European Brain Council (EBC)

11th IBRO World Congress of Neuroscience
2023-09-09 - 2023-09-13 | Granada, Spain
The International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) and the Spanish Neuroscience Society are excited to announce that the 11th IBRO World Congress of Neuroscience will be hosted by SENC at the Granada Exhibition and Conference Centre from 9-13 September 2023.
Spain has a strong neuroscience tradition with the legacy of Santiago Ramón y Cajal, and is now home to many internationally acclaimed brain research institutions including the Cajal Institute in Madrid, the Institute of Neuroscience in Alicante, the Institute of Neuroscience at the University of Barcelona and the Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, to name only a few. The Spanish Neuroscience Society (SENC) strengthens this extensive research network with its numerous activities and more than 1000 members. In 2018, the Global Innovation Index also listed Spain as the 28th most innovative country in the world, further emphasizing a strong national commitment to science and innovation.
EBC looks forward to hosting the following sessions:

Special Event on Fostering Global Dialogue and Partnerships in Brain Research, 11 September 2023, 12:10-13:10, Room ALBENIZ + МАCHUCA
Workshop: How Should the Neuroscience Community Deal with Pressure to Reduce the Use of Animals in Research, 12 September 2023, 12:10-14:10, Sala U2

Find out more on the IBRO Congress website!
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EBC Special Event at IBRO2023: Fostering Global Dialogue and Partnerships in Brain Research
2023-09-11 12:10 - 13:10 UTC
EBC will host a Special Event on 11 September 2023 at the upcoming IBRO World Congress in Granada, Spain, focused on FOSTERING GLOBAL DIALOGUE AND PARTNERSHIPS IN BRAIN RESEARCH.
Enhancing global collaboration in the domain of research and innovation is key for effectively addressing today’s societal challenges and improving the health and well-being of citizens. This is particularly true for brain disorders, including both neurological and mental conditions, which are widespread and highly disabling diseases that are often difficult to treat. It is crucial to explore how global research collaboration can support brain research in a meaningful way, to the benefit of people living with brain conditions across the globe.
In line with its ongoing Global Partnerships in Brain Research work, this EBC session will focus on funding, which is often identified as a much-needed area for action in research and faces major discrepancies at the global level. A panel of global experts representing private funding, public funding and research from high-income countries/regions (HIC) and low-middle income countries/regions (LMIC) will speak on existing funding opportunities, address the current challenges, and explore how funding streams that exist nationally, regionally and internationally can be maximised for researchers.
Speakers:
Bradley Roberts, Research Manager, Wellcome Trust (UK) Confirmed
Dr George E. Barreto, Committee Member, IBRO Latin America Regional Committee (IBRO-LARC) and Lecturer in Cell Biology/Immunology, University of Limerick (Ireland) Confirmed
Antonella Autino, Programme Manager, Partnerships for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA), Confirmed
Sandra Jurado, Director, Department of Cellular Neurobiology and Systems Neuroscience Institute (CSIC-UMH), Spain, Confirmed

Moderated by: Frédéric Destrebecq, Executive Director, European Brain Council (Belgium) Confirmed

How Should the Neuroscience Community Deal with Pressure to Reduce the Use of Animals in Research? - Workshop at IBRO World Congress 2023
2023-09-12 12:10 - 14:10 UTC
The use of animals in scientific research remains a contentious issue. There is growing political pressure in Europe and the USA for the scientific community to transition towards ‘animal free science’. At the same time perhaps more than in any other field of biomedical research, it is currently essential to use animals to understand the functions of the brain, both in basic research and in drug testing. The benefits of the use of animals in research were also evident in the speedy development of the Covid-19 vaccines, revealing that scientific advances are currently not able to replace animal use across all research and therapeutic areas. How should the neuroscience community address these potentially conflicting pressures? This topic will be addressed during this two-hour workshop by scientists who use animals in scientific research, those who use non-animal models and a European advocacy groups, who will provide evidence of how the neuroscience community is seeking to improve communication to the public on the use of animals in research.
Programme:
12:10-12:40 Animal Research: Time to Talk!
Kirk Leech, Executive Director, EARA
12:40-13:10 Response to the European Citizens’ Initiative to Phase Out Animal Experimentation in the EU by the European Brain Council
Prof. Suzanne Dickson, President, European Brain Council
13:10-13:40 A Journey of Animal Neuroscience Research Advocacy in The Netherlands
Prof. Judith Homberg, Radboud University
13:40-14:10 Roundtable Discussion
Prof. Roger Adan, UMC Utrecht Brain Center
Prof. Jose L. Lanciego, Head of the Functional Neuroanatomy Basal Ganglia Lab of the Center for Applied Medical Research, University of Navarra
Prof. Sandra Acosta Verdugo, Universitat de Barcelona
All details available on the IBRO World Congress website: here.

Global Partnerships in Brain Research - Brain Health & Research Day at the Science Summit @ UNGA78
2023-09-18 09:00 - 18:30 UTC | Harvard Club of New York City, 35 W 44th St, New York, NY, 10036, United States
As part of the European Brain Council (EBC)’s Global Partnerships in Brain Research activities, EBC, in collaboration with the Baker Institute for Public Policy, the Brain Capital Alliance, the Brain Health Nexus and supporting partners will organise an event at the Science Summit at the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA78) on 18 September 2023 at the Harvard Club of New York City.
In line with the Science Summit’s core focus of examining policy, regulatory and financial environments needed to implement and sustain the science mechanisms required to support global scientific collaborations, the Brain Research Day will highlight the existing partnerships, roadmaps and potentials of extended global collaboration specifically in the brain area, in the case of neuroscience but also in addressing brain disorders, neurological and mental alike.
Across the globe, society is facing brain challenges like never before—improving the health and well-being of citizens has become the top priority for many governments and brain health should not be left behind. Brain disorders, neurological and mental alike, are pervasive and pernicious diseases that are often difficult to treat. Enhancing global brain research collaboration can spur innovation and quicken effective outcomes to the benefit of people living with brain conditions everywhere.
Over the last few years, EBC has served as a convener for experts in the brain community to share best practices, exchange ongoing work and align priorities to forge a joint path forward to understand and address the brain rather than in silos across continents. Two main discussions took place over the last year, first at the SSUNGA77 in New York in September 2022 followed by a full-day event in Brussels on the occasion of Brain Awareness Week, where it was determined that coming together and addressing global partnerships in a united, concrete manner was an ideal and vital next step to tackle the global burden of brain disorders together.
In order to move past discussion and work towards explicit and tangible next steps in solidifying global efforts in brain research, EBC proposes a full day event in order to cover a number of important areas for action, with as many relevant actors involved, to build towards a Call to Action and Policy Recommendations on Global Partnership in Brain Research to guide national, regional and global policymakers towards better addressing brain health in the future, particularly as they prepare for the post-Sustainable Development Goals era (during the Summit of the Future 2024 and the High Level Conference on the UN NCD Strategy 2025).
View the final programme here and watch the livestream here.
For more information and to inquire about attendance, please contact Stephanie Kramer, Head of Communications, Advocacy and Policy at EBC: stkr@braincouncil.eu

