by Thomas Berger, EAN Scientific Committee Chair
Dear EAN Members, colleagues, and friends,
Once again, I have the honour of updating you on all the recent and forthcoming activities relating to the EAN Scientific Committee. We have had a busy six months since my last update in November, and I am pleased to be able to share a nice mixture of news this month, ranging from freshly launched projects and successfully held events to ongoing work and opportunities to lend your own expertise to our efforts and share in the achievements of our fantastic EAN scientific community.
So, let me start with the freshest material: the EAN Cost-Conscious Healthcare—or ‘CoCoCare’— Project. This was originally an initiative of which EAN was a consortium member, but is now a fully-fledged EAN project, with the aim of teaching neurology residents and early career neurologists how to develop and implement high-quality, evidence-based guidelines. Clinical practice guidelines are a crucial tool for the neurological community and developing them is a highly important function of the EAN. CoCoCare is a new way for us to support our own Resident and Research Fellow Section (RRFS) members who wish to boost their knowledge and skills in guideline development, to ensure we continue with a solid base of experience in the production of high-quality guidelines. The call for applications is now closed, but I am delighted to say that we received many applications, which are currently being reviewed by the EAN Guideline Production Group.
Moving on to another relatively new, but now established project, the EAN Science School—which was launched with great success in 2022—took place for the second time back in March. After the first edition proved so popular, it was clear that this event would become an annual occurrence. In 2024, we will be welcoming another group of eager participants to Salzburg for three days of lectures, workshops, networking, and a healthy dose of tourism. Read the report on the recent edition for a detailed picture of what this school is all about, and look out for application for the next edition, opening on August 20!
Now onto the ongoing work and opportunities. From informing guideline production, to highlighting recent research, to co-creating the programme of our annual congress, the EAN Scientific Panels are the backbone of most of the EAN’s scientific activities, and they are currently working on topic proposals for EAN 2024, to be held in Helsinki, Finland. Every year the call for topic proposals is sent to all panel members in early spring. Any EAN panel member can submit proposals (for various sessions) to the panel’s Co-Chairs and Management Group. The Co-Chairs and Management Group then consider these proposals for the panel’s final submission, which this year will be made by 24 July.
To be so closely involved in the shaping of the EAN Annual Congress, may be a great privilege, but it is a role that is open to application from all EAN members. In Autumn, we will be opening the call for expressions of interest for election to the Scientific Panel Management Groups. So, if you have ever felt the desire to play a direct part in the scientific activities of the EAN and believe you can help steer our Scientific Panels in helping to determine the direction of neurology in Europe, then please consider applying, and keep your eyes open for this call!
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to give you a short update on our EAN NEuroCOVID RegGistrY (ENERGY). The number of contributors to the registry continues to constantly increase and we currently have over 3,700 cases included from 44 centres in 30 different countries. Recently, a fourth article was published on the data collected by this project, on Comparative features and outcomes of major neurological complications of COVID-19, which is available to read in the February issue of the European Journal of Neurology (volume 30, issue 2). All four of the studies published so far can be found at the bottom of the project webpage.
It would be remiss of me not to also briefly mention our forthcoming annual congress in Budapest on July 1-4, obviously a highlight of the year for the EAN and the culmination of a huge amount of work for our many panels and committees. Registration is open (with discounted fees for EAN members who complete their applications by 31 May), and we have an exciting programme lined up. I hope to see as many of you as possible onsite and online in July!
Best wishes
Thomas Berger, EAN Scientific Committee Chair
