program at the University of Toronto.
Career Opportunities
Tenure-Track Assistant Professor in Neuroethology – McMaster University Neuroscience Positions: https://can-acn.org/neurojobs/ Women in STEM Job Board: https://canadianwomeninstem.org/job-board/
To share announcements or to be added/removed from the endMS Training Program's distribution list, email anik.schoenfeldt@affiliate.mcgill.ca
American Academy of Neurology Research Program's 2027 funding competition is open for early- and mid-career neurologists and neuroscience researchers. Learn more here
Funding/Award Opportunities
Follow us on LinkedIN, X, Bluesky and tag @endMS sharing announcements, news and opportunities! For more info: https://endmstrainingprogram.ca
MS Toronto 2026 - October 21 | 6:30–8:30 PM join fellow early-career clinicians and scientists for an evening designed to support meaningful conversations, shared experiences, and professional growth in the MS field.A space to exchange ideas, perspectives, and pathways in MS.
Applications are open for the new virtual Foundations Course, offering stem cell and regenerative medicine trainees across Canada the opportunity to develop key research skills through six interactive modules. Weekly sessions begin October 13, 2026. Learn more and apply here
Upcoming Events, Announcements, and Educational Opportunities
ECTRIMS Patient Community Day 2026. Under the theme One Global Community, this hybrid event on October 23, from 3–6PM ET brings together people living with MS, NMOSD, and MOGAD to explore the latest research and amplify the voices of the global patient community. Register here
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Registration is open for the 2026 endMS Conference, taking place in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, from Nov. 29 to Dec. 2. Join more than 250 researchers, clinicians, trainees, and members of the MS community for four days of scientific presentations, networking, and collaboration. Trainees are encouraged to submit abstracts for poster or oral presentations by August 17. Early registration is recommended, as space is limited. Register here
MS Canada Updates:
Funding Opportunities: For both the Canadian Postdoctoral Research Award and the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral awards, via CIHR have just been launched! Learn more here! NSERC Funding Opportunities Learn more here! Learn more here