Brain Capital Building @ UNGA: Brain Deals to Harness AI and Drive SDG Implementation by 2030
2023-09-19 08:15 - 18:00 UTC | Steelcase WorkLife Center, 4 Columbus Circle, New York, NY, 10019, United States
This conference will present the novel concept of ‘Brain Capital’ which puts a premium on cognitive skills and abilities in accomplishing socio-economic objectives. Building Brain Capital is fundamental for meeting modern societal challenges and driving innovation. The concept has been elaborated by the Neuroscience-inspired Policy Initiative launched by the OECD. Following its success, the Brain Capital Alliance has now been formed to continue this work toward impact. Given their scope, Brain Deals – large-scale and brain science inspired policy strategies can harness advanced AI and boost the implementation of several SDGs at the national and global levels. The model of the Brain Deal was recently noted in a Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy Brief here. The event will focus on how Brain Deals can support SDG implementation by 2030.
See programme below:
Brain Capital Building @ UNGA78

EBC Keynote | Value of Treatment Case Study: Chronic Pain Disorders
2023-09-20 12:30 - 13:30 UTC | EFIC 2023 Congress, Budapest, Hungary
During the 2023 European Pain Federation EFIC Congress, Frédéric Destrebecq, Executive Director of the European Brain Council, will deliver a keynote for the session titled “VoT Chronic Pain – Health Gains and Socio-Economic Impacts of Interdisciplinary Multimodal Chronic Pain Management”.
The session will discuss more value-based and patient-centred care, outline the best practice healthcare intervention, and promote optimised healthcare interventions.
This will be the occasion to highlight the work done by the EBC-led Value of Treatment (VoT) project. EBC conceptualised in 2015 the Value of Treatment research framework with a first VOT study to address current unmet needs in healthcare and the increasing all-age burden of brain disorders – both neurological and mental alike. Direct healthcare and non-medical costs of brain disorders are high, making up for 60% of the total costs (40% attributable to lost productivity) – which EBC estimated at 800 bln€/year in Europe (Gustavsson et al. in the European Neuropsychopharmacology, 2011). All types of costs increase with the severity and the chronification of the disease. Budgetary restrictions across the EU are threatening the sustainability of the European social welfare model as a whole and make it even more important to achieve cost-effectiveness in the use of resources in health systems and its deliverables. In particular, challenges are multiple because of the medical, social and economic impacts of chronic disabling conditions. Together these emphasise the need for an ambitious patient-empowering research policy and an integrated, multidisciplinary approach to brain disorders.
Access the preliminary agenda

The Congress of the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies
2023-09-24 - 2023-09-28 | Barcelona, Spain
We would like to welcome you all to Barcelona for the EANS2023 Annual Congress. This will take place during 24th and 28th of September, which coincides with the finale of Barcelona’s local festivities.
It will be our great honour and privilege to host you in what is probably one of the most fantastic cities in Europe and the world.
The congress will be themed “Neurosurgery and Technology at the service of Humanity”. We are designing a program based on technological advances and how these can be effectively utilised in order to support healthcare in Low-and Middle-Income Countries. Global neurosurgery is high on the EANS agenda and we are committed to playing our role, complementing international initiatives to help patients and colleagues in countries with less fortunate circumstances. The program will involve a special symposium which will bring together several of the key stakeholders in the field of global neurosurgery, aiming at creating the foundations for synergy and cooperation towards our common goal.
Barcelona will provide everyone the opportunity to enjoy the culture of the city, the gastronomy, and its renowned architecture. With daily after congress interactions with local historians, tourist guides, and sommeliers, we can’t wait to share with you our latest discoveries of the city, and hope to make your excursions unique, memorable, and indeed a great experience for everyone.
Barcelona and EANS are looking forward to welcoming you to our 2023 Congress.
Visit the congress website

EBC Session at EANS2023: The need for advocacy for brain research and brain health in Europe
2023-09-24 16:30 - 18:30 UTC
This session, led by key members of the Executive Committee, Board and community of the European Brain Council, will introduce the advocacy work in the brain space undertaken at the European level and explore not only the importance of the work being done but the potentials for strengthened collaboration and the needs going forward, for the benefit of all within the brain space, particularly with a spotlight on neurosurgery, neurology and neurological conditions (including the clinicians that treat them and the patients that live with them). The discussion will cover the work being done by EBC and its member organisations (in particular, EANS), the inclusion of the patient voice, advocacy and policy work being done and the added value of speaking with one voice at the political level.
Programme to follow

Rethinking Alzheimer’s disease: Moving towards a new Alzheimer’s disease detection and diagnosis pathway in Sweden
2023-09-26 09:00 - 11:00 UTC
Registration is now open for the virtual event Rethinking Alzheimer’s disease: Moving towards a new Alzheimer’s disease detection and diagnosis pathway in Sweden, taking place virtually on 26 September 2023 at 09:00 – 11:00.
The European Brain Council (EBC), in collaboration with the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), the Swedish Brain Foundation (SBF) and the Swedish Association of the Pharmaceutical Industry (LIF), will explore the ways we can rethink the Alzheimer’s care pathway, particularly in the Swedish healthcare context.
The virtual event follows the launch of the Rethinking Alzheimer’s Disease White Paper: Detection & Diagnosis, looking at how to detect and diagnose the disease at an earlier stage (at mild cognitive impairment – MCI – stage) and what new care pathways would need to be implemented to reach out to patients at that stage. Furthermore, with disease modifying treatments targeting patients with MCI potentially coming to market in the near future, it is important to see how prepared healthcare systems are to provide these new treatments.
The programme will feature keynote speeches on daily life living with Alzheimer’s disease and how we can rethink the Alzheimer’s care pathway, a panel discussion featuring key opinion leaders and experts involved in the Rethinking Alzheimer’s disease project, and much more. Follow the EBC social media channels (Twitter, LinkedIn) and dedicated newsletter for all the latest updates!
Discover the programmeRegister nowPractical information
Date: Tuesday, 26 September 2023
Time: 09:00 – 11:00 (Brussels time)
Location: livestream
Registration: Please register here
All participants must register before attending this event. Once registered, Zoom instructions will be sent via email closer to the date.
Rethinking Alzheimer's disease - Virtual event - Sweden - 26 September 2023 - Programme

