SwissCore co-organised an event, which provided the opportunity to discuss the future of European brain health with more than 60 renowned international experts.
The policy event titled ‘Brainstorming the Future of BRAIN HEALTH: Research, Collaboration, Impact’ organised by the Polish Academy of Sciences Contact Agency (PolSCA), Helmholtz Association and SwissCore gathered more than 60 internationally renowned experts. The event provided the platform to discuss new frontiers in brain health research and the expected impacts of the upcoming European Partnership for Brain Health and the development of solutions for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care that promote brain health.
MEP Adam Jarubas, Chair of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Public Health (SANT), presented in his welcome address the economic and social impact of brain health across Europe, with 179 million people affected and economic costs exceeding €800 billion per year. He proposed a more holistic approach to research and less fragmentation among the existing funding schemes, which is aligned with the European Parliament’s recent focus in integrating mental and neurological perspectives. It encompasses key outputs such as the adoption of resolutions on mental health in the digital work environment and the call for a comprehensive EU Mental Health Strategy.
The first policy panel on Infrastructures, Cooperation, Policy – moderated by Dr. Ulrike Busshoff, coordinator of the CSA in Brain Health of DLR – highlighted the key elements needed for research to thrive in an international and competitive environment. Dr. Busshoff focused on the importance of brain health, the challenges faced, and the need for concerted action to prepare for the future European Partnership for Brain emphasising collaboration, Health, research impact, and a holistic brain health ecosystem.
The policy panel united representatives from the European Commission – Ms. Katarzyna Jurczak, DG RTD – Combating Diseases, Poznań Supercomputing and Networking Center – Dr. Cezary Mazurek (affiliated with the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry PAS), the Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine (INI) at Forschungszentrum Jülich & EBRAINS – Prof. Katrin Amunts, and the University of Geneva represented by Board Member of the Swiss Brain Health Plan Prof. Indrit Bègue. The experts discussed the actions, collaboration, financing, and policies required for the future development of the partnership.
The second scientific panel on Uncharted Territory: Challenges of Modern Brain Health Research, moderated by Prof. Leszek Kaczmarek, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS, ERC Scientific Council, centred on the challenges of modern brain health research. He positively referred to the scientific foundations of the partnership and highlighted that expanding the understanding of molecular and cellular phenomena and harnessing this knowledge for the benefit of science and society is a major brain health and disease research challenge. The scientific panel featured experts from the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) – Director Prof. Gabor Petzold, International Institute of the Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw – its Deputy Director for Science Prof. Jacek Jaworski, and the Vice-Rector of University of Fribourg – Prof. Chantal Martin Sölch. The panel members discussed the state of the art in brain health and the key topics shaping the field.
The event was a significant step towards shaping the future of brain health research and collaboration in Europe, emphasising the importance of a holistic and inclusive approach to brain health. It was an important discussion among European key stakeholders in the field, highlighting the need for interdisciplinary research, international cooperation, and the creation of a European brain health ecosystem that transcends geographical boundaries.