Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
During this panel at the 2025 Virtual RNDS, doctors answered several audience-submitted questions, including the following:
. Do people who have been diagnosed for a long time with TM need to know their AQP4 and MOG status?
. I haven’t had a flare in a year—should I continue monitoring for signs of a relapse, or how do I know I’m in the clear?
. Are there any causes or triggers to attacks, and any way to prevent them beyond medication?
. Are there any supplements I should be taking?
. What are your recommendations for vaccines?
. I was diagnosed with TM, then NMO, then MOG—but my symptoms are closest to NMO. How should I proceed?
. Does GLP-1s interact with rare neuroimmune disorders/rare neuroimmune disorder treatments?
Can Rituxan cause GI issues?
During this panel at the 2025 Virtual RNDS, doctors answered several audience-submitted questions, including the following:
. Do people who have been diagnosed for a long time with TM need to know their AQP4 and MOG status?
. I haven’t had a flare in a year—should I continue monitoring for signs of a relapse, or how do I know I’m in the clear?
. Are there any causes or triggers to attacks, and any way to prevent them beyond medication?
. Are there any supplements I should be taking?
. What are your recommendations for vaccines?
. I was diagnosed with TM, then NMO, then MOG—but my symptoms are closest to NMO. How should I proceed?
. Does GLP-1s interact with rare neuroimmune disorders/rare neuroimmune disorder treatments?
Can Rituxan cause GI issues?

![Ask the Expert 1404. MOGcast | The State of MOGAD Science
In this special “Ask the Expert” collaboration between The MOG Project and SRNA, Julia Lefelar and Dr. GG deFiebre welcomed Dr. Benjamin Greenberg of UT Southwestern, who answered questions from the audience. Dr. Greenberg reviewed major advances in MOG antibody disease research and diagnostic criteria [00:05:06]. He discussed efforts to predict relapse risk using sustained antibody positivity, demographic and clinical models, and immune-cell profiling studies [00:07:55]. Dr. Greenberg detailed controversies around low-positive antibody titers and how cell-based assays and dilution thresholds affect specificity [00:21:38]. He outlined concepts and progress in tolerance-inducing approaches such as Tregs and CAR T therapy, described differences from B-cell–depleting drugs like rituximab [00:26:32] Finally, Dr. Greenberg highlighted the satralizumab meteoroid trial and the ongoing cosMOG study of rozanolixizumab, emphasizing community engagement, registries, surveys, and trial participation to accelerate access and potential curative strategies [00:38:36]. You can learn more about The MOG Project here:
https://mogproject.org/
Benjamin M. Greenberg, MD, MHS is a Professor and the Cain Denius Scholar in Mobility Disorders in the Department of Neurology [ https://utswmed.org/why-utsw/departments/neurology/ ] at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. He currently serves as the Vice Chair of Translational Research and Strategic Initiatives for the Department of Neurology. He is also the interim Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center [ https://utswmed.org/locations/aston/multiple-sclerosis-and-neuroimmunology-clinic/ ] and the Director of the Neurosciences Clinical Research Center. In addition, he serves as Director of the Transverse Myelitis and Neuromyelitis Optica Program and the Pediatric Demyelinating Disease Program at Children’s Medical Center [ https://www.childrens.com/specialties-services/specialty-centers-and-programs/neurology/demyelinating-disease-program ].
Dr. Greenberg earned his medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine before completing an internal medicine internship at Chicago’s Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center. He performed his neurology residency at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He also holds an M.H.S. in molecular microbiology and immunology from the Bloomberg School of Public Health, as well as a bachelor’s degree in the history of medicine – both from Johns Hopkins. Prior to his recruitment to UT Southwestern in 2009, Dr. Greenberg was on the faculty of the Johns Hopkins Division of Neuroimmunology, serving as the Director of the Encephalitis Center and Co-Director of the nation’s first dedicated Transverse Myelitis Center.
