European Brain Council (EBC)

Building Brain Health in Europe | EANS Congress 2024
2024-10-13 09:00 - 12:00 UTC
EBC is please to take a part in “Building Brain Health in Europe” session at EANS Congress 2024. The session will take place on 13th of October 2024 from 9:00 till 12:00 in Hall 6 of the Venue in Sofia.
About the session
This session, organized by EANS, will cover topics such as advocacy, brain health imaging, the brain tumours, neurosurgery in psychiatry and traumatic brain injuries.
EBC will present 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).
Session will feature a series of presentations by prominent experts in the field of brain health. Prof Torstein R. Meling will chair the session. Speakers include Prof Thomas Berger, Prof Suzanne Dickson, Tarek Yousry, Prof Johnny Duerinck, Dr Niklas Marklund, Majda Thurnher, Dr Ricardo Chavarriaga, and Dr Eric Suero Molina. Topics will cover various aspects of brain health, including neuroradiology, the impact of brain tumors, traumatic brain injury, and stroke, as well as the role of neurosurgery in modern psychiatry. Prof Suzanne Dickson will put forward the role of EBC in the advocacy of Brain Health and Dr Ricardo Chavarriaga will explore the ethics of neuroprosthetics.
EBC SpeakersSuzanne DicksonPresident, European Brain Council Professor Suzanne L Dickson is a neurobiologist and Professor of Neuroendocrinology at the University of Gothenburg. She graduated with a Ph.D. in Neuroendocrinology from the University of Cambridge in 1993, where she later became Senior Lecturer in Physiology. She is a leading figure in neuroendocrinology and works within many European Union and international organisations and societies to promote research, facilitate grant funding and training of Early Career Scientists. Her research into the neurobiology of appetite aims to unravel neurobiological pathways that respond to orexigenic signals, such as the hormone, ghrelin, and that drive feeding behaviours, not only food intake but also food choice, food anticipation, food reward and food motivation. This work involves mostly preclinical studies and includes behavioural tasks, viral vector mapping, chemogenetics and RNAscope. She is Secretary and Executive Board member of the European College for Neuropsychopharmacology, and also chairs ECNP’s Workshop for Early Career Scientists in Europe. She also is founder and co-chair of ECNP’s nutrition network and EBRA’s BRAINFOOD cluster.
Ricardo ChavarriagaGroup Lead, Responsible AI Innovation Neuroscientist and public speaker in neurotechnologies, artificial intelligence, and responsible innovation. Dr Chavarriaga leads the Responsible AI Innovation group at at the Center for Artificial Intelligence of the Zürich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) and is the head of the Swiss office of the Confederation of Laboratories for AI Research in Europe (CLAIRE). His work is focused on leveraging neuroscience, AI, and ethics for advancing responsible innovation and governance of human-centered technology.
LEARN MORE ABOUT EBC AT EANS CONGRESS

EANS Congress 2024
2024-10-13 - 2024-10-17
The Annual Congress of the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS) will take place on 13-17 October 2024, at the National Palace of Culture in Sofia (Bulgaria).
The congress theme will be “Innovation, Education, Leadership”, reflecting the current need to thoroughly discuss the future of neurosurgery in connection with technological advances that can improve neurosurgical education, training and treatment, aiming to create the next leaders of neurosurgery in Europe and all over the globe.
The programme will include several sessions dedicated to technological advances and innovative prospects and projects, always maintaining its high quality in presenting new original neurosurgical research.
EBC will be present at the Congress with a booth in the exhibition area. Make sure to pass by booth #38 where you can learn more about our ongoing projects, latest activities, and upcoming events! On Sunday 13th of October from 09:00-12:00, EBC will also participate in a session titled ‘Building Brain Health in Europe‘.
Find out more

Advancing Global Collaboration for Dementia and Healthy Aging
2024-10-08 13:00 - 17:00 UTC | Ancona, Italy
Side Event at the 2024 G7 Health Ministerial Meeting: Advancing Global Collaboration for Dementia and Healthy Aging EBC is pleased to collaborate with the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative (DAC), who will be hosting event on the sidelines of the 2024 G7 Health Ministerial Meeting: Advancing Global Collaboration for Dementia and Healthy Aging. The event will take place on 8 October 2024 from 13:00-17:00 CET in Ancona, Italy.
As the world’s population ages, dementias including Alzheimer’s disease are among the most pressing global health challenges. The profound impacts of dementias are looming threats that will increasingly strain health systems, societies, and individuals. DAC recognizes and applauds the previous efforts and commitments made by governments of the G7 to address dementias. However, the stark reality remains: the global community is not yet equipped to actualize and achieve these commitments.
On the sidelines of the G7 Health Ministerial meeting, the premier stage for international collaboration on critical health issues, the event aims to emphasize the continued need for global coordination and commitment to healthy aging, brain health, and addressing the global burden of dementias including Alzheimer’s disease. It will showcase the progress that is being made on all fronts in the fight to end Alzheimer’s, including policy advances, scientific innovations, and improved care pathways. The event will convene high-level stakeholders – including government, policy makers, international organizations, industry, and civil society – around the objectives:

Reiterating the importance of a person-centric approach to developing new treatments and strengthening health systems in support of people living with dementias including Alzheimer’s Disease.
Highlighting the progress countries have made since the 2023 G7 communiqué in Japan supported “policies and resources to care for people living with dementia,” including on early detection of Alzheimer’s disease and on the development of new therapeutics.
Building consensus on the urgent need for sustained global collaboration toward healthy aging and brain health, including in addressing Alzheimer’s and dementia, supporting the realization of national plans, coordination, and knowledge sharing at the global level.

EBC looks forward to participating in this critical discussion: Frédéric Destrebecq, EBC’s Executive Director, will be speaking during the ‘Defining the Opportunities for Global Action’ panel alongside Chris Lynch (Alzheimer’s Disease International), Charlotte Refsum (Tony Blair Institute for Global Change), Wade Shen (Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health). The discussion will be moderated by George Vradenburg (Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative) and will take place at 16:10-16:50 CEST. Panelists will be sharing insights on how we can enable countries to build sustained global collaboration toward healthy ageing and brain health.
The Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative
The Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative (DAC) is a pioneering worldwide initiative to cure Alzheimer’s disease and improve brain health, seeking to mirror the success of global efforts against infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Covid, and Malaria. DAC is extending global research beyond its current focus on traditional Western European ethnic populations into the highly diversified populations of the Global South, where the vast majority of those with Alzheimer’s live. By introducing lower-cost screening and diagnostic tools as well as new treatment and prevention modalities in primary care and community health settings, DAC is driving implementation of health system solutions that are appropriate for worldwide application. DAC also promotes the vital importance of brain health throughout the lifespan by addressing cardiometabolic and lifestyle factors, especially in early and mid-life. Absent effective action at scale around the world, by 2050, more than 150 million families and half a billion people will be personally impacted by dementia, creating a social, financial, economic, and global security disaster of historic proportions. DAC was launched in Davos in 2021 by the World Economic Forum and the Global CEO Initiative on Alzheimer’s Disease.
REGISTRATIONDiscover the programmePlease note that requesting registration does not guarantee admission to the event. You will be notified by a member of the DAC team if your request is approved.

Lausanne XI: Where Leaders Converge to End Alzheimer's Disease
2024-10-01 - 2024-10-03 | Lausanne, Switzerland
The 2024 Lausanne Workshop is the eleventh in a series of Lausanne-based annual Alzheimer’s convenings with a goal to stop Alzheimer’s. Over the past ten years, Lausanne has become a highly curated platform for global Alzheimer’s stakeholders to identify challenges, set solution paths, measure progress and hold each other accountable to act.
The Lausanne Workshop is organized under the auspices of the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) and supported by The Global CEO Initiative on Alzheimer’s Disease (CEOi), Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) and World Economic Forum (WEF). It launched in 2014 as a response to the challenge articulated at the UK G8 Dementia Summit to stop Alzheimer’s by 2025. This goal was reinforced at the First WHO Ministerial Conference on Global Action Against Dementia in 2015.
EBC will be present at the event. Stephanie Kramer, Deputy Executive Director will take part in a panel discussion under the title “Preventative Power: Promoting Brain Health to Address the Alzheimer’s Crisis”.

