Dear EAN members, colleagues, and friends,
It is my pleasure to write to you for the first time as Chair of the EAN Scientific Committee. Since joining the EAN Board in June 2024, I have enjoyed a very active and exciting start along with my colleagues in the EAN Scientific Committee, and I am thrilled to see the continued enthusiasm and engagement from all involved. We have been working diligently on several significant projects and of course overseeing various ongoing EAN processes related to the annual EAN congress. I aim to give you a short overview here, along with a reminder of some important upcoming events.
I am delighted to share that the EAN is a key partner in the Horizon Europe project EBRAINS 2.0: A Research Infrastructure to Advance Neuroscience and Brain Health. This initiative is designed to meet the evolving needs of neuroscience and brain research, with a particular focus on unlocking the power of shared human neuroimaging data. The ultimate goal is to advance diagnostics and treatment for neurological disorders. As part of our involvement, we will host two exciting sessions at the upcoming EAN Congress 2025, in Helsinki. The first is a Teaching Course, on Saturday, 21 June, focusing on Tools for Clinical Connectivity Measures in Neurology, which will provide hands-on training in advanced MRI-based connectivity imaging—essential tools for clinicians and researchers. The second is a Symposium, on Monday, 23 June, titled Open Science and Medical Informatics in Neurology – An EAN-EBRAINS Joint Project.This session will showcase how EBRAINS 2.0 is enabling new advances in neuroscience infrastructure and data sharing.
Our Scientific & Coordinating Panels continue to be the foundation of the EAN’s scientific output. Our panels are currently developing topic proposals for the 12th EAN Congress, which will be held in Geneva in 2026, and these will be further discussed during their annual business meetings in Helsinki. Panel Co-Chairs and Management Group members will then finalise and submit their topic proposals in July, helping to shape a large proportion of what will be another outstanding scientific programme. If you are interested in making such a direct contribution to the EAN’s scientific activities, I encourage you to consider applying to stand for election to the Scientific & Coordinating Panel Management Groups. The next call for expressions of interest will open in autumn 2025—we warmly welcome applications from Panel members looking to bring their leadership skills and expertise into the fold and help to shape the future of the EAN.
Following our call for guideline topic proposals in October, the Guideline Production Group (GPG), the Scientific Committee, and the EAN Board have defined the Priority Topics for 2025–2027, as well as the first batch of Priority Guideline Topics, which will be launched as guideline projects for 2025. Further details are available on the guidelines section of the EAN website. Our most recently completed guideline project has just been published in the form of the EAN/EFAS/INUS NEUROGED Guidelines, offering guidance for the management of urogenital symptoms reported by patients, specifically for neurologists. NEUROGED was developed in cooperation with our partners at the International Neuro-Urology Society (INUS) and the European Federation of Autonomic Societies (EFAS) and is now available via the European Journal of Neurology.
To support members who may be interested in guideline development, we are once again offering an EAN Guidelines Workshop in Helsinki, held on the Friday, 20 June 2025, immediately before the congress. Application is open until 28 May or until all places are filled, so don’t miss this opportunity to learn the fundamentals of producing high-quality clinical guidelines Apply now at: EAN Guideline Workshop – ean.org
The CoCoCare 2024-2025 (EAN Guideline Education and Cost-Conscious Healthcare) programme will see further guideline-related activity at the congress in Helsinki. The 2024-2025 edition of the programme is now drawing to a close, with the student participants now preparing to present their work on guideline projects in the Scientific Theatre. Following two successful years, a new group of students will begin their journey this May, starting with an e-learning phase followed by a hands-on workshop in Helsinki.
Finally, I am delighted to share that this year’s EAN Science School welcomed 65 participants from 23 countries, continuing our mission to support early-career neurologists with high-quality, interactive learning opportunities. This fourth edition of the school welcomed participants to Salzburg, Austria, for three full days of scientific lectures and workshops, plus a healthy dose of culture and connection. You can read our full report in this eanNews article.
Thank you to everyone who contributes to the EAN’s scientific endeavours, and to everyone else for your continued interest. I look forward to seeing many of you in Helsinki, where we’ll continue working together to push the frontiers of neurological research, education, and care.
Best regards,
Gereon R. Fink
Chair, EAN Scientific Committee