36th European College of Neuropsychopharmacology Congress
2023-10-07 - 2023-10-10 | Barcelona, Spain
The annual ECNP Congress is Europe’s premier scientific meeting for disease-oriented brain research, annually attracting more than 5,000 psychiatrists, neuroscientists, neurologists and psychologists from around the world.
This year, the 36th ECNP Congress will take place on 7-10 October 2023 in Barcelona, Spain.
ECNP is an independent scientific association dedicated to the science and treatment of disorders of the brain. It is the largest non-institutional supporter of applied and translational neuroscience research and education in Europe.
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Side Event on Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - The perspective of patient organisations | Conference on Rare diseases and the European Reference Networks
2023-10-10 - 2023-10-11
The conference on Rare diseases and European reference networks will be organised under the auspices of the Spanish Presidency of the EU Council and in cooperation with the authorities of the Basque Country. It will take place on 11th October 2023 in the Euskalduna Conference Centre in Bilbao, Spain. Interpreting will be provided from/to Spanish- German-English-French-Basque, webstreaming in English and Spanish is foreseen.
On 10th October, the day before the Conference on Rare diseases and the European Reference Networks, the European Economic and Social Committee will organise a side event on a neurodegenerative disease Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in cooperation with the authorities of the Basque Country.
The aim of the event is to raise awareness about ALS and its impact on the life of patients and their families, review the progress made in research to provide better treatment and better care, and inform on actions developed at European level, such as the EU ALS Coalition.
Vinciane Quoidbach, Public Health and Policy Research Project Manager at EBC, will take part in a session on “Action at European level” on 10th October at 17:00 – 18:00. She will highlight the need to pursue the intense research being conducted in many areas related to ALS, from basic science seeking the roots of the disease to therapy development to find effective treatments. She will also share the outcomes of the EU Action Plan on Rare Diseases, published in the framework of the Value of Treatment project, coordinated by EBC. Follow the livestream!

All in one brain: a discussion on mental health event in the European Parliament
2023-10-10 16:30 - 18:30 (Europe/Helsinki) | Brussels, Belgium
On the occasion of World Mental Health Day, it is our great pleasure to invite you to the conference hosted by MEP Stelios Kympouropoulos (Greece, EPP) entitled “All in one brain: a discussion on mental health“, with the participation of the Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Ms Stella Kyriakides and the Deputy Minister of Health and psychiatrist Dr. Dimitris Vartzopoulos. The conference will take place on 10 October 2023 at the European Parliament in Brussels, in room SPINELLI 3E2 from 16.30 to 18.30 CET and will be accessible online.
In the first panel, with the participation of Ms Kyriakides and Dr. Vartzopoulos, the political discussion will focus on the on the European Commission’s Communication on Mental Health, published on 7 June 2023, and the European Parliament’s Report on Mental Health, where MEP Kympouropoulos is the shadow rapporteur for EPP. The discussion will join MEP Susana Solis Perez, the Renew shadow rapporteur.
The second panel will be joined by the President of the Hellenic Brain Council, Dr. Christina Dalla, member of the Board of Directors at the European Brain Foundation (EBF), and will focus on the value of early diagnosis, treatment, and innovative research methods.
In the last panel, the discussion will focus on digital technologies and the role they can play in mental health. Professor Elisabeth Steindl will start with a comparative analysis of the legislative framework outside the EU and comment on the new opportunities presented by the European Parliament report. Then Professor Richard Rak will present telehealth solutions and evidence-based practices for mental health, while highlighting the importance of data collection through the latest developments in the legal framework, including the European Health Data Space (EHDS).
Finally, the conference will close with the presentation of the digital application “Thymia” by CEO Ms Emilia Molimpakis. This app helps to identify mental health conditions and symptoms using voice, movement and behavioural data.
The discussion will be moderated by Frédéric Destrebecq, Executive Director of the European Brain Council (EBC).
To register in person please press here. To register online please press here.
For more information please contact stelios.kympouropoulos-office@europarl.europa.eu
We are looking forward to seeing you there!

Brain Innovation Days: The Brain in the 21st Century
2023-10-26 - 2023-10-27 | Brussels, Belgium
The 3rd edition of the Brain Innovation Days team will take place on 26-27 October 2023 in Brussels (Belgium) under the overarching theme “The Brain in the 21st Century”, centred around building resilience and better brain health for future generations and increasing our brains’ readiness to adapt to an ever-changing environment.
Five sub-themes will inspire an exciting array of sessions throughout the two full days:

Resilient Brains: The Impact of Political, Societal, and Environmental Factors
Boosting Brain Health and Preventing Brain Disorders
What’s New? Innovative devices, substances and medicines for brain disorders
The Self-Healing Brain: Use it or Lose it
Towards a Brain Healthy 22nd Century

Like previous editions, get ready for two jam-packed days of high-level brain innovation – and this year we’re going bigger than ever! Look forward to Brain Talks, How-To sessions, sponsor-led satellite sessions, the 3rd Brain Innovation Days Pitch Competition, panel discussions with leading experts, an Innovation Hall and countless matchmaking/networking opportunities. Take a look at the Programme and find out more!
The Early Bird rates are now available for registration! Benefit from this discounted rate not only for individual tickets but also for Start-up Packages and Innovation Hall fees (when abstract decisions have been made). The Early Bird Rate is available until 4 June, so don’t wait too long.
Visit the Brain Innovation Days website

Meeting on quality of child and adolescent mental health care across the WHO European Region
2023-11-02 09:00 - 16:30 (Europe/Helsinki) | WHO Regional Office for Europe, Athens, Greece
On November 2, World Health Organization’s Regional Office for Europe will hold a ‘Meeting on Quality of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Care across the WHO European Region’ in Athens.
EBC is a member of the Pan-European Mental Health Coalition, a partnership dedicated to improving mental health across the WHO European Region. It will target gaps in mental health services by gathering national leaders, professionals, members of civil society, representatives of international organizations and experts to collaborate on bringing mental health out of the shadows and into the mainstream.
Key priorities for the Coalition will be to transform mental health services and integrate mental health into emergency response and recovery efforts, as well as promoting mental health and preventing mental ill health across the life course.
More details and the draft programme can be accessed by clicking on the following button.
Access the programme

Migraine: What can Europe do to avoid neglecting unmet medical need
2023-11-07 08:30 - 09:30 UTC
The Parliament Magazine, in partnership with Abbvie, organised an event ‘Migraine: What can Europe do to avoid neglecting unmet medical need‘, which took place on 7 November 2023 at 08:30-09:30 in the European Parliament.
Migraine carries an annual economic burden of €27 billion and is one of the leading causes of disability. Despite the tangible unmet need, it is not consistently recognised as a medical burden, especially when it comes to preventative treatment. Migraine might not be deadly but it is debilitating.
Current policy proposals may offer an opportunity to address the challenges, but a risk remains in the newly proposed unmet medical need definition. As it stands, the definition may see migraine get deprioritised as recognition of the existing unmet need is brought into question.
How do we ensure that these approaches are well-defined and open the door to medical advances that leave no patient behind?
During the event part of the discussion centred around the following points:

How does the inconsistent recognition of migraine as a medical burden affect preventative treatment options and patient care?
What should be considered in the definition of unmet medical need to ensure patients suffering from migraine do not miss out following the revision of pharmaceutical legislation?
While Brussels’ renewed commitment to mental health is welcome, what more can the European Union do on a policy level to drive forward the commitments specific to brain health?

