Update on NMOSD & MOGAD programme

The two-day Update on NMOSD and MOGAD meeting offers an in-depth exploration of the latest advancements in these fields.

Day 1 will be dedicated to a comprehensive update on NMOSD and MOGAD, covering advances in diagnosis, differential diagnosis, prognosis, and imaging, as well as current and emerging treatment strategies. Expert-led sessions will address antibody testing, recent revisions to the McDonald criteria, acute and preventive therapies, symptomatic management, and practical clinical decision-making, complemented by case-based discussions and a keynote lecture.

Day 2 will focus on scientific exchange and future perspectives, featuring a keynote lecture, oral communications on both clinical and basic research, poster sessions, and industry-led symposia. The programme will conclude with dedicated sessions on NMOSD and MOGAD research in Asia, offering important regional insights and fostering international collaboration.

The meeting will be accessible both onsite and online, allowing broad international participation.

The programme follows the Japanese Standard Time zone: (UTC/GMT +09:00)


Download the full programme here!

Header NMOSD MOGAD 2026 1200x225px
Hour
Location
Title Location
9:45-10:00
Opening Ceremony
Hans-Peter Hartung Dr. Kazuo Fujihara Dr. Ichiro Nakashima Jacqueline Palace
10:00-11:40
Session 1: Diagnosis, differential diagnosis and prognosis of NMOSD and MOGAD
Dr. Takashi Ohashi Dr. Norio Chihara Dr. Tomoko Okamoto
10:00-10:30 Clinical and prognostic features of NMOSD
Dr. Ho Jin Kim
 
10:30-10:50 Clinical and prognostic features of MOGAD
Dr. Lekha Pandit
 
10:50-11:20 MRI and other Imaging findings
Dr. Friedemann Paul
 
11:20-11:40 Evoked potentials & OCT
Letizia Leocani
 
11:40-12:00
Coffee Break
12:00-13:00
Industry Symposium: Chugai - lunch box offered
Dr. Kazuo Fujihara
12:00-12:30 Updates on the clinicopathological mechanism of MOGAD
Dr Tatsuro Misu
 
12:30-13:00 Modifying Immune Cells for Neuroprotection: Lessons from Neuromyelitis Optica
Dr. Norio Chihara
 
13:15-14:15
Session 2: Antibody assays and the 2024 McDonald Criteria
Dr. Jin Nakahara Dr. Kazumasa Yokoyama Dr. Makoto Kinoshita
13:15-13:45 Antibody assays and how to use them in diagnosis and monitoring
Jacqueline Palace
 
13:45-14:15 The 2024 Revisions to McDonald Criteria of MS, implications on differential diagnosis with NMOSD and MOGAD
Hans-Peter Hartung
 
14:35-16:15
Session 3: Treatment of NMOSD and MOGAD
Dr. Hirofumi Ochi Dr. Hiroaki Yokote Dr. Katsuhisa Masaki
14:35-15:05 Treatments for acute exacerbation: when and how?
Dr. Sasitorn Siritho
 
15:05-15:25 Symptomatic therapy to improve QOL
Jefferson Becker
 
15:25-15:55 Conventional immunosuppressive treatments for relapse prevention
Dr. Ichiro Nakashima
 
15:55-16:15 Monoclonal antibodies and new and future treatments including CAR-T Therapy
Dr. Romain Marignier
 
16:15-16:35
Coffee Break
16:35-17.25
Session 4: General discussion on treatment, Pregnancy-related issues and Tolerance induction
Dr. Noriko Isobe Dr. Nobuaki Yoshikura Dr. Satoru Oji
16:35-16:55 General Discussion: How should we use currently available treatments in clinical practice?
Dr. Ho Jin Kim Dr. Ichiro Nakashima Jacqueline Palace Dr. Friedemann Paul Dr. Sasitorn Siritho
 
16:55-17:25 Pregnancy-related issues in NMOSD and MOGAD
Dr. Yuko Shimizu
 
17:25-17:45
Guthy-Jackson Lecture
17:25-17:45 Challenges in inducing tolerance in NMOSD and MOGAD
Dr. Michael Yeaman
 
