Scientific Program
ESR Annual Meeting 2026
Scientific Program
Day 1: Friday, 20 November
PARALLEL WORKSHOPS & SJÖGREN’S SYMPOSIUM
| 07:30 – 15:00 | Registration | |
| 09:00 – 10:30 | Workshop 1: Musculoskeletal Ultrasound (MSK US) in Clinical Practice Workshop | Workshop 2: Immunology Interpretation |
| 10:30 – 10:45 | Coffee Break | |
| 10:45 – 12:15 | Workshop 3: DXA Masterclass: Technique, Interpretation, Reporting and Pitfalls | Workshop 4: Capillaroscopy |
| 12:15 – 14:00 | Friday Prayer & Lunch | |
| 15:00 – 18:00 | Sjögren’s Syndrome: What’s New | |
| 19:00 | Gala Dinner | |
Day 2: Saturday, 21 November
PARALLEL SESSION
ADULT RHEUMATOLOGY
| 07:30 – 15:00 | Registration |
| 08:00 – 18:35 | Session 1: Advances in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) |
| Opening Ceremony | |
| Poster Viewing & Coffee Break | |
| Session 2: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) | |
| Session 3: HOT Session 1 – How to Treat | |
| Session 4: Spondyloarthritis (SpA) | |
| Session 5: WIN: What Is New |
PEDIATRIC RHEUMATOLOGY
| 07:30 – 15:00 | Registration |
| 08:20 – 18:35 | Session 1: Advancing Pediatric Rheumatology: Year in Review and Regional Research |
| Session 2: CAR-T: Beyond the Conventional | |
| Session 3: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE): Where Are We Now? | |
| Session 4: Brain on Fire: Decoding CNS Vasculitis | |
| Session 5: Breaking Immune Tolerance: Autoimmunity and Immune Dysregulation | |
| Session 6: Double Trouble or Double Benefit? Combining Biologics in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) |
Day 3: Sunday, 22 November
ADULT RHEUMATOLOGY
| 07:30 – 13:00 | Registration | |
| 08:30 – 14:05 | Session 6: HOT Session 2 – How to Treat | |
| Session 7: Emerging Therapies in Lupus and Scleroderma | ||
| Session 8: Non-Inflammatory Musculoskeletal (MSK) Disorders | ||
Friday, 20 November
PARALLEL WORKSHOPS
| 07:30 – 15:00 | Registration | |
| 09:00 – 10:30 | Workshop 1: Musculoskeletal Ultrasound (MSK US) in Clinical Practice Workshop | Workshop 2: Immunology Interpretation |
| 09:00 – 10:30 | Prof. Ahmed Abogamal, UAE Dr. Ahmed Negm, UAE Dr. Ahmed Zayat, UAE Dr. Zaki Abou Zahr, UAE | Dr. Gehad Elghazali, UAE |
| 10:30 – 10:45 | Coffee Break | |
| 10:45 – 12:15 | Workshop 3: DXA Masterclass: Technique, Interpretation, Reporting and Pitfalls | Workshop 4: Capillaroscopy |
| 10:45 – 12:15 | Moderator: Prof. Mustafa Al Izzi, UAE | Moderator: Dr. Payam Azali, UAE |
| 10:45 – 12:15 | Prof. Ahmed Elsarafi, UAE Prof. AbdulRahim Al Suhaili, UAE | Dr. Khalid Khan, UAE |
| 12:15 – 14:00 | Friday Prayer & Lunch | |
| 15:00 – 18:00 | Sjögren’s Syndrome: What’s New | |
SJÖGREN’S SYMPOSIUM
Sjögren’s Syndrome: What’s New
Redefining the Disease, Rethinking Therapy
| Registration |
| Opening Remarks |
| Redefining Diagnosis: Beyond Classification Criteria to Precision Diagnostics |
| Redefining Prognosis: Precision Risk Stratification, Organ Involvement, and Lymphoma Prediction |
| Industry Symposium 1 |
| Coffee Break |
| Redefining Therapy: From Failed Clinical Trials to Precision Therapeutics |
| Redefining the Future: Disease Interception, Immune Reset, and Curative Strategies |
| Case Competition: The Sjögren Detective – Diagnose, Manage and Compete |
| Q&A & Certificates |
| End of Day 1 |
Saturday, 21 November
ADULT RHEUMATOLOGY
| 07:30 – 15:00 | Registration | |
| Session 1: Advances in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) | ||
| 08:30 – 08:55 | Biologic and Targeted Synthetic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs): Current Updates | Prof. Christopher Edwards, UK |