During the event, the outcomes and the policy recommendations of the Rethinking migraine project were highlighted. The aim of the project is to challenge the status quo and refreshes the European policy debate on people living with migraine, recognises the consequences of the burdens during the COVID-19 pandemic and encourages multi-stakeholder-driven policy. The project falls under #MigraineMyBrain campaign.
Learn more about the Rethinking migraine project

Good Off-Label Use Practices (GOLUP): Where are we? What next?
2023-11-14 08:00 - 09:30 (Europe/Paris) | European Parliament, Rue Wiertz 60, Brussels, 1047, Belgium
The European Brain Council (EBC) with support from the European Confederation of Pharmaceutical Entrepreneurs (EUCOPE) will organise a breakfast meeting with the topic: ”Good off-label use practices: Where are we? What next?” in the European Parliament on November 14th from 08:00-09:30 CET . The event is hosted by MEP Stelios Kympouropoulos (EPP, Greece).
Good off-label use practices are often a necessity in areas of unmet medical need. The prevalence of off-label use in the EU in both the paediatric and adult population is high in a broad range of therapeutic areas such as rare diseases, oncology, psychiatry, neurology, in both hospitals and outpatient settings. Off-label practice poses a range of quite different challenges such as ethical and legal issues for healthcare professionals, increased risk for patients, patient information and consent. While not optimal but essential to address unmet medical needs, the manner in which countries deal with the off-label use of medicines is not harmonised across the EU.
In 2016, the Good Off-Label Use Practice (GOLUP) Declaration was launched, supported by a coalition of European organisations dedicated to ensuring that high standards of patient care are upheld and that progress in medical research and innovation is achieved. The Declaration put forward the basis for a harmonised approach on when and how off-label prescription should take place across Europe.
The Declaration put forward the basis for a harmonised approach on when and how off-label prescription should take place across Europe:

Presence of a medical therapeutic need based on a current examination of the patient by a suitably qualified health care professional;
Absence of authorised treatment and licensed alternatives tolerated by the patient or repeated treatment failure;
A documented review and critical appraisal of available scientific evidence favours off-label use to respond to the unmet medical need of the individual patient;
Patients (or their legal representative) must be given sufficient information about the medicines that are prescribed to allow them to make an informed decision;
Presence of established reporting routes for outcomes and adverse events linked to off-label use.

This event is timely, as the topic of repurposing has gathered attention with :

the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Heads of Medicines Agencies Repurposing of authorised medicines pilot launched in 2021 to support not-for-profit organisations and academia to support the repurposing of medicines as a follow-up to the European Commission’s Expert Group on Safe and Timely Access to Medicines for Patients (STAMP) discussions on a proposal for a medicines repurposing framework,
the Spanish EU presidency event on the topic of ‘Repurposing and better use of clinical data’ on 27 September, in Madrid,
the revision of the pharmaceutical legislation with the Directive on medicinal products for human use looking inter alia at adverse reactions reporting in the case of off-label use products (Article 105) and unmet medical needs that are one reason and objective of the proposal (Exploratory memorandum and article 83) as well as the Regulation for the authorisation and supervision of medicinal products for human use and the expected European Commission proposal on rare diseases.

The purpose of this event is to reconnect with the GOLUP Declaration promoters, exchange ideas and experiences to secure EU and national recognition of the Declaration with the ultimate goal to promote a common European approach for off-label use, call for and propose EU guidelines for the good use of off-label medicinal products.
Due to the limited number of available seats, invitation will be done on a first come – first served basis.
Should you be interested to attend, please click below to secure your place.
Learn more about the GOLUP initiative

SFCNS Swiss Brain Health Plan Kick-Off Meeting
2023-11-22 13:00 - 18:00 UTC | Zurich, Switzerland
The SFCNS Swiss Brain Health Plan Kick-Off Meeting will take place on November 22, 2023 from 13:00-18:00 at the Kunsthaus Zurich.
This Swiss Brain Health Plan implements the Swiss Brain Health Strategy in accordance with the EAN Brain Health Strategy, launched by the WHO and the European Academy of Neurology EAN in 2022.
The joint goal is awareness creation about brain health as a whole and to initiate prevention programs. The strategic task force of the Swiss Brain Health Plan consists of the about 50 authors of the publication «The Swiss Brain Health Plan 2023-2033».
The Swiss Brain Health Plan will be developed further by SFCNS as it involves many specialties of the neuro field. The goal of the Kick-Off Meeting is information and awareness creation among all stakeholders i.e. politics, hospitals, patient organizations, researchers, insurances, companies and finally the public.
Find out more about the eventDiscover the programme