World Sleep Forum: 7th Think Tank: Sleep health and the burden of sleep disorders
2024-10-01 - 2024-10-02 | Lugano, Switzerland
Join the World Sleep Forum: 7th Think Tank, where experts will delve into the critical issues surrounding sleep health and the burden of sleep disorders. Organized by the European Sleep Foundation, this thought-provoking event will take place on October 1st and 2nd, 2024, in the city of Lugano, Switzerland.
Distinguished speakers, including Professor Claudio Bassetti, Vice-President of the European Brain Council, will provide insights into the latest research, advancements, and challenges in the field of sleep medicine. Participants can expect engaging discussions, interactive sessions, and networking opportunities with leading professionals and researchers in sleep health.
MORE INFORMATIONPRELIMINARY PROGRAM

Promoting Brain Health for Everyone, Towards a More Sustainable and Healthy Future
2024-09-25 16:15 - 17:45 UTC | Private: EU Health Forum Gastein, Kursaal Room, Tauernplatz 1, Bad Hofgastein, 5630, Austria
From 24 – 27 September, the hybrid European Health Forum Gastein (EHFG), guided by the theme “Shifting sands of health”, will explore solutions for the complex interplay of democracy, demographics, and digitalisation in Europe’s evolving health landscape. The EHFG 2024 is co-organised by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection, in collaboration with the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, and with support from the European Union. The EHFG 2024 will hold a consultation process with participants to collaboratively develop a priority letter on health to the next European Commission.
EBC will take part in a session organized by the European Academy of Neurology (EAN), titled “Promoting Brain Health for Everyone: Towards a Sustainable and Healthy Future” at the hybrid EHFG 2024 on 25 September.
According to the latest studies, more than 43% of the global population has a neurological disorder and estimates for mental health are 25%. The combined burden of brain disorders represents a major challenge. This requires a holistic concept of brain health which places an emphasis on prevention, optimising quality of life, and on addressing neurological and psychiatric comorbidities. This session will explore the multifaceted concept of brain health, emphasising its impact on healthcare systems, economic well-being, and societal health.
Building on recent research and initiatives, the session will highlight the importance of integrating brain health into national public health policies. Expert panel discussions will address demographic shifts, economic implications, and innovative policies needed to support brain health. Participants will gain insights from national strategies, such as the Swiss Brain Health Plan, and explore how European-level efforts are shaping the future of brain health.
By bringing together perspectives from science, academia, public sector, and civil society, the session aims to foster collaborative approaches and policy interventions.
Learn moreRegister

Rethinking Schizophrenia: Beyond the Voices | 37th ECNP Congress
2024-09-24 12:35 - 14:00 UTC | Allianz MiCo, Piazzale Carlo Magno, 1/Gate 16, Milano, 20149, Italy
This year, the EBC will have a pleasure to present a poster on the “Rethinking Schizophrenia: Beyond the Voices” project at 37th ECNP Congress. The presentation will take place on 24th of September between 12:35 and 14:00 at the Poster Area at the Milan Congress Venue. Additionally, an ePoster will be available on the Congress platform.
About Rethinking Schizophrenia
Rethinking Schizophrenia is a research-driven project offering tangible policy changes to improve the lives of people living with schizophrenia across Europe. It challenges the status quo and refreshes the European policy debate on people living with schizophrenia and encourages multi-stakeholder-driven policy. The project falls under #BeyondTheVoices campaign.
LEARN MORE ABOUT RETHINKING SCHIZOPHRENIA PROJECTSpeakerKristien AartsChief Research & Innovation Officer, European Brain Council Kristien has been part of the European Brain Council since 2019 where she currently leads the research team. In this strategic role, Kristien plays a pivotal role in ensuring that the organization’s work is grounded in scientific evidence, research, and innovation.
Her responsibilities include monitoring research funding, project applications, overseeing EU-funded projects, and developing a rare brain disease ecosystem. She also manages the Brain Innovation Days program and is actively creating an evidence-based brain health toolbox for the team.
Kristien has a PhD in Psychology from Ghent University (Belgium). With diverse experience at Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, the European Health Management Association and the University of Utrecht, Kristien brings expertise in brain research, neuropsychology, emotion, cognition, multisensory processing, mindfulness, clinical research management, and EU-project management.
LEARN MORE ABOUT EBC AT ECNP CONGRESS

Towards the BrainHealth Partnership | 37th ECNP Congress
2024-09-24 11:15 - 12:00 UTC | Allianz MiCo, Piazzale Carlo Magno, 1/Gate 16, Milano, 20149, Italy
EBC is pleased to hold a Panel Discussion ‘Toward the BrainHealth Partnership‘ at the upcoming ECNP Congress.
Brain disorders – neurological and mental alike – are widespread, highly disabling and often difficult to treat. Approximately 60% of the European population lives with a neurological condition and one in six citizens in Europe is affected by mental ill-health. These numbers are alarming without considering that they date back to before the COVID-19 pandemic, which we now know spurred higher rates of mental health conditions as well as COVID-triggered neurological complications, continuously on the rise in times of societal instability. These conditions represent a high individual, social and economic burden and contribute to the global disease burden and disability. At the end of 2023, the EU-funded Coordination & Support Action (CSA) BrainHealth launched, preparing for a European Partnership on Brain Health, planned for the European Commission’s 2nd Strategic Programme of Horizon Europe in 2025-2026. With the aim to further coordinate and structure the area of brain health research in Europe, the CSA BrainHealth is the result of a common vision and a goal to promote brain health regionally and globally, as well as promoting the brain health of citizens. This vision has been supported by the main players in the field for many years – JPND, NEURON, EBC and EBRAINS
ChairSuzanne DicksonSuzanne L. Dickson is Professor of Physiology/Neuroendocrinology at the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden (2004-). She graduated first from the University of Edinburgh with a BSc (Honours) in Pharmacology (1993) and then from the University of Cambridge (UK) with a PhD in Neuroendocrinology (1993). Recently the University of Edinburgh appointed her Honorary Professor in Biomedical Sciences in acknowledgement of her work on the neuroendocrinology of appetite. Prior to her current appointment, she held a tenured position as Senior Lecturer in Physiology at the University of Cambridge, UK (1996-2004). Her current research focus is the role of the endocrine gut-brain axis in appetite control. This work builds upon almost 20 years research exploring the central actions of ghrelin and, before its discovery, growth hormone secretagogues (now known to be ghrelin mimetics). Her work was first to show that these ghrelin mimetics act in the brain, that they target an orexigenic system (the neuropeptide Y cells in the hypothalamus), that they are important for food intake and fat accumulation and, more recently, target brain reward pathways. Recent work includes the impact of gut hormones, especially ghrelin, on food choice, food reward, food motivation, food anticipation, habitual and impulsive behaviours as well as behaviours linked to mood. Suzanne has coordinated three successful European Union large integrated projects in the field of obesity, diabetes and appetite. Part of this work involved coordination of a consensus on “Food Addiction”. These projects involve wide international networks and collaborations that cross many scientific and geographical borders.
SpeakerKristien AartsKristien has been part of the European Brain Council since 2019 where she currently leads the research team. In this strategic role, Kristien plays a pivotal role in ensuring that the organization’s work is grounded in scientific evidence, research, and innovation. Her responsibilities include monitoring research funding, project applications, overseeing EU-funded projects, and developing a rare brain disease ecosystem. She also manages the Brain Innovation Days program and is actively creating an evidence-based brain health toolbox for the team. Kristien has a PhD in Psychology from Ghent University (Belgium). With diverse experience at Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, the European Health Management Association and the University of Utrecht, Kristien brings expertise in brain research, neuropsychology, emotion, cognition, multisensory processing, mindfulness, clinical research management, and EU-project management.
ExpertsSabine Hölter-KochSabine Hölter-Koch is a behavioural neuroscientist heading the Behavioural Unit at the German Mouse Clinic at Helmholtz Munich, Germany and lecturer at Technical University Munich. Her research focuses on the translational relevance of behavioural and brain phenotypes of genetic mouse models for neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative and rare diseases. Her group has worked on phenotypes that are relevant across disorders, phenotype progression over the lifetime including influences of environmental factors, and on somatic comorbidities of brain disorders. She has contributed to several EU-funded projects since 2003 (EUMORPHIA, EUMODIC, INFRAFRONTIER2020, LDLensRad, CAQIII) and coordinated PREMOS, the cluster on Predictive Model Systems of the European Brain Research Area. Currently she serves as co-lead of the Behaviour & Sensory Workgroup of the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium (IMPC), as Science Communication Coordinator of COST Action CA20135 “Improving biomedical research by automated behaviour monitoring in the animal home-cage”, as member of the EBRAINS Science & Technology Committee, and member of the European Brain Council Animal Research Task Force. For ECNP she serves as Chair of the Preclinical Data Forum Network and member of the Workshop Committee 2023-2026.
Roger AdanRoger Adan is Professor of Molecular Pharmacology at the University Medical Center Utrecht at the Utrecht University in the Netherlands. His research concerns unraveling the neural circuits that underlie behaviors relevant to psychiatry with a focus on eating disorders.
Martien KasMartien Kas is Professor of Behavioral Neuroscience at the Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands. The research of his group focuses on determinants of behavior, especially of behavioral strategies and of biological processes that are essential across species and that are affected in various neuropsychiatric disorders (e.g., social interaction and sensory information processing). By means of cross-species genetic analysis of neurobehavioral traits (of mice and men), they aim to identify genotype-phenotype relationships relevant to the development and treatment of autism spectrum disorders, Alzheimer’s Disease, eating disorders, and schizophrenia. These studies will lead to the understanding of conserved gene function in regulating essential behavioral strategies and will ultimately improve therapeutic and preventive strategies to contribute to healthy aging. In addition, he is Executive Committee Board member and President of the European College of NeuroPsychopharmacology (ECNP), Editorial board member of Mammalian Genome, and project coordinator of the PRISM1 and PRISM2 projects, two large EU Innovative Medicine Initiative (IMI) projects that aim to unpick the biological reasons underlying social dysfunction, which is a common early symptom of Schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease and Major Depressive Disorder.
Monica Di LucaMonica DiLuca has been professor of Pharmacology at the University of Milano since 1999. She is at present the Director of Department of Excellence of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences of University of Milano. She is a member of the EMBO and has received major international distinctions and awards, including a Docteur Honoris Causa University of Bordeaux (2019) and a Laurea Honoris Causa Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Univ. of Mons (2017). Her primary research interest is related to synaptic plasticity both in physiological and pathological conditions, with the primary aim to apply her basic findings to the cure of neurodegenerative diseases as Alzheimer Disease. Her discoveries enriched our understanding of glutamatergic synapse in physiology and pathology, increasing our knowledge on plasticity and memory and leading to new tools for neuroprotection. A prominent trait of Monica DiLuca’s career is her deep and exigent involvement in sharing ideas over borders and establishing collaborative multi stakeholder networks merging scientists, clinicians and patients’ organizations. She has played a pivotal role in international organizations for neuroscience research in connection with societal challenges, including serving as President of Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) and European Brain Council (EBC). She is currently the President of Italian Society for Neuroscience.
LEARN MORE ABOUT ENCP CONGRESS 2024

