Welcome to the October edition of the President’s Corner, our eanNews series, in which I answer your questions about the EAN and its various initiatives.
This month, we received a nice range of questions focusing on student membership, residency advice, training outside of Europe, and the Brain Health Mission – all subjects that I am very pleased to have the opportunity to share more information on! Please see my answers below.
As always, I look forward to receiving your questions, so keep an eye out for our upcoming posts inviting submissions for next month’s edition. You can also reach out anytime via email.
Best wishes,
Elena Moro, EAN President
How can someone become a student EAN member?
Becoming a student EAN member is not only easy, but it is also free of charge and comes with a lot of great benefits! If you are an undergraduate student in a medical or otherwise related field, you are eligible to apply.
In return, we will give you full access to our award-winning eLearning platform the eanCampus, reduced onsite registration for the EAN Congress, virtual congress access free of charge, the chance to participate in EAN Scientific Panels, and access to many other activities and services to help support your progress into a career in neurology or clinical neurological sciences.
For full details, please visit our Student Membership overview, here: Student Member – ean.org
What advice do you have for a neurology resident who wants to start a new path in research?
First of all, we really need residents and young neurologists to become clinical researchers in Europe. I strongly encourage you to start being involved in research.
I believe there already some opportunities in the university to which you belong, and your seniors can help you with this. This also concerns the PhD programmes that can be national but also international. The Erasmus plus programme also allows residents to spend precious time in other European universities, and this can also be an opportunity to meet new researchers and open new paths.
Concerning the EAN, we offer the Science School experience once a year, where young members can learn and open their minds in clinical and preclinical research in neurology and neurosciences. We have also recently started the EAN Certificate in Clinical Research in Neurology (CCRN), a two-year programme tailored to residents, trainees, and research fellows who want to gain hands-on experience in designing, conducting, and evaluating clinical research projects. For more information, read our article here: EAN to launch new Certificate in Clinical Research in Neurology (CCRN) – eanNews
How can I pursue a neurology residency in European countries as someone from outside Europe? Are there any specificities?
This is a difficult one to answer, as the requirements differ from country to country, so the EAN is not currently able to offer reliable generalised advice on this matter. However, you may be able to find information about residency eligibility and application in individual countries via their national neurological societies. You can find website links and contact information for the 48 European national neurological societies that are EAN Institutional Members, here: National Neurological Societies – ean.org
I would also strongly suggest joining the EAN Resident & Research Fellow Section. For a very modest fee (even free of charge if you are based in a low-income country, as defined by the World Bank) you will receive a range of extremely useful benefits, including access to a huge network of current residents who can surely provide great advice based on their personal experience.
How can we get a training for programming of deep brain stimulation supported by you for doctors living in Libya?
Although EAN does not currently have plans to offer training in this area specifically for doctors living in Libya, we do have a range of content on the topic of deep brain stimulation and the broader topic of neuromodulation in our eLearning platform, eanCampus. The platform is fully accessible to EAN Corresponding Members and Resident & Research Fellow Section Members living outside of Europe.
However, the ES-MDS offers some DBS courses, as well as other specialised professional societies (IAPRD, DBS Society, etc.). You might have a look at their websites for further information.
Can you tell us something about the Brain Health Mission and how the EAN is informing the public about brain-healthy lifestyles?
The Brain Health Mission (BHM), launched by the EAN in 2023, brings together healthcare providers, advocates, researchers, policy makers, and anyone interested in improving brain health. It is a collaborative effort to make prevention, earlier diagnosis, reduced stigma, and timely interventions a reality. It is supported by 29 strategic partners, alongside a growing network of supporting partners and contributors, all working together to help us achieve these goals.
Some of the Brain Health Mission’s more public-facing initiatives so far have included:
- Brain Health Mission Podcast – launched in June 2025 to be the ‘go-to’ source for insights into how the latest science, public health policies, and practical lifestyle choices impact brain health.
- Brain Health School Challenge – held in three countries so far (with more on the way) challenging participating school classes to come up with ideas, strategies, or campaigns to inspire their peers to prioritise brain health.
- Public Brain Health Day – held at the EAN Congress 2025 in Helsinki, which welcomed patients, carers, healthcare professionals, non-profit representatives, educators, parents, and anyone with an interest in brain health, to exchange ideas and explore the understanding of brain health in an inclusive environment.
- Helsinki Public Awareness Campaign – launched to coincide with Helsinki’s hosting of the EAN Congress in both 2024 and 2025, and the city’s designation as European Capital of Brain Health, with brain health messages displayed on hundreds of digital screens throughout the city.
To find out how you can get involved in the Brain Health Mission, visit Brain Health Mission – ean.org!
