This webinar will explore the growing body of evidence linking Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection to the development of multiple sclerosis (MS). Presented by Dr Hugh Kearney, the session will offer an overview of current research, proposed biological mechanisms, and the implications for diagnosis, prevention, and future therapies. It will provide an opportunity to gain a clearer understanding of how viral exposure may influence MS risk and what this could mean for clinical practice and ongoing research.
About our speaker:
Dr Hugh Kearney is a Consultant Neurologist at St James’s Hospital, Dublin, and Senior Clinical Lecturer at Trinity College Dublin, with research based in the Trinity Translational Medicine Institute. His work focuses on multiple sclerosis (MS), with a particular emphasis on ageing, immune dysfunction, and the role of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) in disease progression. He leads translational studies integrating clinical phenotyping with laboratory biomarkers to better understand mechanisms of disability and to develop scalable tools for therapeutic trials in older adults with MS.
He has developed novel assays to measure cellular immune responses to EBV, demonstrating altered antiviral immunity in MS and the impact of disease-modifying therapies on these pathways. His research programme aims to translate these insights into biomarker-driven clinical trials, particularly targeting the unmet therapeutic needs of older patients. Dr Kearney is a funded investigator with FutureNeuro and holds national and international leadership roles, contributing to MS research, clinical trials, and policy development.