| 08:55 – 09:20 | Immunodeficiency in RA: Recognition and Management | Dr. Farida Almarzooqi, UAE |
| 09:20 – 09:45 | Combining Biologics for Other Indications: Safety in the Context of RA | Prof. Christopher Edwards, UK |
| 09:45 – 09:55 | Q&A & Certificates | |
| 09:55 – 10:15 | Opening Ceremony | |
| 10:15 – 10:45 | Industry Symposium 2 | |
| 10:45 – 11:05 | Poster Viewing & Coffee Break | |
| Session 2: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) | ||
| 11:05 – 11:30 | Neuropsychiatric Lupus | Prof. David D’Cruz, UK |
| 11:30 – 11:55 | Biologic Therapies in SLE: What’s New / Precision Medicine | Dr. Safi Al Qatari, KSA |
| 11:55 – 12:20 | Lupus Mimics | Prof. David D’Cruz, UK |
| 12:20 – 12:30 | Q&A & Certificates | |
| 12:30 – 13:00 | Industry Symposium 3 | |
| 13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch | |
| Session 3: HOT Session 1 – How to Treat | ||
| 14:00 – 14:25 | Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD) | Prof. David Isenberg, UK |
| 14:25 – 14:55 | ESR Grand Round 1 – Where Specialties Meet In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) & Lupus |
Dr. Amal Al Shunnar, UAE Dr. Samar Al Emadi, Qatar |
| 14:55 – 15:20 | The Right Patient, the Right Procedure, the Right Time in Aesthetic Procedures for Connective Tissue Diseases | Dr. Alia Galadari, UAE |
| 15:20 – 15:30 | Q&A & Certificates | |
| 15:30 – 15:45 | Coffee Break | |
| Session 4: Spondyloarthritis (SpA) | ||
| 15:45 – 16:15 | Industry Symposium 4 | |
| 16:15 – 16:40 | The Heterogeneity of Axial Spondyloarthritis (AxSpA): Diagnostic Pearls | Prof. Philip Helliwell, UK |
| 16:40 – 17:05 | Implementing ASAS-EULAR AxSpA Recommendations in the Arab World: From Guideline to Bedside | Prof. Nelly Ziadé Zoghbi, Lebanon |
| 17:05 – 17:30 | Ocular Involvement in SpA: When the Eye Is a Window Towards the Joints | Dr. Lilian Karina Julian, UAE |
| 17:30 – 17:40 | Q&A & Certificates | |
| Session 5: WIN – What Is New? | ||
| 17:40 – 18:05 | Biomarkers for Treatment Selection in SpA | Prof. Philip Helliwell, UK |
| 18:05 – 18:30 | Expert Consensus Recommendations for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Non-Bacterial Osteitis (CNO) in Adults | Dr. Ahmed Zayat, UAE |
| 18:30 – 18:40 | Q&A & Certificates | |
| 18:40 | End of Day 2 | |
Saturday, 21 November
PEDIATRIC RHEUMATOLOGY
| 07:30 – 15:00 | Registration | |
| 08:20 – 08:30 | Welcome Remarks | |
| Session 1: Advancing Pediatric Rheumatology: Year in Review and Regional Research | ||
| Moderators: | Dr. Elsadeg El Sharif, UAE & Dr. Bashayer Alnuaimi, UAE | |
| 08:30 – 09:05 | The Year in Review | Dr. Shima Yasin, UAE |
| 09:05 – 09:20 | Mapping JIA Across the Emirates | Dr. Noor Alnuaimi, UAE |
| 09:20 – 09:35 | Lupus in the UAE: Familial Clustering to Precision Medicine | Dr. Najla Aljaberi, UAE |
| 09:35 – 09:50 | Timed Squat Test: A Functional Correlation Study | Dr. Anwar Alkandari, Kuwait |
| 09:55 – 10:15 | Opening Ceremony | |
| 10:15 – 10:30 | Coffee Break | |
| Session 2: CAR-T: Beyond the Conventional | ||
| Moderators: | Prof. Sulaiman Almayouf, KSA & Dr. Najla Aljaberi, UAE | |
| 10:30 – 11:00 | Beyond Biologics: CAR-T Therapy in Lupus – What Have We Learned So Far? | Dr. Elena Moraitis, United Kingdom |
| 11:00 – 11:30 | CAR-T: From Bench to Breakthrough | Dr. Sami Althubaiti, KSA |
| 11:30 – 11:45 | Mystery Case | Dr. Sulaima Taji, UAE |
| 11:45 – 12:00 | Coffee Break | |
| Session 3: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE): Where Are We Now? | ||
| Moderators: | Dr. Reem Abdwani, Oman & Dr. Ayesha Almheiri, UAE | |
| 12:00 – 12:25 | Re-biopsy or Biomarkers? Navigating Disease Monitoring in Lupus Nephritis | Dr. Elena Moraitis, United Kingdom |