37th ECNP Congress
2024-09-21 - 2024-09-24 | Allianz MiCo, Piazzale Carlo Magno, 1/Gate 16, Milano, 20149, Italy
The European Brain Council (EBC) was pleased to participate in the 37th Congress of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) held in Milan from 25–28 September 2024. The ECNP Congress is a leading platform for bringing together psychiatrists, neuroscientists, neurologists, and psychologists from around the world to discuss the latest advancements in brain disorder research and treatment.
Towards the BrainHealth PartnershipOn September 25th, EBC organized an engaging session titled “Towards the BrainHealth Partnership”. The session opened with remarks from EBC President Prof. Suzanne Dickson, followed by a presentation from Kristien Aarts, EBC’s Chief Research and Innovation Officer, on the “state of play” of brain research collaborative initiatives in the European Union. She emphasized the urgent need for international collaboration and multi-level engagement in both global and national contexts to address the pressing challenges in brain health.
The following panel discussion featured:

Prof. Martien Kas (President of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacolog)
Monica Di Luca (EBRA coordinator, former EBC President)
Sabine Hölter-Koch (PREMOS cluster, EBRA)
Roger Adan (BRAINFOOD cluster, EBRA)

The panelists showcased concrete examples of how collaboration at the European level, particularly through the EBRA clusters and ECNP networks, has led to tangible impacts in the brain health research field. Each speaker highlighted the critical importance of bringing together diverse stakeholders from the research community, industry, and civil society to drive progress in brain research and innovation.
The session’s message was clear: collaboration is key to overcoming the substantial challenges in brain health research. Through joint efforts and coordinated initiatives, significant progress can be achieved. The discussion also touched upon the work being done by the Coordination and Support Action (CSA) BrainHealth in paving the way towards the future European Partnership on BrainHealth.
The session was well-attended, and the audience was highly engaged, actively participating in the discussion.
EBC at the CongressBeyond the session, EBC had a strong presence throughout the ECNP Congress. On September 24, EBC had the pleasure to present a poster on the “Rethinking Schizophrenia: Beyond the Voices”, which outlined key policy recommendations to improve the lives of individuals living with schizophrenia in Europe. The ePoster can be accessed by clicking on the following link. Rethinking Schizophrenia is a research-driven project offering tangible policy changes to improve the lives of people living with schizophrenia across Europe. It challenges the status quo and refreshes the European policy debate on people living with schizophrenia and encourages multi-stakeholder-driven policy. The project falls under #BeyondTheVoices campaign.

Neuroscience and Society: A Life Course Approach to Brain Health - Science Summit of 79th United Nations General Assembly
2024-09-19 - 2024-09-20 | Cure., 345 Park Ave S, New York, NY, 10010, United States
As part of the Global Brain Coalition, the European Brain Council (EBC), Brain Capital Alliance, Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute and UNICEF hosted a two-day, high-level side event at the 79th United Nations General Assembly, in collaboration with partner organizations, in the framework of the Science Summit at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79) in New York City on 19-20 September 2024 at Cure.
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 and demonstrate the role and contribution of science in attaining the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the two-day event highlighted existing partnerships and the immense potential and benefits of extending global collaboration in the brain space, for science, policymaking, and society as a whole.
Brain disorders – encompassing neurological diseases and disorders and mental illnesses – are widespread, disabling, and difficult to treat. In fact, it is estimated that up to three 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. These conditions represent a high individual, social and economic burden and contribute immensely to the global burden of disease – in fact, as of 2024, neurological conditions alone are now the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide.
To work towards explicit and tangible next steps in solidifying global efforts in addressing the burden and overall brain health, this two-day event showcased the importance and urgency of prioritizing brain health across all policies at the global level and build on the Call to Action launched at UNGA78. Addressing the immense global burden of brain disorders means investing in research and innovation in the brain health space to power our understanding of the brain, stay ahead in the quest to find treatment and cures and work to prevent any further increase in the prevalence of these conditions. Furthermore, at the socio-economic level, policies and investments to boost brain power can increase productivity, stimulate greater creativity and economic dynamism, afford social cohesion, and create a more resilient, adaptable, and sustainability-engaged populace.
Key stakeholders from across the wider brain community – scientific, clinical, economic, industry – and other relevant actors met to present on their work and co-create towards further action to place brain health at the top of global policy agendas in the post-Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) era. This action was incredibly timely, particularly in 2024, where 64 countries worldwide are hosting major elections and we are witnessing times of major political, economic, and overall societal shifts and instability. Furthermore, at the global level, the United Nations enters a period of preparation for the future, with the Summit of the Future kicking off during UNGA79 to plan for the post-2030 agenda and a High-Level Conference on NCDs planned in 2025.
The days focused on three key areas, through presentations, guided panel discussions and interactive discussion:

The challenge, impact and need for action;
Brain health and society – the brain in the life course;
Boosting global partnerships, capacity building and investing in neuroscience.

Topics touched on throughout the two days showcased just how relevant the brain and brain health is to society, not only in terms of burden of disease, healthcare and research, but also touching key issues such as the built environment, school-centred care, neuroscience in policymaking and judiciary decision making, neurotechnology and so much more. Watch the full event recording on YouTube the follow key moments, panel discussions and presentations from the high-level conference, including a Keynote Address by the Governor of New York, Kathy Hochul.
Read our Press Release announcing the formation of the Global Brain Coalition.

Final AgendaScience SummitDay 1 2024 Full Day RecordingFor privacy reasons YouTube needs your permission to be loaded. For more details, please see our Privacy Policy.I AcceptDay 2 2024 Full Day RecordingFor privacy reasons YouTube needs your permission to be loaded. For more details, please see our Privacy Policy.I Accept2023 AftermovieFor privacy reasons YouTube needs your permission to be loaded. For more details, please see our Privacy Policy.I Accept
This event was part of a series of Brain Days at the Science Summit of the 79th United Nations General Assembly. An additional event, The Brain Economy for One Health: 21st Century Response to 21st Century Challenges, took place on 18 September 2024, prominently placing brain health and the brain economy high on the UNGA79 side events agenda.

The Brain Economy for One Health: 21st Century Response to 21st Century Challenges - Science Summit at the 79th United Nations General Assembly
2024-09-18 09:00 - 18:15 UTC | New York, United States
As part of the UN Science Summit at the 79th United Nations General Assembly and Summit for the Future, Rice University’s Baker Institute Center for Health and Bioscience, the California Mental Health Services Oversight Accountability Commission, the Brain Capital Alliance, the Euro-Mediterranean Economists’ Association, HKS and NeuroCentury are convening a plenary conference on 18 September 2024, focused on the new concept of the Brain Economy which posits a transformative societal approach to build brain capital, an asset that optimizes brain health and brain skills, in the face of technological change. The event’s particular focus will be on how the brain economy can support the goals of the One Health framework, aiming to balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and ecosystems.
Learn MoreAgendaRegistration
This event is the first in a series of Brain Days at the Science Summit of the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York City, immediately followed by the two-day European Brain Council-led event, NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY: A LIFE COURSE APPROACH TO BRAIN HEALTH, prominently placing brain health and the brain economy high on the UNGA79 side events agenda.

