Key speakers gave presentations on the topic of brain research from their individual standpoints. The speakers included: Monica Di Luca (Vice President of EBC, and President of FENS), Marion LeBoyer (Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Paris) and Ann Little (President of The European Federation of Neurological Associations, EFNA, deputising for Joke Jaarsma. MEPs Ann Sander and Momchil Nekov hosted the event.

The event was highly successful, with a good showing of MEPs, policymakers, researchers and the general public who openly interacted with each other and the speakers during the hour of open discussion following the presentations.

The full presentations from each speaker will be available to watch soon.

* For more information about the Value of Treatment (VoT) for Brain Disorders research project, click here: http://bit.ly/2qhvsv4

* To read EBC’s Call to Action, click here: http://bit.ly/1mX7pPX

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On the occasion of International Parkinson’s Day, 11 April 2017, the Belgian Brain Council released their National Brain Plan: A four paged document detailing the setting up of a Belgian National Brain Plan. The document states the importance of Brain Research as a guarantee of better quality of life and stressed the aim to reduce the burden of Brain disorders in terms of costs and impact/prevalence throughout society. The Belgian Brain Council presents itself as a unique platform gathering associations and societies working together to achieve these goals. For more than ten years, BBC has been organising various events on local/regional/national and European level in the movement of the European Brain Council. BBC is one of the most active National Brain Councils created within the movement of EBC, especially in coordinating the Brain Awareness Week and organising events to raise awareness among general public. BBC also takes part in EBC’s research project, “The Value of Treatment for Brain Disorders” (VoT). The Belgian Brain Council’s document concludes with a focus on the specific situation in Belgium towards Brain Research which is highlighted as poor in relation to public financing.

The goals of the National Brain Plan are:

1) Monitor Brain Research Activities and Initiatives
2) Prioritize measures aiming to improve healthcare effectiveness and efficiency
3) Promote new therapy(ies).

The full document can be read here.

The BBC’s March 2017 Newsletter can be read here.

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In keeping with the TEDx theme “no limits”, Professor Nutt’s Talk, titled “No Limits: To the Brain?”, addressed the potential for psychedelic drugs such as LSD and Psilocybin to expand consciousness and heal dysfunctions of the brain. In the current context where brain disorders account for the largest burden of ill health of any organ system – more than cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes combined – and the treatment gap for brain disorders remains the largest, despite effective treatments. Against this backdrop, Professor Nutt’s TEDx Talk  proposed, especially for the sake of those who could be helped, that it’s time “to say there should be NO LIMITS to therapeutic research with these drugs”.

The full TEDx Talk is available to watch here:

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The main outcomes that can be singled out include:

• The Board of EBC unanimously approved the candidatures of the Dutch, the Norwegian and the Spanish Brain Councils as observers to EBC. The Board also validated the decision by the EANS to become associate member.
• The first achievements on the proposed work plan for 2017 were discussed
• The next milestones towards the closing conference of the « Value of Treatment » research project and the drafting of the white paper were discussed. It was agreed that a work plan would be elaborated in order to set clearly the focus, structure and responsibilities. A new discussion paper was released in order to pave the way to the white paper to be issued.
• Further ideas were suggested such as EBC contribution in the framework of the World Health Day which shall this year focus on depression. For that purpose, a working group involving volunteering member organisations (including EPA, ECNP, GAMIAN-Europe) will be established in order to develop the message and position statement that EBC should disseminate on that occasion.
• The report produced in collaboration with STOA (European Parliament’s scientific foresight unit) on the use of new technologies in the management of addiction was presented to the EP in Strasbourg on 19th January and the final version will be disseminated once released officially.
• Report was given on EBC’s policy workshop on the prevention and early-detection of AF-related strokes. An invitation was launched to members and partners to organise similar events on other topics in the future.
• The forthcoming launch of #ILoveMyBrain (organised on 14th February) was presented and supported.
• The Lunch Debate and the Outreach Event (14th and 16th March) that EBC is co-hosting in the context of the Brain Awareness Week were presented. Members and Partners were invited to support EBC in these endeavours by attending, or possibly contributing financially to the organisation of these.
• A working group on the prevention of suicide was officially established with the participation from representatives and experts from EPA, ECNP, GAMIAN-Europe, EUFAMI. A first meeting was convened after the Board Meeting.
• A taskforce was set up to look into the revision of the declaration on good off-label use of medicines. Volunteers are kindly invited to express their interest to the EBC Brussels office.
• Other developments with EBC projects (e.g. Not Myself Today, and project proposals under consideration) and advocacy campaigns (e.g. animal research) were also presented for information.
• The Joint Statement on Mental Health in Europe, which was initiated by EUFAMI and Mental Health Europe, was officially endorsed by the Board of EBC.
• The financial audit committee was set up, and will include members Alex Schubert (ECNP) on behalf of the Board, and Christoph von der Goltz (Lundbeck) on behalf of the Industry Board.

We would like to thank each one of you who contributed to these meetings – we look forward to continuing our work. Our thanks and appreciation also extend to our guest speakers: Stéphane Hogan (DG Research & Innovation), Marc Lange (EHTEL), Philippe Cupers (DG Research & Innovation) and Andrea Fiorillo (EPA) who kindly accepted our invitation to come and present at the Board Dinner and lunch.

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