The European Brain Council (EBC) is very pleased to announce the start of the Rethinking Schizophrenia project, launched at the Brain Innovation Days, organised by EBC, which took place on 26-27 October 2023 in Brussels.

During the third edition of the event, participants had the opportunity to explore the Rethinking Schizophrenia poster exhibition, featuring portraits and quotes of people living with schizophrenia, patient advocates and caregivers. The exhibition fell under the #BeyondTheVoices campaign highlighting the need to rethink the way we deal with schizophrenia.

Beyond the Voices of Schizophrenia

Despite improvements and innovation in recent years, people living with schizophrenia face variations in access to optimal treatment and care. There is a lot about schizophrenia that is not fully understood and the high-quality care and support needed by people living with this condition is often unavailable. 

There is a clear need to rethink the management of schizophrenia and redesign the care pathways to ensure optimal treatment and care for all people living with schizophrenia in Europe. Based around patient testimonies, the aim of the project is to highlight the need to optimise the way we manage schizophrenia by building a strong, coherent, evidence-based policy narrative which speaks to the current priorities in schizophrenia and draws from the current policy landscape in Europe. The first policy report Beyond the Voices of Schizophrenia is planned to be launched on the occasion of the Brain Awareness Week, taking place on 11-17 March 2024.

The Rethinking Schizophrenia project falls under the Rethinking the management of brain disorders series, research-driven projects offering policy recommendations to make tangible changes with the aim to improve the lives of people living with brain disorders, neurological and mental alike, across Europe. 

The Rethinking Schizophrenia project is funded by Boehringer Ingelheim. All outputs are non-promotional and not specific to any particular treatment or therapy.

Registration is now open for the launch event of the RETHINKING Alzheimer’s disease White Paper, taking place virtually on 24 January 2023 at 12:30 – 14:00.

The European Brain Council (EBC), in collaboration with the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), will present its White Paper “RETHINKING Alzheimer’s disease: Detection and diagnosis“. This paper is the first of EBC’s “RETHINKING Alzheimer’s disease” project, looking at how to improve the detection, diagnosis, care and monitoring of Alzheimer’s disease.

Moving Towards a new Alzheimer’s Disease diagnostic pathway in Europe

Our understanding of the progression of Alzheimer’s disease has improved significantly, leading to the development of advanced diagnostics and treatment approaches. To keep people living with Alzheimer’s disease in better health for longer, healthcare systems must be equipped to accurately diagnose the disease earlier and enable earlier access to treatment and support. 

We’re at a crossroads in the management of Alzheimer’s disease, with new potential treatments on the horizon. Current healthcare systems are not set up to diagnose and treat the condition early enough to realise the value of upcoming advanced therapeutics, and the benefits they could deliver for broader society.  

This must change now, with the support of clear policies that enable timely detection and timely clinical and accurate pathological diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. 

Rethinking the detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease

Join the discussion and learn why an accurate and timely diagnosis is so crucial to advancing the science and our understanding of Alzheimer’s. You can look forward to opening remarks from MEP Sirpa Pietikäinen (EPP, Finland) and a keynote speech highlighting the value of an early diagnosis from a patient perspective.

The keynote will be followed by a panel discussion, moderated by Laura Campo (Eli Lilly and Company), featuring experts involved in the RETHINKING Alzheimer’s disease project, Kristian Steen Frederiksen (European Academy of Neurology), Maria Teresa Ferretti (Women’s Brain Project) and Linus Jönsson (Karolinska Institutet). The panel will emphasise a clear need for new clinical pathways building bridges between all stakeholders to improve the current situation and prepare for the future.

The event will conclude with a high-level policy panel, moderated by Frédéric Destrebecq (European Brain Council), with MEP Tomislav Sokol (EPP, Croatia), MEP Deirdre Clune (EPP, Ireland), Andrzej Rys (Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety – DG SANTE, European Commission) and Dr. Neerja Chowdhary (World Health Organization).

Practical information

Date: Tuesday, 24 January 2023
Time: 12:30 – 14:00 (Brussels time)
Location: livestream
Registration: Please register here

All participants must register before attending this event. Once registered, Zoom instructions will be sent via email closer to the date.

The launch event of the RETHINKING Alzheimer’s disease White Paper, calling for change in Alzheimer’s care, will take place virtually on 24 January 2023 at 12:30 – 14:00.

The European Brain Council (EBC), in collaboration with the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), will present its White Paper “RETHINKING Alzheimer’s disease: Detection and diagnosis“. This paper is the first of EBC’s “RETHINKING Alzheimer’s disease” project, looking at how to improve the detection, diagnosis, care and monitoring of Alzheimer’s disease.

Moving Towards a new Alzheimer’s Disease diagnostic pathway in Europe

Our understanding of the progression of Alzheimer’s disease has improved significantly, leading to the development of advanced diagnostics and treatment approaches. To keep people living with Alzheimer’s disease in better health for longer, healthcare systems must be equipped to accurately diagnose the disease earlier and enable earlier access to treatment and support. 

We’re at a crossroads in the management of Alzheimer’s disease, with new potential treatments on the horizon. Current healthcare systems are not set up to diagnose and treat the condition early enough to realise the value of upcoming advanced therapeutics, and the benefits they could deliver for broader society.  

This must change now, with the support of clear policies that enable timely detection and timely clinical and accurate pathological diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. 

Rethinking the detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease

Join the discussion and learn why an accurate and timely diagnosis is so crucial to advancing the science and our understanding of Alzheimer’s. You can look forward to opening remarks from MEP Sirpa Pietikäinen (EPP, Finland) and a keynote speech highlighting the value of an early diagnosis from a patient perspective.

The keynote will be followed by a panel discussion, moderated by Laura Campo (Eli Lilly and Company), featuring experts involved in the RETHINKING Alzheimer’s disease project, Kristian Steen Frederiksen (European Academy of Neurology), Maria Teresa Ferretti (Women’s Brain Project) and Linus Jönsson (Karolinska Institutet). The panel will emphasise a clear need for new clinical pathways building bridges between all stakeholders to improve the current situation and prepare for the future.

The event will conclude with a high-level policy panel, moderated by Frédéric Destrebecq (European Brain Council), with MEP Tomislav Sokol (EPP, Croatia), MEP Deirdre Clune (EPP, Ireland), Andrzej Rys (Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety – DG SANTE, European Commission) and Dr. Neerja Chowdhary (World Health Organization).

Have your say on how to improve Alzheimer’s care

Practical information

Date: Tuesday, 24 January 2023
Time: 12:30 – 14:00 (Brussels time)
Location: livestream
Registration: Please register here

All participants must register before attending this event. Once registered, Zoom instructions will be sent via email closer to the date.