Thematic Network Webinar: Towards and EU Coordination Plan for Brain Health
2024-09-05 15:00 - 17:00 UTC | Online
The European Brain Council has been selected to lead the DG Sante Thematic Network, titled “Towards an EU Coordination Plan for the Brain,” under the EU Health Policy Platform. The Thematic Network’s primary aim is to prepare a position paper, referred to as the Joint Statement. This document will present the collective vision and strategic recommendations for enhancing brain health policies and practices across Europe.
To facilitate the development of the Joint Statement, an open live webinar took place on 5th of September. This webinar served as a platform for discussing ideas, sharing insights, and fostering collaboration among participants before the final drafting of the Joint Statement. The second draft of the position paper will be shared in October and discussed in a second webinar. The finalized Joint Statement will then be presented by the European Brain Council at the EU Health Policy Platform Annual Meeting.
Participation in the webinar was open to everyone. This inclusive approach ensures that the diverse perspectives and expertise of the brain health community are represented in the Joint Statement, contributing to a coordinated and effective EU strategy for brain health.
LEARN MORE ABOUT the THEMATIC NETWORKWatch the ReplayFor privacy reasons YouTube needs your permission to be loaded. For more details, please see our Privacy Policy.I AcceptDOWNLOAD THE PROGRAMME

Walking the Talk for Dementia 2024
2024-08-25 - 2024-09-01 | Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Walking the Talk for Dementia is an immersive experience that challenges conventional power dynamics and hierarchies in healthcare by using shared vulnerability as a catalyst for transformation. The second edition is set to take place from 25 August to 1 September 2024 in Santiago de Compostela (Spain).
It consists of a 40 km, four-day walk along the Camino de Santiago de Compostela (Spain) for deepen connections and diversify perspectives, followed by a two-day symposium to consolidate reflections and collaborations.
Participants include individuals working, researching, and living with dementia, both inspired and affected by this diagnosis. Together we explore and highlight a variety of key issues related to dementia across social, geographical, cultural, and professional backgrounds.
Visit the websiteFind out moreFor privacy reasons YouTube needs your permission to be loaded. For more details, please see our Privacy Policy.I Accept

Health Gains and Socio-Economic Impacts of Structured Interdisciplinary Management of Chronic Primary Low-Back Pain | IASP 2024 World Congress on Pain
2024-08-06 09:30 - 11:00 UTC | Amsterdam, The Netherlands
About the poster presentationEBC will hold a poster presentation at IASP 2024 World Congress on Pain on the topic "Health Gains and Socio-Economic Impacts of Structured Interdisciplinary Management of Chronic Primary Low-Back Pain".
Chronic primary low-back pain, formerly called, non-specific back pain, is one of the largest health burdens in countries around the globe. Pain specialists had developed a structured multimodal and interdisciplinary approach to its management in the 1980ies that leads to major improvements in functioning and quality of life and reduced work absenteeism. Such management is offered by specialized clinics in some countries, but is not generally available to the patient population at large. This is partly due to the consideration that it may be too expensive. Led by the European Brain Council within the Value of Treatment (VoT) initiative, partners analysed to what extent the cost of structured interdisciplinary management is offset by savings in direct and indirect cost of the current standard of care.
The aim of this study is to assess the cost-effectiveness of chronic pain management in one model country (Germany) with and without structured interdisciplinary treatment in patients with chronic low back pain.
Come and participate in the IASP 2024 World Congress on Pain to delve into the findings of the study and interact with experts face-to-face to ask your questions!
SpeakerMark Nuijten
Mark Nuijten, PhD, MD, MBA, is an Adjunct Professor at ITU, a medical doctor, health economist, market access and pricing consultant, valuation economist, and healthcare policy journalist. He has a diverse career in the health academic and business environment, collaborating with leading experts in health economics.
Nuijten is developing economic modelling in healthcare and finance. He’s a pioneer in healthcare innovation in biotechnology and nutrition, and the first to apply and develop Discounted Cash Flow methodologies for biotechnology innovation valuation. His innovative concepts include the Pricing Matrix Model for early phase pricing and the Financial Valuation Algorithm for assessing future cash flows of new medicinal products. His reimbursement dossiers have contributed to positive reimbursement decisions by health authorities in many countries.
He supervises PhD programs at the Universities of Maastricht and Groningen in The Netherlands and is the founder of the ISPOR Special Interest Group on nutrition-economics. He is also an Adjunct Professor at ITU (Istanbul Technical University) in International Healthcare Assessment and Valuation.
Nuijten is a founding member of Minerva Health Economics Network, Ltd. (MINERVA), an affiliation of independent health-economic consultancies and contract-research organizations. Before setting up A2M, he was a partner with EVIDERA, establishing global Pricing and Reimbursement Consultancy Services, and was Managing Director of the IQVIA office in the Netherlands.
Nuijten trained as a physician before obtaining an international MBA from Erasmus University, Rotterdam, and a PhD in health economics. He has become a leading health economic expert, with over 200 publications and leading positions in scientific societies and editorial boards. He was on the Board of Directors of ISPOR (2002-2004) and contributed to the first Dutch pharmaco-economic research guidelines and costing manual.
LEARN MORE ABOUT VOT CHRONIC PAINLEARN MORE ABOUT THE CONGRESS

Health Gains and Socio-Economic Impacts of Structured Interdisciplinary Management of Fibromyalgia Syndrome | IASP 2024 World Congress on Pain
2024-08-06 09:30 - 11:00 UTC | Amsterdam, The Netherlands
About the poster presentationEBC will hold a poster presentation at IASP 2024 World Congress on Pain on the topic “Health Gains and Socio-Economic Impacts of Structured Interdisciplinary Management of Fibromyalgia Syndrome“.
Fibromyalgia is one of the largest health burdens in countries around the globe. Pain specialists had developed a multimodal and interdisciplinary approach to chronic pain management in the 1980ies that leads to major improvements in functioning and quality of life and reduced work absenteeism. Structured interdisciplinary pain management is offered by specialized clinics in some countries, but is not generally available to the patient population at large. This is partly due to the consideration that it may be too expensive. Led by the European Brain Council within the Value of Treatment (VoT) initiative, VoT Chronic Pain analysed to what extent the cost of structured interdisciplinary management is offset by savings in direct and indirect cost of continuing the current standard of care.
The aim of this study is to assess the cost-effectiveness of chronic pain management in a model country (Germany) with and without structured interdisciplinary treatment in patients with fibromyalgia.
Come and participate in the IASP 2024 World Congress on Pain to delve into the findings of the study and interact with experts face-to-face to ask your questions!
SpeakerMark Nuijten
Mark Nuijten, PhD, MD, MBA, is an Adjunct Professor at ITU, a medical doctor, health economist, market access and pricing consultant, valuation economist, and healthcare policy journalist. He has a diverse career in the health academic and business environment, collaborating with leading experts in health economics.
Nuijten is developing economic modelling in healthcare and finance. He’s a pioneer in healthcare innovation in biotechnology and nutrition, and the first to apply and develop Discounted Cash Flow methodologies for biotechnology innovation valuation. His innovative concepts include the Pricing Matrix Model for early phase pricing and the Financial Valuation Algorithm for assessing future cash flows of new medicinal products. His reimbursement dossiers have contributed to positive reimbursement decisions by health authorities in many countries.
He supervises PhD programs at the Universities of Maastricht and Groningen in The Netherlands and is the founder of the ISPOR Special Interest Group on nutrition-economics. He is also an Adjunct Professor at ITU (Istanbul Technical University) in International Healthcare Assessment and Valuation.
Nuijten is a founding member of Minerva Health Economics Network, Ltd. (MINERVA), an affiliation of independent health-economic consultancies and contract-research organizations. Before setting up A2M, he was a partner with EVIDERA, establishing global Pricing and Reimbursement Consultancy Services, and was Managing Director of the IQVIA office in the Netherlands.
Nuijten trained as a physician before obtaining an international MBA from Erasmus University, Rotterdam, and a PhD in health economics. He has become a leading health economic expert, with over 200 publications and leading positions in scientific societies and editorial boards. He was on the Board of Directors of ISPOR (2002-2004) and contributed to the first Dutch pharmaco-economic research guidelines and costing manual.
LEARN MORE ABOUT VOT CHRONIC PAINLEARN MORE ABOUT THE CONGRESS