18:30-20:30
Hotel Kizankan, Tokyo
Gala Dinner - Sponsored by The Sumaira Foundation
Hotel Kizankan, Tokyo
Hour
Location
Title Location
09:30-10:00
Key Note Lecture
Dr. Tatsusada Okuno Dr. Fumitaka Shimizu Dr. Kazuhide Ochi
09:30-10:00 AQP4 autoimmunity and immunopathogenesis in NMOSD
Dr. Takashi Yamamura
 
10:00-11:00
Session 5 : Oral Communications - Young Investigators
Dr. Katsuichi Miyamoto Dr. Juichi Fujimori Dr. Chiyoko Nohara
10:00-10:15 Distinct Contributions of Brain Volume and Myelin to Cognitive Function in MS and NMOSD: A Synthetic MRI Study
Dr. Keito Ishihara
 
10:15-10:30 Assessment of germline and somatic mutations contributing to the risk of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder
Dr. Tomohiro Yata
 
10:30-10:45 Re-evaluation of the components of IPMOGAD criteria in CNS inflammatory diseases
Dr. Naoki Yamamoto
 
10:45-11:00 Altered monocyte dynamics and C5a-associated plasmablast expansion in AQP4+ neuromyelitis optica
Dr. Yuriko Aratake
 
11:00-11:20
Coffee Break
11:20-12:20
Exhibition Hall
Poster Session - Sponsored by UCB
Exhibition Hall
11:20-12:20 Clinical 1
Jacqueline Palace Dr. Sasitorn Siritho Dr. Kazumasa Okada
 
11:20-12:20 Clinical 2
Hans-Peter Hartung Dr. Ho Jin Kim Dr. Ichiro Nakashima
 
11:20-12:20 Clinical 3 & Basic Studies
Dr. Paul Friedemann Dr. Noriko Isobe Dr. Makoto Kinoshita
 
12:20-12:50
Industry Lecture: Tanabe - lunch box offered
Dr. Jin Nakahara
12:20-12:50 B-cells in the pathogenesis of NMOSD
Dr. Koji Shinoda
 
13:00-14:00
Session 6: Oral Communications - Investigators
Dr. Hiroyuki Takeuchi Dr. Takuya Matsushita Dr. Takayuki Kondo
13:00-13:15 Neutrophil activation imprints type 1 interferon signature in NMOSD
Dr. Hisashi Murata
 
13-15:13.30 Increase in Cytotoxic Eomes-Expressing Helper T cells Associated with Refractory Neuromyelitis Optica
Dr. Eiichiro Amano
 
13:30-13:45 Real-World Use of Anti-CD19 (Inebilizumab)-Mediated Deep B-Cell Depletion in AQP4-IgG+ NMOSD: German NEMOS Cohort Results
Dr. Orhan Aktas
 
13:45-14:00 Distinct Microstructural White Matter Alterations in Demyelinating Diseases: Insights from Myelin- and Axon-Sensitive MRI
Dr. Yasunobu Hoshino
 
14:00-15:00
Industry Symposium: Alexion
Dr. Jin Nakahara
14:00-14:30 Complement Inhibition for Precision Treatment of AQP4-Ab+ NMOSD
Dr. Jin Nakahara
 
14:30-15:00 Re-evaluating AQP4-Ab+ NMOSD via Advanced Imaging
Dr. Darin Okuda
 
15:00-16:20
Session 7: NMOSD and MOGAD Research in Asia
Dr. Masaaki Niino Dr. Masahiro Mori Dr. Yuji Tomizawa
15:00-15:20 Anti-CD38 daratumuamab in NMOSD: the final outcomes of a phase III, double blind, randomized, multi-centre, placebo-control, DAWN trial
Fu-Dong Shi
 
15:20-15:50 Immunopathology of NMOSD
Dr. Izumi Kawachi
 
15:50-16:20 Immunopathology of MOGAD
Dr Yoshiki Takai
 
16:20-16:35
Closing Ceremony
Hans-Peter Hartung Dr. Kazuo Fujihara Dr. Ichiro Nakashima Dr. Paul Friedemann