By Gabriela Blaszczyk

Graphic design by Emily Huang

At the start of my PhD in September 2024, I had the special opportunity to attend the meeting of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) in beautiful København (Copenhagen), Denmark. As someone who has been involved in multiple sclerosis (MS) research for the past three years, I was excited to partake in the 40^th anniversary of the world’s largest MS meeting, making it particularly inspiring to present my research and learn from ground-breaking leaders in the field. The conference opened with a ceremony that was attended by Her Majesty Queen Margarethe of Denmark, a patron of MS research in her country for over 60 years. 

ECTRIMS welcomes both clinicians and researchers, making it a meaningful experience for a basic life sciences researcher such as myself. Session and scientific poster presentation topics ranged from novel clinical approaches to new disease mechanisms, emphasizing how crucial communication between these two fields is for driving development of novel MS treatments. 

An exciting presentation at ECTRIMS 2024 addressed the revision of the MS diagnostic criteria. This year, along with the increased number of novel approaches for diagnosis, the criteria was broadened to encompass the earliest forms of MS. This change will provide these individuals earlier access to MS-approved treatments rather than waiting for full MS symptoms to develop, improving both disease prognosis and quality of life. 

As a graduate student, the highlight of travelling to conferences is the opportunity to discover the host city. I found the best method of getting around København was by bike. Unlike most North American cities, the bicycle lanes felt safe and provided convenience when making my way to the conference and exploring the city.

Bicycle parking outside of a market in downtown København

I was told that København is best experienced from the water, so I took a canal tour and was not disappointed! The city itself is surrounded by water on all sides with a series of canals running through it. The views of the city were captivating, beginning with the famous Nyhavn canal lined with colourful homes from the 17^th and 18^th centuries, reminiscent of the Canadian Maritime Provinces. The tour explored the spiral church tower in Christianshavn, an addition to the Christ Saviour Church from 1752, and a boat house community in the Indre By borough. 

17^th and 18^th century homes in Nyhavn

What really struck me about København was the pace of life that locals had. Although I was visiting during the week, I admired the locals out on restaurant patios, parks, and bridges. The people there delight in time with friends and the rare glimmer of sunshine this Nordic country experiences throughout the year. 

Travelling to and attending the 40^th ECTRIMS meeting in beautiful København set the scene for my PhD journey ahead. What I will take forward with me are the lessons from the Danish people: to live life at a slower pace and to savour sunlight while we have it, all while being fueled by the excitement of new scientific findings and connections made at the largest meeting for MS research in the world!