EBC is pleased to announce that registration is now open for our annual Brain Awareness Week event, hosted in the European Parliament by Member of European Parliament (MEP), Colm Markey (EPP, IE) on Thursday, 7 March 2024 at 11:00-13:00.

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. In the lead up to Brain Awareness Week 2024, EBC will hold its event around brain health awareness in line with its ongoing advocacy work such as the Pledge for ScienceGlobal Call to Action and 2024 EU Elections Manifesto, which all call for increased attention, prioritisation and investment in brain health at the European and global levels.

Brain Awareness Week is the global campaign to increase public awareness of the progress and benefits of brain research. Every March, the week unites the efforts of partner organizations world-wide in a celebration of the brain for people of all ages. EBC takes part annually with an initiative to promote and communicate on brain health and research, showcasing ongoing efforts to prevent and treat brain disorders – neurological and mental alike – in Europe. The goal of these activities is to gain more attention for brain health, not only from within the wider brain community but also from EU policymakers and the public, to ensure that more resources are channelled towards prevention awareness, research on the brain and for the 179 million Europeans currently living with some form of brain condition.

The event will bring together stakeholders in the space, including clinicians, researchers, patients, and additional MEPs and relevant civil servants. The event will cover key policy asks from the brain community and showcase the importance of placing the brain as a top health and research priority in the EU; not only to tackle the growing burden of brain disorders in Europe — neurological and mental alike—but to recognise that by prioritising the brain, we prioritise the health of all citizens: 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 research as an investment into prevention, wellness, and optimization.

All details, including speakers, are included on the event page.

See programme below: