European Brain Council

The European Brain Council (EBC) is a coordinating international health organization founded in 2002.

European Brain Council (EBC)
EBC Logo
Formation2002
TypeNon-Governmental Organization (NGO)
Legal statusASBL
HeadquartersBrussels, Belgium
President
Monica Di Luca[1]
Websitewww.braincouncil.eu

It comprises the major organisations in the field of brain research and brain disorders in Europe, and thus its structure involves a vast network of patients, scientists and doctors, working in partnership with the pharmaceutical and medical devices industries. The EBC's comprehensive scope makes it suited to working closely with major decision making bodies such as the European Commission,[2] the European Parliament[3] and the World Health Organization.[4]

Mission

The European Brain Council promotes brain-related research by collaborating with member organisations, interacting with the Institutions of the European Union, fostering dialogue between scientists and society, promoting education and disseminating information about brain research and diseases in Europe.

In April 2008, the EBC launched its Brain Mission, which is dedicated to understanding the brain, finding treatments for its diseases, and reducing the burden that brain disorders impose on healthcare costs.[5]

Projects

The European Brain Council has been involved in many projects ever since its creation. Its membership results from concerted discussions with its members organisations. In addition, members of project groups are appointed by the EBC leadership in order to find the best-suited experts throughout Europe be they doctors, basic scientists or expert patients.

EBRA

Coordinated by the EBC, the European Brain Research Area (EBRA) enhances coordination and collaboration among members that share the common goal of understanding the brain and its disorders by synergising brain-related projects and initiatives at both European and global level, addressing gaps, supporting data sharing and access, and enabling the translation of research breakthroughs into innovations and health interventions, with the final aim to achieve critical mass and economies of scale.[6]

The highly diversified nature of European public research, defined as an area of "shared" policy responsibility between individual countries and the commission, represents a considerable obstacle in the European Research Area. In this context, EBRA was created as a catalysing platform for the brain research stakeholders (researchers, clinicians, patients, governments, funders and public institutions) to streamline and better co-ordinate brain research across Europe while fostering global initiatives. The project began on 1 November 2018.

MULTI-ACT

The EU-funded MULTI-ACT project aims to increase the impact of health research on people with brain diseases. It will create and implement a new model allowing for the effective cooperation of all relevant stakeholders. This will be applicable in defining the scope of health research as well as new metrics for the evaluation of its results. The MULTI-ACT project will work with patient associations, academics, private stakeholders and the public to develop brand new tools to assess the value of research. It will be assessed from four different aspects: stakeholder agenda, scientific excellence, economic efficiency and social impact. The project kicked off in May 2018.

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) Detect & Prevent (ADDP)

The EU-funded AD Detect-Prevent project, which is led by the Danish company Brain+, kicked-off in late 2018 and will continue over the next two years with the aim of developing a digital tool to improve early detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and combining this with lifestyle programs for reducing lifestyle risk related to Alzheimer's dementia. To achieve this, the project brings together a diverse group of partners with strong expertise in brain health, dementia, clinical neuroscience and patient advocacy.

ASCTN-Training

ASCTN-Training is a four-year project, funded by the European Union Horizon 2020 Programme (H2020-MSCA-ITN-2018) under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Initial Training Network and Grant Agreement No. 813851. ASCTN-Training is addressing existing gaps within Human Stem Cell-based Neuronal disorders (NDs) Modelling (NDM) for research to develop new medicines for the treatment of neurological disorders (e.g. Parkinson's (PD), Huntington's (HD) and Demyelination's (DM) diseases), which occur as a result of acute or progressive loss of cells, glial or neuronal, and structures and function in the brain.

PRIME

PRIME is an EU-funded project (H2020-EU.3.1.1. – Understanding health, wellbeing and disease) and states that insulin signalling not only affects the body (e.g., diabetes and obesity) but also the brain (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, autism and obsessive-compulsive disorders). The multidisciplinary PRIME consortium aims to better understand this body-brain co-morbidity and will bring this acquired knowledge to society (e.g., medication, lifestyle interventions, medical guidelines and policy). Furthermore, educational approaches to inform clinicians, patients, and general public will be developed. The project kicked off in January 2020 and will last 5 years.

Membership

The membership of the European Brain Council consists of professional organisations, patient organisations and industrial partners. Members of EBC include the European Federation of Neurological Societies, the European Psychiatric Association,[7] Federation of European Neuroscience Societies,[8] the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology,[9] the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies,[10] The European Federation of Neurological Associations,[11] Global Alliance for Mental Illness Advocacy Networks [12] and The International Brain Research Organization.[13]

References
  1. "EBC Executive". European Brain Council. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  2. "An update on the European Brain Council". ECNP Matters. 20 January 2010. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2010.
  3. "European Brain Council Urges European Parliament to Support Primate Research". SFN. 27 May 2008. Retrieved 20 January 2010.
  4. "Inquiry Team". Midstaffsinquiry. 20 January 2010. Retrieved 20 January 2010.
  5. Halim, Shakera (12 November 2018). "Brain disorders in Europe: The Space Race of the 21st Century". Health Europa. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  6. "About". European Brain Research Area. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  7. "European Psychiatric Association". European Parliament Transparency Register. 18 July 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  8. "The Federation of European Neuroscience Societies". Organisational brochure. 20 January 2010. Retrieved 20 January 2010.
  9. "European College of Neuropsychopharmacology". ecnp matters. 16 February 2010. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  10. "The European Association of Neurosurgical Societies". News EBC represents neurosciences in Brussels. 16 February 2010. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  11. "The European Federation of Neurological Associations". EFNA Members & Affiliates. 16 February 2010. Archived from the original on 23 January 2010. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  12. "GAMIAN Europe". GAMIAN Europe our history. 16 February 2010. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  13. "International Brain Research Organization - Partnerships". Retrieved 6 January 2017.
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