Tasked with the forging of global partnerships in brain research during the now completed EBC-coordinated European Brain Research Area (EBRA) project and currently leading global outreach within the Coordination and Support Action (CSA) BrainHealth, EBC has served as a convener over the last years 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.

Brain disorders – encompassing neurological diseases and disorders and mental illnesses – are widespread, disabling, and difficult to treat. 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. Furthermore, we need to build past the burden and work towards recognising the potentials of brain health. At its best, it allows people to thrive: to live in health and in happiness, to power our labor markets and economies, and to build for future generations.

To work towards explicit and tangible next steps in solidifying global efforts in brain health, EBC has held a series of meetings/events over the last few years to bring together key stakeholders from across the wider brain community – scientific, clinical, economic, industry – and other relevant actors to exchange best practices, report on the state of brain health and research in their respective countries, present on their work and co-create towards further action to place brain health at the top of global policy agendas, all with the aim to showcase the importance and urgency of prioritising brain health across all policies at the global level.