EBC-Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU Event: Our Brains, Our Future
2023-11-28 08:30 - 13:30 UTC | Private: Spanish Senate, 3 Calle de Bailén, Madrid, 28013, Spain
Our Brains, Our FutureDate: 28 November 2023
Time: 08:30 – 13:30
Location: Spanish Senate, Madrid (Spain)
Programme (EN)Programme (ES)RegistrationSpeakersIn the framework of the Spanish presidency of the Council of the European Union, the European Brain Council (EBC) will organize an event in the Senate of Spain this coming November 2023.
Among its list of priorities, the healthcare agenda of the Spanish Presidency places a strong emphasis on improving health outcomes and addressing pressing challenges within the European Union, including building towards the creation of a European Health Data Space (EHDS) to improve healthcare policies and research, disease prevention, health promotion, and tackling prevalent health issues, including mental illness.
Across the European Union and beyond, society is facing health-related challenges like never before. This is particularly true for brain disorders, neurological and mental alike, which are widespread, disabling, and difficult to treat. Improving the health and well-being of citizens has become the top priority for many governments and brain health should not be left behind. In fact, it is estimated that up to one billion people worldwide live with a neurological condition and 970 million people around the world were living with a mental health disorder as of 2019, with anxiety and depressive disorders the most common1. In Europe alone, approximately 60% of the population lives with a neurological condition2 and one in six citizens is affected by mental ill-health.
However, although in the last half century, the field of neuroscience and our knowledge of the brain has advanced considerably, many important aspects remain extremely elusive. Clearly, without a substantial increase in efforts and resources to promote fundamental understanding of the mechanisms that generate proper brain function, it will be impossible to design treatments that address the real pandemic of brain health, currently affecting a substantial part of world’s population. Moreover, Europe cannot ignore that this field of research holds immense appeal for a growing number of young minds, as the brain is one of the last unexplored frontiers.
The time to act is now and the Spanish Presidency priorities are a first concrete step towards increased awareness and action. Europe must take a central position in the global effort to unravel the mysteries of the brain, both through promoting fundamental scientific research and the practical and clinically beneficial application of the knowledge that basic research generates. Enhancing collaboration in the space can fast track us towards better understanding the brain through basic research, innovation in clinical research and treatment methods and effective outcomes to the benefit of people living with and affected by brain conditions.
The European Brain Council and its wide community of members and partners has served as a convener for experts in the brain research area and health space to raise awareness, share best practices, exchange ongoing work, align priorities and advocate for a real change: recognizing and prioritizing urgent intervention on the burden of brain disorders and building towards a brain healthy future for Europe and beyond.
This event will demonstrate just how important this prioritization is. Crucial elements in the complex chain from basic neuroscience to patient improved outcomes will be broken down and explored. Research into the space remains crucial yet underfunded and often misunderstood and neglected, which has a massive impact on the lives of patients. With greater prioritization and overhaul of brain research in Europe, we have the opportunity to foster a personalized approach when developing innovative therapeutic options and better address patient relevant outcomes.
This event will be bilingual. Sessions will take place in both English and Spanish – interpreters will be available for translation.
OrganisersHis Excellency Francisco Manuel Fajardo

Senate of Spain
Prof. Carlos Closa

Spanish National Research Council
Prof. Suzanne Dickson

European Brain Council
Prof. Juan Lerma

European Brain Council
Prof. Richard Morris

Edinburgh Futures Institute
Rosa Montero

Novelist
Prof. Rodrigo Quian Quiroga

Hospital del Mar
Prof. Giancarlo Comi

European Charchot Foundation
Dr. Usman Khan

Motor Neurone Disease Association
Tineke Mollema

GAMIAN-Europe
Dr. Mara Parellada

AMITEA Programme
Dr. Paola Zaratin

PROMS Initiative
Stephanie Hoffmann-Gendebien

Amylyx Pharmaceuticals
Prof. José Obeso

Centro Integral de Neurociencias AC
Dr. Mara Dierssen

Spanish Brain Council
Dr. José Luis Lanciego

PERC-IBRO
Cristina Maragall

Pasqual Maragall Foundation
Dr. Francisco Colomer Sanmartín

Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation
Frédéric Destrebecq

European Brain Council
Video MessageFor privacy reasons YouTube needs your permission to be loaded. For more details, please see our Privacy Policy.I AcceptWith thanks to the Pasqual Maragall Foundation, Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, Insightec and Roche for supporting this event.
Event Booklet (EN)Event Booklet (ES)Registration

BRAINTEASER Webinar: Women in Multiple Sclerosis
2023-12-05 12:00 - 13:30 UTC
Join us for a online event that focuses on Women in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). This webinar will provide valuable insights and information about the unique challenges and experiences faced by women with MS. Gain knowledge from renowned experts in the field and hear inspiring stories from women who are managing their MS. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with a supportive community and learn strategies to navigate the complexities of living with MS as a woman. Register now and empower yourself!
BRAINTEASER is a data science project that seeks to exploit the value of big data, including those related to health, lifestyle habits, and environment, to support patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis and their clinicians. Taking advantage of cost-efficient sensors and apps, BRAINTEASER will integrate large, clinical datasets that host both patient-generated and environmental data.
Register now!

17th European Headache Congress Headache: Expanding the Horizon
2023-12-06 - 2023-12-09
The 17th European Headache Congress (EHC) will take place from 6-9 December 2023, in Barcelona, Spain. Under the theme ‘Headache: Expanding the horizon,’ EHC 2023 aims to spotlight the latest advancements in headache research and its management. The event’s scientific agenda will encompass diverse sessions, educational courses, sponsored symposia, expert meetings, and poster presentations.
On December 6th, Michela Tinelli (London School of Economics – LSE) and Vinciane Quoidbach (European Brain Council – EBC) on behalf of the EBC-led Rethinking Migraine project will present a poster with the topic: ”Rethinking Migraine: will shifting the emphasis towards preventative treatment of migraine, using new CGRP-targeting medicines, be of added value to society from a health economics perspective?”.
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Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative Expert Roundtable
2024-01-16 12:30 - 15:00 UTC
The Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative (DAC) will host Davos Roundtable of International Leaders to promote brain health and healthy aging, alongside the 54th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 15-19, 2024.
On Tuesday, January 16, from 12:30-14:00 CET, DAC will host a high-level roundtable at its Impact Venue, just steps from the Congress Center, bringing together prominent leaders in government, industry, academic, and global communities to organize a Brain Health Ambassadors Network to extend its reach to the primary care level.
The roundtable will discuss brain health as an economic imperative, the urgent need for sustained global collaboration, and the importance of health systems strengthening to ensure healthy populations in every resource setting. Frédéric Destrebecq, EBC Executive Director, will take part in the roundtable discussion.
About the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative
Launched at the World Economic Forum’s 2021 meeting on The Davos Agenda, The Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative is a multi-stakeholder partnership committed to aligning stakeholders with a new vision for our collective global response against the challenges Alzheimer’s presents to patients, caregivers and healthcare infrastructures. Convened by The World Economic Forum and The Global CEO Initiative on Alzheimer’s Disease (CEOi) and fueled by a mission of service to the estimated 150 million families and half a billion people inevitably impacted by this disease by 2050, DAC is a collaborative for the benefit of all people, in all places.