Health Gains and Socio-Economic Impacts of Multimodal Management of Diabetic Neuropathic Pain | IASP 2024 World Congress on Pain
2024-08-06 09:30 - 11:00 UTC | Amsterdam, The Netherlands
About the poster presentationEBC will hold a poster presentation at IASP 2024 World Congress on Pain on the topic “Health Gains and Socio-Economic Impacts of Multimodal Management of Diabetic Neuropathic Pain”.
Diabetic neuropathic pain is one of the largest health burdens in countries around the globe. Pain specialists had developed a multimodal approach to chronic pain management in the 1980ies that leads to major improvements in functioning and quality of life and reduced work absenteeism. Multimodal pain management is offered by specialized clinics in some countries, but is not generally available to the patient population at large. This is partly due to the consideration that it may be too expensive. Led by the European Brain Council within the Value of Treatment (VoT) initiative, VoT Chronic Pain analysed to what extent the cost of multimodal management is offset by savings in direct and indirect cost of continuing the current standard of care.
The aim of this study is to assess the cost-effectiveness of chronic pain management in one model country (Germany) with and without multimodal treatment in patients with diabetic neuropathic pain.
Come and participate in the IASP 2024 World Congress on Pain to delve into the findings of the study and interact with experts face-to-face to ask your questions!
SpeakerMark Nuijten
Mark Nuijten, PhD, MD, MBA, is an Adjunct Professor at ITU, a medical doctor, health economist, market access and pricing consultant, valuation economist, and healthcare policy journalist. He has a diverse career in the health academic and business environment, collaborating with leading experts in health economics.
Nuijten is developing economic modelling in healthcare and finance. He’s a pioneer in healthcare innovation in biotechnology and nutrition, and the first to apply and develop Discounted Cash Flow methodologies for biotechnology innovation valuation. His innovative concepts include the Pricing Matrix Model for early phase pricing and the Financial Valuation Algorithm for assessing future cash flows of new medicinal products. His reimbursement dossiers have contributed to positive reimbursement decisions by health authorities in many countries.
He supervises PhD programs at the Universities of Maastricht and Groningen in The Netherlands and is the founder of the ISPOR Special Interest Group on nutrition-economics. He is also an Adjunct Professor at ITU (Istanbul Technical University) in International Healthcare Assessment and Valuation.
Nuijten is a founding member of Minerva Health Economics Network, Ltd. (MINERVA), an affiliation of independent health-economic consultancies and contract-research organizations. Before setting up A2M, he was a partner with EVIDERA, establishing global Pricing and Reimbursement Consultancy Services, and was Managing Director of the IQVIA office in the Netherlands.
Nuijten trained as a physician before obtaining an international MBA from Erasmus University, Rotterdam, and a PhD in health economics. He has become a leading health economic expert, with over 200 publications and leading positions in scientific societies and editorial boards. He was on the Board of Directors of ISPOR (2002-2004) and contributed to the first Dutch pharmaco-economic research guidelines and costing manual.
LEARN MORE ABOUT VOT CHRONIC PAINLEARN MORE ABOUT THE CONGRESS

IASP 2024 World Congress on Pain
2024-08-05 - 2024-08-09 | Amsterdam, The Netherlands
About IASP 2024 World Congress on PainIASP's World Congress on Pain is the largest gathering of pain professionals in the world, bringing together more than 5,000 scientists, clinicians, and healthcare providers from around the world and across pain disciplines. Attendees will experience a world-class lineup of more than 400 international speakers with comprehensive sessions bringing you the latest pain research and treatment.
The World Congress will include the IASP 50th Anniversary celebration with reflections on industry advances in pain research and IASP milestones over the last 50 years. Join IASP 5 – 9 August 2024 in Amsterdam to commemorate 50 years of working together for pain relief throughout the World.
EBC will attend the Congress and will hold 3 poster presentation:

Health Gains and Socio-Economic Impacts of Multimodal Management of Diabetic Neuropathic Pain
Health Gains and Socio-Economic Impacts of Structured Interdisciplinary Management of Fibromyalgia Syndrome
Health Gains and Socio-Economic Impacts of Structured Interdisciplinary Management of Chronic Primary Low-Back Pain

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER

Assessing the Digital Care Pathways Unmet Needs for Rare Brain Diseases. The Case of Phenylketonuria | 10th Congress of the EAN
2024-07-02 12:52 - 12:55 UTC | Helsinki, Finland
EBC is pleased to hold a poster presentation "Assessing the Digital Care Pathways Unmet Needs for Rare Brain Diseases. The Case of Phenylketonuria" at the upcoming 10th Congress of European Academy of Neurology. The Conference will take place from 29 June until 2 July-26 2024 in Helsinki (Finland). The poster will be presented by Vinciane Quoidbach, Research Project Manager in Public Health and Policy for Value of Treatment for Brain Disorders Study at EBC, and one of the experts involved in the Value of Education project.
Poster will represent the part of Value of Education project.
Digital Care Pathways for Rare Brain Diseases research project (2023-2024) is coordinated by the European Brain Council. The study is looking at the unmet needs while using digital care pathways and aiming to assess the benefits of health digital tools from the patient' perspective after COVID-19 pandemic, presenting the phenylketonuria (PKU) case study.
Authors: Cannizzo S, Quoidbach V, Treacy EP, Hermida A, MacDonald A, Scarpa M, Van Spronsen F, Lange E, Sheehan-Gilroy B, Hagedorn T, Bak A, Turchetti G
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE VALUE OF TREATMENTLEARN MORE ABOUT EBC AT EAN CONGRESS

EBC: Uniting Multiple Sclerosis and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Research Innovations through Collaborative Endeavors | 10th Congress of the European Academy of Neurology
2024-07-01 14:05 - 14:35 UTC | Helsinki, Finland
Date and time: Monday, 01.07.2024, 14:05-14:35
Location: Scientific Theatre
The session will introduce the audience to the European Brain Council (EBC) and its activities. As a network of key stakeholders in the EU brain space including neurologists, psychiatrists and neurosurgeons, neuroscientists, neurological and mental patient advocates and industry partners, EBC aims to foster collaboration in brain health, research and innovation, promote the translation of research breakthroughs in the clinical practice and bridge the gap between scientists and EU policymakers. EBC also deploys his mission by gathering the EU brain community at its annual event, Brain Innovation Days, and through its involvement in EU-funded research projects including BRAINTEASER – Bringing artificial intelligence home for a better care of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis. BRAINTEASER exploits the value of AI and big data to advance remote monitoring and clinical decision making in Multiple Sclerosis and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. The audience will have a glimpse of BRAINTEASER clinical tool and models in the second presentation. The second speaker will also discuss some preliminary results.
SpeakersDieyenaba FayeLecture Title: European Brain Council: Uniting MS and ALS Research Innovations through Collaborative Endeavours
Dieyenaba joined EBC in March 2023. As Project Officer, she mainly supports the application for prospective EU projects and the delivery of ongoing ones. Within the EBC Value of Treatment initiative, she also coordinates the case study on Chronic Pain disorders.
Dieyenaba has a biomedicine background focused on human nutrition. Through a science page, she popularises nutrition science promoting healthier food and lifestyle choices. Her interests include nutritional neuroscience and healthy ageing.
During her time at the European Pain Federation EFIC, Dieyenaba also gained experience in communications and advocacy at the EU level.
Umberto ManeraLecture Title:Bringing Artificial Intelligence home for a better care of ALS and MS: the BRAINTEASER Project
Umberto Manera is Assistant Professor and Neurologist at the “Rita Levi Montalcini” Department of Neuroscience of the University of Turin and the Neurology Unit of “Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino”. He has been working at the ALS Center in Turin since 2010. He mainly deals with clinical research on ALS. His scientific activity includes several topics, including neuroepidemiology, the evaluation of disease phenotypes and respiratory function assessment measures, biomarkers, neuroimaging. He also works as a sub-investigator for various randomized clinical trials. He is currently co-author of more than 110 scientific articles published in international peer-reviewed journals.
LEARN MORE ABOUT BRAINTEASER PROJECTLEARN MORE ABOUT EBC AT EAN CONGRESS

EBC: Towards the European Partnership on Brain Health
2024-06-30 15:45 - 16:15 (Europe/Moscow)
Neurological and mental health disorders are a leading cause of mortality and disability putting a great burden on people living with these disorders as well as on healthcare systems and economies. Considering the costs of brain diseases for the European society, the EU and its Member States have made investments in brain research leading to an increase of initiatives. Those initiatives have generated considerable amounts of knowledge but the translation into new health interventions is hindered by the complexity of the challenge and by excessive fragmentation of the efforts.
Effective and efficient collaboration and cooperation among the various initiatives are often identified as a key success factor to achieve brain research full impact. There is a constant need for strengthening the information flow and accelerating the exchange of experience on the on-going and future projects as well as maintaining continuous dialogue between all the stakeholder groups and initiatives to allow that objectives are aligned, and needs are met.
The European Partnership on Brain Health will fully respond to these needs by bringing together the various stakeholders and major brain research initiatives. With the aim to further coordinate and structure the area of brain health research in Europe, the partners in the Coordination and Support Action (CSA) Brain Health developed an ambitious Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda, outlining the strategic priorities, actions, and initiatives, while encouraging maximum engagement of member states and relevant players in the brain field – including psychiatrists and people living with brain disorders.
During this scientific theatre, an introduction to the European Brain Council and the CSA Brain Health will be given and we will focus deeper on the development process and content of the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda.
SpeakerKristien AartsKristien has been part of the European Brain Council since 2019 where she currently leads the research team. In the Chief Research & Innovation Officer strategic role, Kristien plays a pivotal role in ensuring that the organization’s work is grounded in scientific evidence, research, and innovation.
Her responsibilities include monitoring research funding, project applications, overseeing EU-funded projects, and developing a rare brain disease ecosystem. She also manages the Brain Innovation Days program and is actively creating an evidence-based brain health toolbox for the team.
Kristien has a PhD in Psychology from Ghent University (Belgium). With diverse experience at Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, the European Health Management Association and the University of Utrecht, Kristien brings expertise in brain research, neuropsychology, emotion, cognition, multisensory processing, mindfulness, clinical research management, and EU-project management.
LEARN MORE ABOUT Coordination and Support Action BrainHealthLEARN MORE ABOUT EBC AT EAN CONGRESS