| 12:25 – 12:50 | Lupus Nephritis: Spot It, Biopsy It | Dr. Eihab Al Khasawneh, UAE |
| 12:50 – 13:00 | Mystery Case | Dr. Dana Anchassi, UAE |
| 13:00 – 13:10 | Panel Discussion | |
| 13:10 – 14:00 | Lunch | |
| Session 4: Brain on Fire: Decoding CNS Vasculitis | ||
| Moderators: | Dr. Wafaa Al Suwairi, KSA & Dr. Shamma Lootah, UAE | |
| 14:00 – 14:25 | CNS Vasculitis: Through the Rheumatologist’s Lens | Dr. Hanof Alkhdher, Kuwait |
| 14:25 – 14:50 | CNS Vasculitis: Through the Neurologist’s Lens | Dr. Aisha AlGhafli, UAE |
| 14:50 – 15:00 | Mystery Case | Dr. Rania Snobar, UAE |
| 15:00 – 15:10 | Panel Discussion | |
| 15:10 – 15:25 | Coffee Break | |
| Session 5: Breaking Immune Tolerance: Autoimmunity and Immune Dysregulation | ||
| Moderators: | Dr. Buthaina Al Adba, Qatar & Dr. Shamma Alzaabi, UAE | |
| 15:25 – 15:50 | Beyond Fever: Understanding the Autoinflammatory Spectrum | Dr. Alaa Shehab, Kuwait |
| 15:50 – 16:15 | Autoimmunity, Autoinflammation and Immune Dysregulation: Understanding the Clinical Overlap | Dr. Shuayb Elkhalifa, UAE |
| 16:15 – 16:25 | Mystery Case | Dr. Salma Abdelrahman, UAE |
| 16:25 – 16:35 | Panel Discussion | |
| 16:35 – 16:50 | Coffee Break | |
| Session 6: Double Trouble or Double Benefit? Combining Biologics in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) | ||
| Moderators: | Dr. Wafa Madan, Bahrain & Dr. Shima Yasin, UAE | |
| 16:50 – 17:05 | Team Double Benefit — In Favor of Combining Biologics | Dr. Eman Al Masroori, Oman |
| 17:05 – 17:20 | Team Double Trouble — Against Combining Biologics | Dr. Buthaina Al Adba, Qatar |
| 17:20 – 17:35 | Panel Discussion | |
| 17:35 | End of Day | |
Sunday, 22 November
ADULT RHEUMATOLOGY
| 07:30 – 15:00 | Registration | |
| Session 6: HOT Session 2 – How to Treat | ||
| 08:30 – 08:55 | Early Diagnosis of Pulmonary Hypertension | Dr. Syed Khurram Gardezi, UAE |
| 08:55 – 09:20 | What Should Rheumatologists Know About Echocardiography | Dr. Hani Sabour, UAE |
| 09:20 – 09:45 | Myositis vs Myopathies: Advances in Diagnosis and Therapy | Prof. David Isenberg, UK |
| 09:45 – 09:55 | Q&A & Certificates | |
| 09:55 – 10:25 | Industry Symposium 5 | |
| 10:25 – 10:40 | Coffee Break | |
| Session 7: Emerging Therapies in Lupus and Scleroderma | ||
| 10:40 – 11:05 | CAR-T Therapy in Lupus and Other Autoimmune Diseases | Prof. Jörg Henes, Germany |
| 11:05 – 11:25 | CAR-T Cell Therapy in Lupus: The UAE Experience | Dr. Tahir Khan, UAE |
| 11:25 – 11:45 | Systemic Sclerosis: Early Recognition & Updated Management | Dr. Rajaie Namas, UAE |
| 11:45 – 12:10 | Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) in Scleroderma | Prof. Jörg Henes, Germany |
| 12:10 – 12:30 | HSCT in Scleroderma: Patient Journey and Challenges from a UAE Perspective | Dr. Gianina Statache, UAE |
| 12:30 – 12:40 | Q&A & Certificates | |
| 12:40 – 13:10 | Industry Symposium 6 | |
| Session 8: Non-Inflammatory Musculoskeletal (MSK) Disorders | ||
| 13:10 – 13:35 | ESR Grand Round 2 – Where Specialties Meet Osteoarthritis: What’s New Beyond Traditional Analgesics | Dr. Abdulrahman Bin Sumaida, UAE Dr. Jamal Al Koteesh, UAE |
| 13:35 – 14:00 | Avascular Necrosis (AVN), Etiology & Management | Dr. Ali Al Belooshi, UAE |
| 14:00 – 14:25 | Biomechanical Problems Foot & Ankle | Dr. Harpal Jadeja, UAE |
| 14:25 – 14:35 | Q&A & Certificates | |
| 14:35 | End of Day 3 & Lunch | |
SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM
As of 30 September 2026, Program details are subject to change without prior notice.
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