Speakers

Professor John Snowden, BSc (Hons), MBChB, MD, FRCP (London), FRCP (Edinburgh), FRCPath, DTM&H
Professor John Snowden graduated from the University of Leeds in 1989 and trained in Internal Medicine and Haematology in the UK, New Zealand and Australia. In 2002, he was appointed as Consultant Haematologist & Director of Blood and Marrow Transplantation (BMT) at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and holds Honorary Professorships with the University of Sheffield and University College London.
He is the current Secretary to the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) and the immediate Past-President of the British Society for BMT and Cellular Therapy (BSBMTCT).

Professor Sharrack is a Consultant Neurologist at the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and an Honorary Professor of Clinical Neurology at the University of Sheffield.

BmedBiol (honours) MB ChB (with commendation) FRCP(UK) FRCPath
Consultant Haematologist
Dr Kazmi qualified from the University of Aberdeen in 1991 with Commendation, he is a member of European group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT), International Myeloma Society, Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management and American Society of Haematology (ASH). He has been a consultant in Haemato-oncology since 2001 at Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Trust and King’s College Hospital NHS Trust.
He is currently Director of Innovation for Cancer and Surgery at Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Trust. He was previously Chief of Cancer services and Clinical Director for Oncology and Haematology.

Dr Burt is a Fulbright Scholar, Professor of Medicine at Scripps Health Care, tenured retired Professor of Medicine at Northwestern University, and CEO of Genani biotechnology. He endeavored for thirty-five years, first with animal models then with some of the world’s first clinical trials, to bring the field of stem cell and cellular therapy to the patient’s bedside. Dr. Burt has published more than 145 mostly first author articles and is the Editor of four medical textbooks. He was the first Autoimmune Committee Chairperson for the International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry (IBMTR) and was the principal investigator of a National Institute of Health (NIH) $10,000,000 multi-center contract to develop stem cell clinical trials for autoimmune diseases.

Gavin Giovannoni is an academic neurologist at the Blizard Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London.

His current research is focused on the Epstein-Barr virus as a possible cause of multiple sclerosis, MS-related neurodegeneration, biomarker discovery & validation, and MS clinical outcomes.

MD, PhD, Associate professor
Pirogov’s National Medical Surgical Center. Department hematology and Cellular Therapy named after A. Maximov.
D. Fedorenko graduated from Medical Military Academy in 1999 (MD). 1999 – 2004 postgraduate student in department Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Military Academy. 2016 - PhD Comprehensive outcome assessment of HSCT effectiveness in lymphoma and multiple sclerosis patients

Dr Elisa Roldan Galvan is a haematologist Consultant in Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, with special interest in stem cell transplant and new therapies including CAR-T and bi-specifics, including its application in autoimmune disease such as MS.

Professor Guillermo J. Ruiz-Argüelles is head of HSCT program at Clínica Ruiz México. He is a board certified hematologist and internal medicine specialist, He did a Post-doctoral research fellowship in the Department of Hematology of the Mayo Clinic and subsequently was elected as Mayo Clinic Distinguished Alumnus. He owns a Doctor Honoris Causa Degree by the Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi. Member of the National Academy of Medicine, National Research System, level III (highest). Master of the American College of Physicians, fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, of the American Society of Hematology and of the Royal College of Physicians of London.

Mathew Embry, the Founder of MS Hope and an advocate of nutrition, optimal vitamin D, exercise and HSCT (Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation), is supporting AIMS by speaking to further their efforts in creating exposure for this treatment. He believes that raising awareness about HSCT is crucial so that patients are informed about this powerful method to halt the progression of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) compared to conventional medications.

I am a mother of two, a 7 year MS Warrior and a Multiple Sclerosis (MS) advocate for the black MS community. I am also the Founder of a non-profit patient organisation called “The Nerve of My Multiple Sclerosis.”

Indu feels privileged to be asked to present something at the AIMS Summit as she feels closely aligned to their cause – which is supporting people with MS to live to their best, to find the best treatment and to empower them to access such treatments.

Head of Information and Engagement
Using evidence to support informed decision making in MS : Supporting the holistic needs of the person with MS.

Ruth MacLeod is attending on behalf of the MS Society, who would like to support AIMS by presenting at their summit on the role of the MSS in supporting HSCT for MS.

Since co-founding AIMS 5 ago, Alison is still regularly surprised by the lack of awareness of HSCT in the MS community. AIMS seeks to raise awareness of HSCT, and also provides travel grants for UK residents undergoing HSCT in the UK and overseas.

I was diagnosed with MS in 2014 and only found out about HSCT from an American website. I tried hard to persuade the UK to transplant me, but the neurologist I was seeing thought I was completely mad, so I went to Dr Federenko in Moscow. My EDSS has dropped from 6.5 to 2.5.

I was diagnosed with PPMS in 2009. I found out about HSCT by searching online, but my neurologist was very dismissive, despite no other treatment being available at that time. My condition was deteriorating fast, so when I was offered HSCT by Dr Fedorenko I was very grateful to accept and had treatment in Moscow in 2014. My EDSS was halted at 5.5 to 6.0 and remains that way nine years later.

Simone Bell is an award-winning coach, author and speaker and cares for her husband who lives with Multiple Sclerosis after being diagnosed two years into their marriage.

I am a make up artist and social media OG having worked in social media since the beginning of its time!! I also have MS and have been aware I’m living with multiple sclerosis for 11 years. I’m a wife to Ian and a mother to Harry 12 and Edie 10

Caroline Wyatt reported on war and global affairs for over 25 years as a foreign correspondent for BBC News, based in Berlin, Bonn, Moscow and Paris, travelling to report on wars and uprisings ranging from Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, Chechnya and the wider Middle East.

Robert Douglas-Fairhurst is a Professor of English Literature and a Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford. His books include Becoming Dickens (2011), which was awarded the Duff Cooper Prize, The Story of Alice (2015), which was shortlisted for the Costa Prize, and Metamorphosis: A Life in Pieces (2023).

Dominic was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis 30 years ago at 24. He is very fortunate to have remained quite mobile and puts this down to regular exercise, forward thinking Neurologist,s and aggressively pursuing the most efficacious DMT's.

Noëlle Tassy has had multiple sclerosis for more than 30 years and over the past decade the disease has had a major impact on her life. She received 2 HSCT (2017 in France - 2019 in Russia) which succeeded in stopping MS progression but she keeps facing severe motor sequelae.