Digital Care Pathways for Rare Brain Diseases, The Case of Phenylketonuria | 10th Congress of the European Academy of Neurology
2024-06-30 12:15 - 12:45 UTC | Helsinki, Finland
Date and time: Sunday, 30.06.2024, 12:15-12:45
Location: Scientific Theatre
The session will introduce the audience to the European Brain Council (EBC) and its activities on health services research and the value of education, digital care pathways for rare brain diseases.
The opportunities offered by data and digital health are multiplying. While barriers remain to unlocking their full potential, we are at an unprecedented moment of change. The European Health Data Space and the AI Act hold the promise of shaping a digital ecosystem that can accelerate the shift towards patient-centred, outcomes-focused, and sustainable healthcare in Europe, and improve patient safety and reduce avoidable harm. Patient care is undergoing a significant transformation, and three key factors – data, patient education and inclusivity – are at the forefront of this change. To gain a deeper understanding of these trends, we examined both patient and provider views. These insights offer a glimpse into the future of patient care. Digital Care Pathways for Rare Brain Diseases research project (2023-2024) – The Case of Phenylketonuria is coordinated by the European Brain Council. The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the healthcare sector’s digital transformation agenda. The delivery of telemedicine services instead of many face-to-face procedures has been expanded and many healthcare services shifted online remotely. The study is looking at the unmet needs of patients related to information, education and communication in the management and monitoring of Phenylketonuria (PKU) along the digital care pathways. We collected data from patients and caregivers in Ireland, Germany and Spain using a patient survey that was co-designed with PKU patient associations, to gather information about where and how can digital tools support PKU diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. While looking at the patient perspective, the clinician perspective is equally important. This project examines further what is the current state of digital transformation within healthcare systems and how to address the fundamental challenges that hinder the acceleration of the data-driven revolution.
SpeakersVinciane QuoidbachLecture Title: European Brain Council: Value of education, digital care pathways for rare brain diseases.
Vinciane Quoidbach is Research Project Manager – Public Health and Policy for the Value of Treatment for Brain Disorders Study at the European Brain Council. Vinciane holds a Master Degree in Hospital and Healthcare Management from Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management and a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health Management from Manchester Business School. She also holds a Master Degree in Political Sciences and European Studies from University of Antwerp. Prior to this position, Vinciane worked in both public and private sector, at national and international level. She served the Belgian Federal Public Service Health, and the Federal Minister of Health Cabinet as Advisor in charge of public health policy and regulations development in the area of Cancer, Chronic Diseases and Rare Diseases as well as the Biopharmaceutical Company AbbVie as Health Initiatives Manager.
Bernadette Sheehan Gilroy Lecture Title: Can digital tools support care pathways for rare brain diseases? The case of Phenylketonuria
Bernadette Sheehan Gilroy is a Lecturer at Munster Technological University (MTU) Ireland, a PKU Researcher, Advocate and a graduate of the IPPOSI Patient Education Programme. Bernadette recently delivered a TEDx Talk on “The Empowering Role of Advocacy – A Parent’s Perspective” to broaden understanding and compassion around PKU. She is a MTU representative on the All Ireland Rare Disease Interdisciplinary Research Network. She has spoken at Irish and European Parliamentary events, co-led the development of a care pathway for PKU, and has been a PKU patient representative in the Health Technology Assessment process for access to medicines with the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics. She has been involved in many campaigns to raise awareness of the unmet needs and significant challenges of the PKU and Rare Disease communities to improve patient and family experience. PKU, is a rare neurometabolic disorder that affects a person’s ability to metabolise protein and if left untreated can lead to devastating neurological complications.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE VALUE OF TREATMENTLEARN MORE ABOUT EBC AT EAN CONGRESS

Towards a European Brain Health Plan | 10th Congress of the European Academy of Neurology
2024-06-29 11:30 - 12:30 UTC | Helsinki, Finland
Date and time: Monday, 29.06.2024, 11:30-12:30
Location: EAN TV
2024 is a pivotal year for brain health, research, and innovation, particularly at the policy level. 64 countries across the globe will exercise the right to vote across this year, EU Elections included. As we enter new governmental mandates across the continent, it is more important than ever to push the brain health agenda to the top of policy priority lists and reach the key decision makers to showcase just how important addressing and attending to the brain really is.
Brain disorders – encompassing neurological diseases and disorders and mental illnesses – are widespread, disabling, and difficult to treat. In fact, it is estimated that up to three 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. These conditions represent a high individual, social and economic burden and contribute immensely to the global burden of disease – in fact, as of 2024, neurological conditions alone are now the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide.
With this growing burden in mind, we need to not only find ways to address the ongoing issues but to work towards a society fully recognizing the potential of supporting citizens' brain health. At its best, optimal brain health allows people to thrive: to live in health and in happiness, to power our labour markets and economies, and to build for future generations. Instead of divesting in a cost, policymakers and society at large should view the prioritization and support of brain health, research, and innovation as an investment into prevention, wellness, and optimization, creating a better future for every citizen.
This session will bring together key voices from the brain community – clinicians, patients and political scientists – to discuss the work being done at the national and regional levels to advocate for brain health, exploring the challenges and sharing the achievements thus far.
SpeakersStephanie KramerAstri ArnesenProf. Claudio BassettiLecture Title: Establishing a National Brain Health Plan: Lessons Learned From Switzerland
Lecture Title: Patient-centred brain health strategies
Lecture Title: Establishing a National Brain Health Plan: Lessons Learned From Switzerland
Stephanie Kramer joined EBC in March 2016 within the projects team, eventually making the move to heading the Communications, Advocacy & Policy team until 2023. Aside from the day to day, Stephanie’s role as Deputy Director continues to oversee the Communications & Advocacy work, with a more strategic role focused on EBC’s global partnerships portfolio, external relations and larger-scale advocacy events.
Stephanie holds an LLM in International Law from the University of Edinburgh, and a BA in International Relations & Diplomacy from Schiller International University Heidelberg & Madrid. An expat since childhood, before starting her career in the Brussels bubble she had previous communications, external relations and project management experience at the United Nations headquarters in Vienna and private sector companies in the Netherlands and Chile.
Astri has been a patient representative and advocate since the mid-1980s. She served as President of the Norwegian Huntington Association from 2004-2014, joined the board of the European Huntington Association (EHA) in 2010, and was elected President in 2016. Currently, she works full time for EHA. Previously, she was head of a department providing expertise in special educational needs. Astri is a trained teacher in learning disabilities with additional degrees in developmental psychology, management, and innovative processes. She has a broad network within the HD community globally and is active in the rare disease field through Eurordis and the European Reference Networks (ERN), also serving on the steering committee for ePAGs (patient reps in ERNs).
Professor Claudio Bassetti has been full professor and chair of neurology at the University Hospital in Bern since 2012. He received his medical degree in Basel and trained in neurology in Bern and Lausanne. In 2000, he became professor and vice-chair of neurology in Zurich. In 2009 he founded the Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland. He completed his research fellowships in basic neurophysiology in Basel and sleep in Ann Arbor, Boston and Madison. His major scientific interests are the relationship between sleep and neurological disorders, narcolepsy, and the teaching of general neurology. He uses clinical and experimental approaches and has published more than 500 articles and eight books. Prof. Bassetti has previously served as president of the European Neurological Society, European Sleep Research Society and Swiss Neurological Society, and founded the Swiss Federation of Clinical Neurosocieties. He is an elected member of the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences, which he served as board member for eight years. He has been president of the European Academy of Neurology since 2020 and was appointed Dean of the Medical Faculty in Bern that same year.
LEARN MORE ABOUT EBC AT EAN CONGRESS

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): advancing clinical decision making through wearables | 10th Congress of the EAN
2024-06-29 - 2024-07-02 | Helsinki, Finland
EBC is pleased to hold a poster presentation "Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): advancing clinical decision making through wearables" at the upcoming 10th Congress of the European Academy of Neurology. The Conference will take place from 29 June until 2 July April 2024 in Helsinki (Finland).
Poster will represent the BRAINTEASER project.
BRAINTEASER is a Horizon 2020-funded project harnessing the value of big data to develop AI-based solutions for people with MS and ALS. As a project partner, the European Brain Council currently leads liaison activities with relevant European (EU) and global projects and initiatives with the aim of identifying key priorities in the field and speaking with one voice to foster evidence-based policymaking and improve EU healthcare systems.
Authors: D. Faye, K. Aarts, S. Kramer, F. Destrebecq
LEARN MORE ABOUT BRAINTEASER PROJECTLEARN MORE ABOUT EBC AT EAN CONGRESS

10th Congress of the European Academy of Neurology
2024-06-29 - 2024-07-02
The 10th annual congress of the European Academy of Neurology will take place in Helsinki (Finland) and online on 29 June – 2 July, 2024.
The Overarching Theme for EAN 2024 is ‘Neuromodulation: advances and opportunities in neurological diseases’, with numerous sessions planned around this important and engaging topic.
As usual, the congress programme will be bursting with Symposia, Workshops, Teaching Sessions, and much more, including some exciting Named Lectures from eminent invited speakers.
EBC looks forward to being part of the exhibition area and holding the following sessions:

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): advancing clinical decision making through wearables, poster presentation
Assessing the Digital Care Pathways Unmet Needs for Rare Brain Diseases. The Case of Phenylketonuria, poster presentation, 2 July, 12:52
Toward a European Brain Health Plan, EAN TV Studio Session, 29 June 2024, 11:30-12:30
Digital Care Pathways for Rare Brain Diseases. The Case of Phenylketonuria, Scientific Theatre, 30 June 2024, 12:15-12:45
EBC: Towards the European Partnership on Brain Health, Scientific Theatre, 30 June 2024, 15:45-16:15
Uniting Multiple Sclerosis and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Research Innovations through Collaborative Endeavours, Scientific Theatre, 1 July 2024, 14:05-14:35

For more information about EAN 2024 – including programme – please explore the congress website!
Find out more!