The Evolution of Mental Health
2024-01-16 16:00 - 18:00 UTC
Academia, corporate leaders, finance executives, and trailblazing entrepreneurs will coalesce for a dynamic set of panel discussions on The Evolution of Mental Health at the House of Trust event during the 2024 World Economic Forum!
We’ll explore the transformative journey of mental health, exploring its modern evolution, the pivotal role of businesses in promoting wellness, the cutting-edge impact of technology and the fusion of ancient wisdom and western medicinal practices.
Bonus: Experience some of the tech for yourself at the event!
Learn more about each panel, here.
Panel 1: Trends in Mental Health Innovation
Panel 2: Mental Wellness and Stress Resilience of Business Leaders and Employees
Panel 3: Mental Health Technology Deepdive
Panel 4: AguilaCondor Foundation – Bridging Old & New Worlds
EBC Executive Director, Frédéric Destrebecq, will take part in the Panel 1 on ‘Trends in Mental Health Innovation‘, diving into the evolution of mental health innovations, perceptions and investments over the last decade.
Find out moreRegister now

Building the Mental Wealth of Nations
2024-01-17 12:00 - 15:00 UTC
The ‘Building the Mental Wealth of Nations‘ will take place in Davos, Switzerland.
The event is brought to you by the Mental Wealth Initiative at the University of Sydney. Our vision is to move towards a mentally and socially thriving world. We believe the wealth of a nation is not just based on economic prosperity. National prosperity must be inclusive of social production and the mental health and wellbeing of communities
Today we face unprecedented challenges as climate change re-shapes our borders and our boundaries. Now, more than ever, we need to bring people together from all industries to collaborate and find solutions to protect and enhance the mental wealth of our nations.
The tools and technologies of the 20th Century are inadequate to address the challenges we are currently facing and beyond. We need bold new approaches and to adopt innovative technologies and solutions, through:

Enhancing GDP by including the value of social production which underpins the economic prosperity and social cohesion of nations.
Stronger public-private partnerships to enhance brain capital, mental health and community connectedness
Undertaking interdisciplinary research to come up with practical solutions for global challenges
Using AI, systems modelling and simulation to help leaders make effective decisions

EBC Executive Director, Frédéric Destrebecq, will contribute to the session ‘Building Mental Wealth – threat and possible solutions’, providing an overview about what is mental wealth and how it can be measured and improved.
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Brain Health for Society: Insights from Brain Capital
2024-01-25 10:00 - 17:00 UTC | Hyperion Hotel, Messepl. 12, Basel, 4058, Switzerland
On January 25th, 2024, the European Brain Council, in partnership with Rice University Baker Institute for Public Policy and the Brain Capital Alliance, hosted a full-day event, Brain Health for Society: Insights from Brain Capital. Guided by Frédéric Destrebecq, Executive Director of the European Brain Council, this event included invited speakers and stakeholders and hosted panel discussions to motivate conversations about brain health and a shift towards a brain economy.
This report summarizes topics discussed at the event and outlines key strategies that emerged from the discussions held at the event. View a recording of the summit below.
Full Day Replay | Part 1For privacy reasons YouTube needs your permission to be loaded. For more details, please see our Privacy Policy.I AcceptFull Day Replay | Part 2For privacy reasons YouTube needs your permission to be loaded. For more details, please see our Privacy Policy.I AcceptIn an ever-changing environment dominated by the influences of fast fashion, fast food, and social media, and as the aging population continues to grow, placing unprecedented strain on our social systems, the prospect of transitioning to a brain-healthy or brain-positive economy emerges as a unique and pivotal opportunity. This necessary shift reflects the world’s increasing reliance on brain capital, encompassing an individual’s social, emotional, and cognitive resources.
The pressing need for this shift is underscored by a concerning 59% increase in health-related cases over the last three decades, marking neurological conditions as the world’s leading cause of overall disease burden. The resulting brain-unhealthy or brain-negative economy, characterized by reduced productivity, economic insecurity, and challenges arising from brain health disorders, misinformation, insufficiently targeted investment in brain science, social media toxicity, and environmental disparities, necessitates the development of a comprehensive approach to ensure societal well-being. Concurrently, global declines in democracy emphasize the urgency of supporting mental health to foster community empowerment.
As a diverse group of stakeholders, including leading experts and advocates, convened at the Brain Health for Society gathering, their shared aim was to discuss future directions in addressing the complex landscape of global brain health. With existing brain plans providing a foundational approach to these challenges, the collaborative discourse aims to generate key strategies for working towards a brain-healthy society, ensuring flourishing lives in the face of evolving societal dynamics and the ever-growing cost of inaction.

Programme
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Increasing life expectancy, what’s causing the upper limit?

Over the last three decades, the world has witnessed a sobering 64% increase in brain health-related cases, imposing a disproportionate burden on global disease prevalence. As populations age, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) estimates a staggering $1 trillion in global income loss. Dr. William Heisel, IHME’s Director of Global Services, emphasizes the critical opportunity to shape the future by addressing brain health, citing how the cost of inaction continues to outweigh the cost of action every day.

Transitioning to a Brain-Healthy Economy

A society burdened by brain health disorders experiences reduced productivity, economic insecurity, and challenges stemming from misinformation, inadequate brain health investment, social media toxicity, and environmental disparities. Dr. Harris Eyre, Lead in the Brain Capital Alliance, underscores the urgency of prioritizing brain capital in political agendas. Healthy brains drive creativity, pro-sociality, productivity, and social cohesion, influencing economic structures bidirectionally.

Current European Brain Plans

As the aging population fuels a rise in brain disorders, current European Brain Plans, such as those in Norway, Switzerland, Finland, and Germany, aim to manage the high costs, alleviate suffering, and reduce stigmas associated with brain health disorders. Prof. Claudio Bassetti, Vice President of the European Brain Council and Lead of the Swiss Brain Health Plan, presents the Swiss Brain Plan as a model for comprehensive approaches, emphasizing the need for strategies that cater to both older and younger populations.

Brain Health Clinical Innovation in Children and Youth

Experts, including Dr. Mikele Epperly (Global Integrated Program Leader, Brain Health & Neurology Healthcare Ecosystems, Roche), Dr. Tim Foxx (Director, Center for School Study Councils, University of Pennsylvania), Dr. Carmen Moreno (Chair, Child and Adolescent Neuropsychopharmacology Network, ECNP; Child and Adult Psychiatrist, Hospital Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain), and Prof. Kevin Rostasy (President, European Paediatric Neurology Society), shed light on the role of education in shaping narratives, disparities in women’s brain health, and the necessity of child neurology in comprehensive brain plans. The panel emphasizes the magnitude of the issue, stressing the urgency for low-cost, accessible innovations to address youth mental health, and highlights the financial importance of investing in children and youth brain health. Dr. Moreno’s words, “We as a society are unhealthy and un-wealthy if the least of ours is suffering,” capture the need for a collaborative and directed approach to building a foundation for positive mental health throughout life.

Democracy and Brain Health

Dr. Alexander Hudson, Senior Advisor for the Democracy Assessment Unit at the International IDEA, underscores the positive interaction between democracy and mental health and emphasizes the need for participation and mental health support to bolster democracy. However, declines in democracy pose challenges globally, creating a pressing need for a collective and multi-layered effort to support mental health and democratic processes.

Brain Science for Flourishing Lives

Dr. Dennis Pamlin, Executive Director of The Net-Zero Compatibility Initiative at Mission Innovation, advocates for an expanded innovation agenda to promote flourishing lives, emphasizing the role of brain health in sustainable development. He promotes a shift from fast-paced trends to prioritizing the human right to creativity and well-being. Pamlin calls for targeted approaches and user-friendly tools for investors to support this shift.