Dr. Greenberg splits his clinical time between adult and pediatric patients at William P. Clements Jr. and Zale Lipshy University Hospitals, Parkland, and Children’s Medical Center. His research focuses on better diagnosing, prognosticating, and treating demyelinating diseases and nervous system infections. He also coordinates clinical trials to evaluate new treatments to prevent neurologic damage and restore function to affected patients.
00:00 Welcome
01:44 Hosts and Guest Intro
05:06 Research Buckets Overview
07:55 Predicting Relapse Risk
11:46 Tregs and Immune Brakes
17:40 Attack Severity and Relapse
19:24 MOGAD Criteria Updates
21:38 Titers Explained Simply
26:32 Targeting MOG Antibodies
29:11 CAR T and Immune Reset
32:39 When Criteria Changes
33:52 Tolerance Research Boom
34:48 From Animals to Trials
37:17 Community Drives Progress
38:36 Meteoroid and cosMOG Clinical Trials
41:39 How These Drugs Work
44:02 FDA Approval and Access
45:49 Insurance Switch Concerns
48:39 Rituximab Dosing Debate
52:41 Why Antibodies Develop
54:18 Future Attack Patterns
55:47 CAR T Versus Rituximab
57:10 Lab Research and Support
01:00:51 Hope for a Cure
01:02:14 Closing and Resources Ask the Expert 1404. MOGcast | The State of MOGAD Science](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EJuZIJ59s4g/mqdefault.jpg)
![1309. Parenting is Hard | Part 5
At the end of this mini-series, we will host a Q&A episode where Barbara will answer questions from the community. To submit your question, please visit https://srna.ngo/submit
In part five of the “Ask the Expert, Research Edition” mini-series, “Parenting is Hard,” Krissy Dilger of SRNA was joined by Barbara Babcock to further explore her research concerning the changing beliefs around parenting when a child has been diagnosed with a rare neuroimmune disorder. They explored the theme of finding a balance in attending to the needs of all children in the family and discussed the importance of fairness and communication between parents [00:02:18]. The conversation also touched on the cultural differences and how these influence family dynamics and parenting strategies when one child requires more attention [00:13:33]. Barbara shared various strategies families use to ensure each child feels valued, such as integrating quality time into existing routines and understanding the different needs of children at various developmental stages [00:18:30].
Barbara Babcock works as a Family Therapist in a child and adolescent mental health outpatient unit in the United Kingdoms National Health Service. In her private practice, she works with individuals and couples who are navigating challenging health issues and wish to get their lives back. She obtained her Master of Science in Family Therapy from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience at Kings College London. Barbara also has a Master of Arts in Coaching Psychology/Psychological Coaching and her dissertation research focused on the impact that a systemic approach to coaching has on the wellbeing of adults who have a rare neuroimmune disorder and their primary caregivers. Previously, she was Chair of the Transverse Myelitis Society, from 2013 to 2016, and led their Family Weekend from 2015 to 2019, an event to support families who have a child/adolescent with a rare neuroimmune disorder to discover their potential through challenging outdoor activities. She had transverse myelitis in 2008 and is originally from Pennsylvania, USA. You can contact her at barbara@returntowellness.co.uk and her website is www.returntowellness.co.uk
00:00 Introduction
00:28 Meet the Expert: Barbara Babcock
02:18 Theme Three: Balancing Sibling Needs
03:59 Parental Communication and Mutual Support
13:33 Cultural and Family Contexts
18:30 Building Quality Time with Siblings
26:13 Parental Guilt and Compensation
35:09 Conclusion 1309. Parenting is Hard | Part 5](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EYet3CWzmjc/mqdefault.jpg)
![1301. Vaccines and Immunosuppression
In this episode of Ask the Expert, Dr. Eoin Flanagan joined Dr. GG deFiebre of SRNA. Dr. Flanagan explained how immunosuppressive medications impact the immune system and the efficacy of vaccines [00:02:45]. He discussed the primary concerns and risks of vaccinating individuals on these therapies, including avoiding live vaccines and the need for additional booster doses [00:04:52]. Dr. Flanagan also talked about the recommended vaccines for those with conditions like MOG antibody disease (MOGAD) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and underlined the importance of getting vaccinated to prevent severe infections [00:09:40]. He addressed common misconceptions and emphasized the role of healthcare providers in educating and supporting their patients regarding vaccinations [00:15:32].