Enhancing Global Partnerships in Brain Research | 2024 FENS Forum Networking Reception
2024-06-27 18:45 - 20:15 UTC | Messe Wien Exhibition & Congress, Messepl. 1, Wien, 1020, Austria
Location: HALL E, Messe Wien Exhibition & Congress Center, Vienna Austria
Across the globe, society is facing brain challenges like never before. Brain disorders – neurological and mental alike – are widespread, highly disabling and often difficult to treat. 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 common. These conditions represent a high individual, social and economic burden and contribute to the global disease burden and disability.
Improving the health and well-being of citizens has become the top priority for many governments and brain health should not be left behind. 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.
To move past discussion and work towards explicit and tangible next steps in solidifying global efforts in brain research, EBC is actively involved in engaging the community in relevant areas for action, including advocating for the recognition of brain health as an urgent priority in planning for Global Action Plans and national brain health plans/strategies and the development of policy recommendations to guide national, regional and global policymakers towards better addressing brain health in the future. Part of this is through direct engagement within the Coordination and Support Action BrainHealth, launched at the end of 2023 to prepare the future European Brain Health Partnership.
This event, aimed to bring the global brain research community together on the occasion of the FENS Forum to network and build synergies in an informal setting, will also feature a short panel discussion with key stakeholders working across continents to unite the brain research community globally.
EBC Networking Event at the FENS Forum 2024 - Final
Download the ProgrammeSpeakersGeorge BarettoIBRO Latin America Regional Committee (LARC) Dr George Barreto earned his PhD in Neuroscience (2009) from the Universidad Complutense Madrid (Spain) studying the effects of neurosteroids on reactive glia with traumatic brain injury. His Post-doctoral training in Neuroscience at Stanford University School of Medicine (2009-2011) focused on addressing the role of astrocytes activation following stroke and enhance astrocytic functions targeting neuronal protection. Nowadays Dr George Barreto is a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Cell Biology/Immunology in the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Limerick (UL, Ireland) and a member of the Health Research Institute from the same University. He is also the ERASMUS contact point within the Dept and member of the EDF Steering Committee and Events and Media subgroup, the Chair of Action Plan subgroup in the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Forum Committee, and the Athena Swan Steering Committee at UL. Dr Barreto is also a member of the IBRO Latin America Regional Committee (LARC) and served as President of the Colombian Neuroscience Society (COLNE) in 2014-2018. He has served in numerous grants panels and editorial boards and is nowadays the Section Editor in Neuroendocrinology for Pharmacological Research.
His main research interests are to better understand how natural and synthetic androgens and estrogens affect brain functions, particularly on how these hormones control the mitochondrial functions in the healthy and diseased brain during lifespan in a sex-dependent manner (UN SDGs 3 and 5).
Ulrike BußhoffCoordinator, CSA BrainHealth Dr. Ulrike Busshoff is Head of the International Health Research Department at the DLR Project Management Agency (DLR-PT), Germany. She oversees national, European and international research funding programmes in the area of brain health and global health. Besides conceptualizing and executing research funding programs on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research she is also responsible for overarching topics like patient and public involvement, quality assurance in biomedical research, and ethical issues. Dr. Busshoff is the coordinator of the ERA-Net NEURON (Network of European Funding for Neuroscience Research) that comprises ministries and funding agencies from 27 countries in and beyond Europe. Members in this network collaborate along a common research agenda, and with support by the European Commission to jointly fund research, networking and training activities in the area of neurological and mental disorders. Since 2023, Dr. Busshoff is also the coordinator of the CSA BrainHealth. This EU funded network conceptualizes and prepares a European Partnership for Brain Health. This large-scale endeavour will support brain health research and innovation with the ultimate goal to preserve and promote brain health. She serves also as member of the Advisory Board EU-Africa PerMed, an EU funded coordination and support action fostering joint projects in personalised medicine research between Europe and Africa. Dr. Busshoff holds a PhD in neurobiology from the University of Heidelberg, including research stays in the Netherlands as well as South Korea.
Stephanie KramerDeputy Executive Director EBC Stephanie Kramer joined EBC in March 2016 within the projects team, eventually making the move to heading the Communications, Advocacy & Policy team until 2023. Aside from the day to day, Stephanie’s role as Deputy Director continues to oversee the Communications & Advocacy work, with a more strategic role focused on EBC’s global partnerships portfolio, external relations and larger-scale advocacy events.
Stephanie holds an LLM in International Law from the University of Edinburgh, and a BA in International Relations & Diplomacy from Schiller International University Heidelberg & Madrid. An expat since childhood, before starting her career in the Brussels bubble she had previous communications, external relations and project management experience at the United Nations headquarters in Vienna and private sector companies in the Netherlands and Chile.
Mahmoud Bukar MainaSociety of Neuroscientists of Africa (SONA) Dr Mahmoud Bukar Maina is an Independent Research Fellow Research Fellow at Sussex Neuroscience (UK) and visiting scientist at Yobe State University (Nigeria). He obtained a BSc in Human Anatomy from the University of Maiduguri, Nigeria and a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Sussex, UK. His research majorly focuses on understanding the basic mechanism of disease in Alzheimer’s disease, with a special focus on the role of Tau, amyloid beta and APOE. Concurrently, his work partly focuses on generating human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived brain models from indigenous African populations to understand Dementia mechanisms.
Dr Maina is also passionate about open science and inspiring/training the next generation of African scientists. He recently established the Biomedical Science Research and Training Centre in Nigeria (BioRTC – www.BioRTC.com) to facilitate neuroscience research in Africa. In addition, he is the Outreach Coordinator for TReND in Africa, the founder of Science Communication Hub Nigeria and the African Science Literacy Network to increase access to science role models and public understanding of science in Africa. His work and science engagement activities have been supported by the Wellcome Trust, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Alzheimer’s Research UK and the University of Sussex. He has received many awards, including the Royal Society of Biology Science Communication Award in 2017, the young African of the year nomination for the Future Awards Africa, the New England Biolabs Passion for Science Humanitarian Duty Award in 2019 and the 2022 ALBA-FKNE Diversity Prize for promotion of basic neuroscience in Africa. In 2020, he was endorsed by the Royal Society as a Global Talent.
John J. NgaiDirector NIH BRAIN Initiative Dr John J. Ngai, Ph.D., is the Director of the NIH’s Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies®(BRAIN) Initiative. Dr. Ngai earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biology from Pomona College, Claremont, California, and Ph.D. in biology from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena. He was a postdoctoral researcher at Caltech and at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons before starting his faculty position at the University of California at Berkeley. During more than 25 years as a Berkeley faculty member, Dr. Ngai has trained 20 undergraduate students, 24 graduate students and 15 postdoctoral fellows in addition to teaching well over 1,000 students in the classroom. His work has led to the publication of more than 70 scientific articles in some of the field’s most prestigious journals and 10 U.S. and international patents. Dr. Ngai has received many awards including from the Sloan Foundation, Pew Charitable Trusts, and McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience. As a faculty member, Dr. Ngai has served as the director of Berkeley’s Neuroscience Graduate Program and Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute. He has also provided extensive service on NIH study sections, councils and steering groups, including as previous co-chair of the NIH BRAIN Initiative Cell Census Consortium Steering Group. Dr. Ngai oversees the long-term strategy and day-to-day operations of the NIH BRAIN Initiative as it strives to revolutionize our understanding of the brain in both health and disease.
Suzanne DicksonPresident EBC

Professor Suzanne L Dickson is a neurobiologist and Professor of Neuroendocrinology at the University of Gothenburg. She graduated with a Ph.D. in Neuroendocrinology from the University of Cambridge in 1993, where she later became Senior Lecturer in Physiology. She is a leading figure in neuroendocrinology and works within many European Union and international organisations and societies to promote research, facilitate grant funding and training of Early Career Scientists. Her research into the neurobiology of appetite aims to unravel neurobiological pathways that respond to orexigenic signals, such as the hormone, ghrelin, and that drive feeding behaviours, not only food intake but also food choice, food anticipation, food reward and food motivation. This work involves mostly preclinical studies and includes behavioural tasks, viral vector mapping, chemogenetics and RNAscope. She is Secretary and Executive Board member of the European College for Neuropsychopharmacology, and also chairs ECNP’s Workshop for Early Career Scientists in Europe. She also is founder and co-chair of ECNP’s nutrition network and EBRA’s BRAINFOOD cluster.