Brain Health Clinical Innovation in Mid- and Late-Life

Experts, including Dr. Paulo Fontoura (Global Head and SVP Neuroscience, Immunology, Ophthalmology, Infectious and Rare Diseases, Roche), Dr. Maria Teresa Ferretti (Affiliated researcher, Center for Alzheimer Studies, Karolinska Institut; External teacher (Privat Dozent), Medical university of Vienna; Clinical Development Lead, Syntropic Medical), Prof. Peter Falkai (Treasurer, European Brain Council; Past President, European Psychiatric Association), Dr. Quazi Haque (Chief Medical Officer, Elysium Healthcare & Global Mental Health & Brain Science CoP Lead, Ramsay Healthcare), and Prof. Craig Ritchie (CEO and Founder, Scottish Brain Sciences), discuss the invisible costs of inadequate brain health and highlight the significance of reducing the burden of chronic disease for better brain health. The group urges personalized, targeted care for brain health, resilience training, and systematic change for early intervention to elevate brain health both as a priority of its own and as a part of the wider approach to a healthy life.

The Patient Perspective

Dr. Orla Galvin, Executive Director of the European Federation of Neurological Associations, addresses the underfunding and stigmatization of neurology globally, emphasizing the vast societal and economic impact on individuals with neurological conditions. Brain skills, including resilience and creativity, unite neurology patients, promoting holistic support for the development of such skills.

Advances from Denmark: Improving health in the context of public-private partnerships

Dr. Tina Hjortlund, Head of Global Public Affairs and DE&I Officer at Lundbeck, suggests the public sector cannot address health care challenges alone. She emphasizes the shared responsibility across public and private sectors to find innovative solutions and enhance healthcare solutions that prioritize mental health. Dr. Hjortlund encourages utilizing existing models of public-private partnerships to develop new collaborative partnerships guided by evidence-based decision-making in alignment with national strategies and in support of political priorities.

Next Generation Brain Plans

This panel, moderated by Paweł Świeboda, Founder of Neurocentury, in discussion with Marco Mohwinckel (Mental health and health technology investor and advisor), Prof. Peter Falkai (Treasurer, European Brain Council; Past President, European Psychiatric Association), Azad Bonni (SVP Roche pRED Global Head of Neuroscience & Rare Diseases, Roche), and Henrik Peersen (Secretary General, Hjernerådet (Norwegian Brain Council), delves into experiences and challenges of comprehensive brain health plans, highlighting insights from Norway, Germany, and an industry perspective. Calls for concrete, measurable goals, research collaboration between healthcare systems, governments, and private entities, and flexible approaches underscore the need for constant solutions to address evolving challenges in brain health. The experts in the panel discuss the potential benefits and limitations of developing a European Brain Plan adapted at a national level.

Scaling what works to add years to life and life to years

Dr. Kana Enomoto, Director of Brain Health at McKinsey Health Institute, addressed the private sector’s role in mental health, advocating for investments in effective and holistic approaches to health that encompass physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Her call to action, urging to “square the curve” by enhancing average quality and global life expectancy, is coupled with a visionary goal of 90/90/90 —screening, evidence-based treatment, and symptom management—for all individuals, with recovery as the expected outcome. This visionary approach sets the stage for transformative change in mental health.

Brain Capital and Impact Investing

Experts, including Dr. Shiva Dustdar (Head, European Investment Bank Institute), Dr. Ekkehard Ernst (Chief, Macroeconomic Policy Unit, International Labour Organization and President, Geneva Macro Labs), Dr. Nathalie Hilmi (Head of Environmental Economics, Center for Science, Monaco), and Christian Schuetz (Director – Investments / ESG, Golding Capital Partners) explored the intersection of economic value, cognitive abilities, and brain health, emphasizing the interconnectedness of healthy cognitive development, ecological significance, and economic security with panel moderator, Dr. Rym Ayadi (Founder and President, Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association). The panel calls for collaboration and clarity in communication, stressing the importance of bridging the gap between societal challenges and financial solutions. The panel discusses the idea of impact investing for brain capital, explaining that brain capital is in a growth phase and requires three main characteristics to propel it towards success: fast product-scalability, ability to be profitable for both the manufacturer and the customer, and ability to tap into large markets. The panel concludes with a call to unify groups of experts and policymakers to create central arguments that strategically explain the financial and societal benefit of brain capital to stakeholders capable of driving change in society.

Patient Prevention

George Vrandenburg, Chairman of the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative, discusses the patient’s role in developing solutions, emphasizing the necessity of practical and concrete plans at the primary care level to be financed by the World Bank.

Pathways Forward for Brain Capital

The final panel, including Dr. Shiva Dustdar (Head, European Investment Bank Institute), Dr. Harris Eyre, (Lead, Brain Capital Alliance) and Michael Oberreiter (Head of Global Access, Roche) focuses on the conceptualization, implementation, sequencing, and involvement of various stakeholders in the Brain Capital agenda. Highlighting the need to integrate the brain lens into the existing EU funding framework, the panelists call for better documentation and evidence to bolster the existing investment in the brain economy. Dr. Oberreiter stresses the importance of proving the economic return on investing in brain health, proposing the creation of a Brain Capital index to measure the competitiveness of nations and implementation of a similar index in workplaces. Dr. Eyre proposes a transition to a brain economy and advocates for engaging G7 and G20, forming an inter-parliamentary brain capital task force, and initiating specific brain health plans and investments. The emphasis is on creating a compelling case for brain health as an investment, aligning incentives, and involving a diverse set of actors for impactful change.

Priorities to address:

Comprehensive and Flexible Brain Health Plans: Develop clear objectives and concrete measures for comprehensive brain health plans, focusing on effectiveness and measurability. Adopt a flexible approach involving both national and European-level elements to address evolving challenges in brain health comprehensively.
Investment in Brain Capital: Prioritize brain capital in political agendas, recognizing the bidirectional relationship between healthy brains and economic prosperity. Integrate brain health into existing EU funding frameworks, documenting and evidencing significant investments in the brain economy.
Collaborative Research and Innovation: Encourage collaboration at national and international levels, engaging diverse stakeholders such as scientists, policymakers, healthcare innovators, and impact investors, for research innovation, redefinition of economic models, and access to digital data in brain health. Engage the private sector through public-private partnerships, encouraging evidence-based decision-making and patient-centric solutions.
Brain Capital Index: Develop a Brain Capital index to measure the competitiveness of nations and prove the economic return on investing in brain health. Implement a similar system into workplaces, providing financial incentive to support brain health.
The conference concluded with a compelling call to action for a collective effort in redefining global approaches to brain health, urging governments, industries, and individuals to prioritize mental well-being for a healthier, sustainable future.