Eoin Flanagan, MB, BCh is a Professor of Neurology and Consultant in the departments of Neurology and Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN). He completed his medical school training at University College Dublin in Ireland in 2005. He did a medical residency in Ireland and then completed neurology residency, fellowships in neuroimmunology and a masters in clinical and translational science at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN). He works in the Autoimmune Neurology and Multiple Sclerosis Clinics and the Neuroimmunology Laboratory at the Mayo Clinic. His clinical expertise and research are focused on inflammatory myelopathies and their imaging patterns, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody associated disorder, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders, autoimmune encephalitis, paraneoplastic neurologic disorders, and multiple sclerosis. He is principal investigator on an NIH RO1 grant studying MOG antibody associated disorder.
00:00 Introduction
00:47 Understanding Immunosuppressants and Vaccines
01:28 Primary Concerns with Vaccinating Immunosuppressed Patients
02:30 Recommended Vaccines for Immunosuppressed Patients
07:11 Timing and Effectiveness of Vaccinations
08:21 Measuring Vaccine Response
09:24 Addressing Missed Doses and Safety Considerations
16:41 Public Health Implications and Patient Advocacy
17:56 Advice for Vaccine-Hesitant Patients
19:06 Healthcare Providers Role in Vaccination
20:03 Conclusion and Final Thoughts 1301. Vaccines and Immunosuppression](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EbxPN2XXaRM/mqdefault.jpg)

![2024 RNDS | Community Perspectives Panel: Navigating Work, Travel, Setting Boundaries, and More
At the 2024 RNDS, this panel of community members discussed the benefits of setting boundaries while travelling and with colleagues, family members, and friends [00:00:10]. Rebecca Salky shared her journey on learning to say no and prioritizing her rest [00:01:12]. Philip Rive highlighted the challenges of accepting limited capacities and focusing on quality over quantity [00:03:24]. Leah Campbell emphasized the importance of time management and clear communication about invisible disabilities [00:06:45]. Please note that the information shared during this session is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.
00:00 Introduction to Community Perspectives
00:24 The Importance of Setting Boundaries
01:00 Personal Experiences with Boundaries
03:13 Invisible Disabilities and Communication Challenges
07:10 Navigating Work with Health Conditions
11:56 Adapting to Changes and Finding Balance
16:34 Travel Challenges and Solutions
23:18 Living Life to the Fullest Despite Limitations
25:18 Conclusion and Final Thoughts 2024 RNDS | Community Perspectives Panel: Navigating Work, Travel, Setting Boundaries, and More](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/F1olXRYdBcY/mqdefault.jpg)




![2024 RNDS | A Conversation: How Do I Identify a Relapse?
At the 2024 RNDS, Rebecca Salky, RN shared her journey of living with MOG antibody disease (MOGAD) from childhood to adulthood and the numerous relapses she experienced [00:00:00]. Dr. Cynthia Wang discussed the complexities of diagnosing and treating relapses, using a fire analogy to illustrate her points [00:02:34]. Audience members shared their personal experiences and challenges with managing symptoms, emphasizing the need for better communication and support among doctors [00:10:15]. Rebecca and Dr. Wang provided practical tips for patients on how to handle relapses and pseudo-relapses, and the importance of seeking comprehensive care [00:18:59]. Please note that the information shared during this session is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.
00:00 Introduction and Personal Story
00:43 Understanding Relapses: Dr. Wangs Perspective
01:25 Fire Analogy: Explaining Relapse and Treatment
03:32 Personalizing Treatment and Recognizing Symptoms
05:59 Challenges in Diagnosis and Treatment
10:15 Patient Experiences and Questions
16:59 Community Support and Future Improvements
18:59 Emergency Strategies and Final Advice 2024 RNDS | A Conversation: How Do I Identify a Relapse?](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HJADluTdy1E/mqdefault.jpg)