10th European Alcohol Policy Conference
2024-06-27 - 2024-06-28 | Ljubljana, Slovenia
About the event
The 10th European Alcohol Policy Conference (EAPC) is scheduled to take place in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on the 27th and 28th of June 2024. This conference is organized by Eurocare in collaboration with the Youth Health Organisation and will be hosted at the InterContinental Hotel (located at Slovenska cesta 59, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia). Additionally, preceding the conference, the Annual General Meeting of Eurocare members will convene in Ljubljana on the 26th of June.
Policymakers, advocates, researchers, patients, youth, and health practitioners will gather in Ljubljana to address the challenges of reducing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) with a special focus on alcohol policies.
Early bird registration fees will commence at 250 EUR per participant.
Aim
The 10th European Alcohol Policy Conference serves as a vital platform for policymakers, advocates, researchers, patients, youth, and health practitioners to collectively address the challenges of reducing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by effectively managing their main risk factors, with a special focus on alcohol policies. Through discussions on topics like the Commercial Determinants of Health, interventions related to packaging and labelling regulations, awareness campaigns, and effective measures against corporate lobbying at EU and national level, the conference aims to foster mutual learning and respect, ultimately leading to comprehensive strategies to reduce NCDs.
Background
Building upon the successes of its predecessors, the 10th European Alcohol Policy Conference comes at a crucial time, coinciding with significant developments such as the new EU mandate, the continuation of the European Framework of Action on Alcohol 2022-2025, the launch of the Member States Joint Action Prevent Non-communicable Diseases, as well as international discussions on alcohol labelling within the Codex Alimentarius Commission. With mounting evidence showcasing the impact of commercial entities on health outcomes, it’s imperative to address the complexities of alcohol policy within the broader context of NCD prevention.
READ MORE ABOUT THE EVENT

Prioritizing Brain Health in Youth: Bringing Neuroscience to Society and Informing Policy | 2024 FENS Forum Mini Conference
2024-06-25 10:00 - 12:00 UTC
EBC is pleased to hold a Mini Conference ‘Prioritizing Brain Health in Youth: Bringing Neuroscience to Society and Informing Policy‘ at the upcoming FENS Forum. The event will take place on 25 June 2024 at 10:00-12:00.
Location: HALL B, Messe Wien Exhibition & Congress Center, Vienna Austria
According to OECD half of the population will have to contend with mental health problems at some point in their life. Two-thirds of mental health disorders manifest before age 25. Good brain health plays a significant role in an individual’s well-being and profoundly impacts the collective economy and society. Today there is an urgent action needed on failing youth mental health. Neuroscience and brain development are key to address the situation. Understanding neural circuits is critical for gaining insights into the etiology of mental disorders. Brain development does not stop at birth and some aspects continue throughout infancy, childhood, and adolescence, allowing the full development of cognitive functions. Different determinants related to physical health, healthy environments, safety and security, life-long learning, and social connection as well as access to quality services influence the way our brains develop, adapt, and respond to stress and adversity. Ongoing progress in neurobiology and cognitive neuroscience allow the design of better prevention and intervention strategies to help avoid brain deficits and/or limit their impact and maintain brain health.
Although effective early detection and interventions exist, there are numerous unmet needs along the mental health care pathways. Navigating the mental health services system is often complex for patients and families due to fragmented services and discontinuity of care. Policies and programs to prevent and mitigate the negative impacts on schooling, employment, families, and risky behaviors are also paramount. The European Commission’s communication on a comprehensive approach to mental health released in June 2023 is a step forward but requires more commitment to boost children and young adult’s mental health. The European Brain Council (EBC) and the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) will convene a Mini Conference on 25 June at the upcoming FENS Forum 2024 in Vienna to address these challenges. The event will explore what the opportunities are of incorporating a transdiagnostic and biopsychosocial-informed perspective. The meeting will bring together neuroscientists, clinicians, researchers, policymakers, patients & caregivers to raise awareness on brain health, bridging the gap between research, policy, and society.
Final Programme and Speakers FENS
DISCOVER THE PROGRAMME AND THE SPEAKERSAll FENS Forum participants can join the Mini Conference without extra registration. Registration for external participants has closed. Those that registered on time will have access to the FENS Forum 2024 for the whole day of 25 June 2024.

FENS Forum 2024
2024-06-25 - 2024-06-29 | Messe Wien Exhibition & Congress, Messepl. 1, Wien, 1020, Austria
The Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS), the Austrian Neuroscience Association (ANA) and the Hungarian Neuroscience Society are delighted to welcome you to the FENS Forum 2024, taking place in Vienna, Austria, from 25-29 June 2024.
The FENS Forum is Europe’s largest neuroscience congress, covering all areas of neuroscience from basic to translational research. FENS Forum 2024 will feature an exciting programme of plenary and special lectures, scientific symposia, technical workshops, special interest events, career development and networking opportunities and so much more!
EBC looks forward to being part of the exhibition area and holding the following sessions at the Forum:

Prioritizing Brain Health in Youth: Bringing Neuroscience to Society and Informing Policy, Mini Conference, 25 June 2024, 10:00-12:00
Discover the European Brain Council at the FENS Booth, 26 June 2024, 13:30-14:15
Enhancing Global Partnerships in Brain Research, Networking Reception, 27 June, 18:45-20:15

Find out more

2024 Thematic Networks: Pitch webinar - Meet the leaders, learn about their proposals, EUHPP Live Webinar
2024-06-24 10:00 - 12:00 UTC | Online
The European Commission is organising the 2024 Thematic Networks Pitch webinar – Meet the leaders, learn about their proposals on June 24, 2024. The following four Thematic Networks will be presented:

“Advancing Precision Medicine for Europe’s Cancer Patients with AIpowered Imaging”
“Profiling Cancer Genomes using AI and Natural Language Processing – Methodologies for Hotspot Identification”
“Beyond Boundaries: A Global Continuum for healthy generations”
“Towards an EU Coordination Plan for the Brain”

This will be the opportunity for EBC to explain the goals and scope of its new Thematic Network, Towards an EU Coordination Plan for the Brain. More details can be found on the European Commission website, or by clicking on the button below.
More information & Agenda

2024 European Elections
2024-06-06 - 2024-06-09
While brain disorders cost the European Union an estimated €800 billion every year (a number widely considered to be outdated and much higher as of 2024), we have yet to have a full understanding of their underlying mechanisms and of the brain itself, mainly due to how incredibly complex this organ is. Consequently, a large number of brain conditions remain without a disease-modifying therapy or cure.
Instead of divesting in a cost, to meet this growing burden, policymakers and society at large should view the prioritization and support of brain research as an investment into prevention, wellness and optimization, creating a better future for each and every one of their constituents. Concerted action to improve access to prevention, effective and timely diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitative and supportive care is sorely needed to achieve potential savings and improve EU citizens’ quality of life. Brain conditions, neurological and mental alike, must be made an European priority, through both policymaking and economic prioritisation.
The upcoming 2024 European Election is thus a crucial milestone for the entire brain community. By participating in the electoral process, we can shape the future of brain health, research, and innovation in the EU, ultimately leading to better outcomes for individuals and societies alike. On this page, you will find relevant materials to help you engage in this process, and making sure the voice of our community is heard.
2024 Elections ManifestoGlobal Call to actionPledge for scienceBetween 6–9 June 2024, millions of Europeans will participate in shaping the future of European democracy on the occasion of the European elections.
It is a unique moment when we can all collectively decide on the future of the European Union. Voting is always important, be it at local, national or European level. It is an excellent opportunity to have your say on topics you care about.
It can be easy to forget how many people are impacted by the outcome of the European elections. The European Parliament adopts laws that affect everyone: large countries and small communities, powerful companies and young start-ups, the global and the local.
EU laws tackle most people’s priorities: the environment, security, migration, social policies, consumer rights, economy, rule of law and many more. Today, every important national topic also has a European angle.
Your vote will decide which Members of the European Parliament will represent you in preparing new laws and will influence the election of the European Commission. These decisions will shape your daily life and that of many others.
Useful ResourcesFor privacy reasons YouTube needs your permission to be loaded. For more details, please see our Privacy Policy.I AcceptGeneral InformationWhat europe does for meRemind me to voteCurrent Projects funded by the European Union