Continue the ConversationEBC Brain Awareness Week Event 2024: No Health Without Brain Health07.03.2024 @ 11:00 - 13:00Neuroscience and Society: A Life Course Approach to Brain Health – Science Summit of 79th United Nations General Assembly19.09.2024 - 20.09.2024Brain Innovation Days13.11.2024 - 14.11.2024About the authorsOlivia Nail-Beatty is a senior neuroscience student pursuing a five years master in Bioscience and Health Policy at Rice University
Stephanie Kramer is the Deputy Executive Director at the European Brain Council
Frédéric Destrebecq is the Executive Director at the European Brain Council and European Brain Foundation
Kaitlin May is the Program Manager, Center for Health and Biosciences at Baker Institute
PartnersWith thanks to Roche for supporting this event.

Bio-Neuroscience
2024-02-14 - 2024-02-15 | Rosarium Amstelpark, Amstelpark 1 Europaboulevard, Amsterdam, 1083, Netherlands
ProgrammeRegistrationMore InformationConvened by-invitation, Bio-Neuroscience is a high level, boutique gathering of key thought leaders, innovators and decision-makers from all key stakeholder groups crucial to the discovery, development and market launch of novel therapeutics and breakthrough platforms and technologies.
Bio-Neuroscience is the global partnering and investment summit for global leaders and innovators in CNS neuroscience and psychiatric drug discovery, development, platforms and technologies. High level access, serious, sustained engagement, discussion and networking with key stakeholders. Sharing models, lessons learned, solutions, ways forward and best practices. A truly curated and unique summit to facilitate business and accelerate innovation.
Frédéric Destrebecq, EBC Exectuive Director, will take part in a panel discussion on ‘CNS Neurosciences and Psychiatry – the need for a new generation of novel therapeutics and the policy and ecosystem requirements to accelerate development‘, set to take place on 14 February 2024 at 09:15-09:45.
The members of the EBC network can benefit from 20% discount code. If you are part of our network, please get in contact with us at advocacy@braincouncil.eu.
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Brain in Sport: Preventing & Managing Concussion and its Consequences
2024-02-24 09:00 - 16:15 UTC | Brussels, Belgium
The European Brain Foundation (EBF), in partnership with the French Rugby Federation, Rugby Europe, and World Rugby, will host its first event on the subject of Brain in Sport dedicated to concussion, providing the most comprehensive information possible on concussion and its treatment, including key opinion leaders and experts in field to share state of play in a medico-scientific perspective and testimonies from players, to better understand where the risk of concussion and head trauma in a particular sport exists and how it best to manage it.
Information & ProgrammeRegister

International Newborn Brain Conference
2024-02-28 - 2024-03-02 | Cork, Ireland
The International Newborn Brain Conference (INBBC) provides a state-of-the-art forum for presentation and discussion of current research and clinical practice in newborn brain care, including diagnosis, monitoring and management strategies to optimize neurodevelopmental outcome. It explores the means to understand, monitor, protect and treat the newborn brain. The INBBC provides continuing medical education to multidisciplinary professionals working to improve the neurological and developmental health outcomes of premature and high-risk newborns. The Conference will take place on 28 February – 2 March 2024 in Cork (Ireland).
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Towards a Rare Brain Disease Ecosystem
2024-02-29 09:30 - 14:00 UTC
The main purpose of Rare Disease Day is to raise awareness about rare diseases and their impact on the lives of those affected. Encouraging policy changes can influence policymakers to create policies and regulations that better address the needs of people with rare diseases, including improved access to diagnosis and treatment.
To raise awareness on rare brain disease, this event, organised by the European Brain Council, will bring together researchers, clinicians, persons living with brain disease and industry to share their perspectives and priorities in the rare brain disease research, care, and policy space. This will result in the 2024 strategic plan for the EBC rare brain disease ecosystem.
Practical information
Date: Thursday, 29 February 2024
Time: 09:30 – 14:00 (Brussels time)
Location: University Foundation (Francqui Room), Rue d’Egmont 11, 1000 Brussels, Belgium  & livestream
Registration for online attendance: register here
Registration for in-person attendance: please contact us at comm@braincouncil.eu
All participants must register before attending this event. Once registered for the online participation, Zoom instructions will be sent via email closer to the date.
Discover the programme & the speakersRegister nowRare Disease Day 2024 - Programme & Speakers

Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases Conference
2024-03-05 - 2024-03-09
The Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases Conference (AD/PD™) will take place on 5-9 March 2024 in Lisbon (Portugal) and virtually.
The AD/PD™ Conference is where the brightest minds gather to explore the latest research, clinical trials, and treatments for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. From uncovering groundbreaking discoveries to sharing the latest developments in treatments.
The Conference will give you the amazing opportunity to meet and hear what the leading international experts are working on, discuss the latest news and trends in the field, and present in front of them your own work and gain valuable feedback.
The AD/PD™ Conference has grown to be one of the leading events in the field of neurodegenerative disorders with over 4,100 participants from 61 countries and over 2,000 abstracts in 2023.
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Mental Health Matters: What are the policy priorities for the Belgian Presidency and the next European Commission?
2024-03-06 09:00 - 11:00 UTC | Brussels, Belgium
The expert roundtable discussion “Mental Health Matters: What are the policy priorities for the Belgian Presidency and the next European Commission?“, organised by the International Longevity Center UK and ILC Europe Network, will take place on 6 March 2024 at 09:00-11:00 in Brussels.
Across Europe, we know that around one in 20 EU citizens are affected by anxiety or depressive disorders. Since COVID-19, there has been a sharp increase: one Eurobarometer survey in June 2023 found that 46% of the EU population had encountered feelings of depression or anxiety during the 12 months prior.
Resolving the challenges associated with mental health conditions is crucial to ensure Europeans live longer and happier lives. ILC is currently undertaking a global project that aims to generate a debate among key policy and health stakeholders on the importance of addressing mental health across our lives.
Vinciane Quoidbach, EBC Research Project Manager, joined the expert roundtable discussion, exploring mental health policy and best-practice in the EU. Discussion highlighted the importance of addressing mental health and well-being in the different contexts in the life course, which can benefit both individuals and societies. It recognizes the beneficial role of communities, schools, sports and culture in strengthening mental health and life-long mental well-being. In addition, the topic of mental health is also of the utmost importance to the Belgian Presidency, especially mental health and work being a priority. Lastly, beyond the European Commission’s communication on a comprehensive approach to mental health released in June 2023, there is a need to implement a biopsychosocial approach to mental health.
