by Irena Rektorová, EAN Programme Committee Chair, & Elena Moro, EAN President
Dear EAN Members, colleagues, and friends
The 12th Congress of the European Academy of Neurology is just around the corner, and we are now putting the finishing touches to an event that we anticipate will be truly special. Now that Late-Breaking Abstract Submission has closed, the congress programme is finally complete, with a huge range of scientific and educational sessions lined up to keep you both highly engaged and entertained for a full four days – and much longer, thanks to the virtual congress platform.
This year we received a record number of abstract submissions, smashing the previous record with an increase of more than 18%! The 3,295 abstracts we received have enabled us to assemble a programme of outstanding quality, exploring every corner of neurology and offering something for attendees in every professional category and at every career stage.
Although the whole congress is extremely rich in content, we want to highlight some sessions that you cannot miss.
First, the Opening Sessionon 27 June, the first day of the congress. This year we will have the privilege of welcoming Frank Winkler – a pioneer in experimental neuro-oncology and winner of the 2025 edition of The Brain Prize – who will deliver the Brain Prize Lecture on Neural influences on brain tumor growth and therapy resistance give.
Second, the Presidential Symposium on 28 June, a two-hour feast of scientific treats, provided by four eminent individuals receiving the awards associated with our Named Lectures. We are delighted to be welcoming Daniela Berg delivering the Moritz Romberg Award Lecture, titled What research and patients may teach us: Parkinson’s disease – a history and perspective of learning; Manju Kurian giving the Anita Harding Award Lecture on Navigating the translational arc for childhood movement disorders; John Rothwell presenting the Charles-Édouard Brown-Sequard Award Lecture on Non-invasive neuromodulation in neurology; and Riccardo Soffietti holding the Camillo Golgi Award Lecture on Progress in gliomas: From histology to molecular biology and from surgery to precision therapies.
Third, the new Special Session on Partnering for the Brain in Europe and Beyond on 29 June, that emphasises the need for multidisciplinary and integrated collaboration among stakeholders.
Pictured, left to right:
- Daniela Berg, Moritz Romberg Award Lecture, “What research and patients may teach us: Parkinson’s disease – a history and perspective of learning”
- Manju Kurian, Anita Harding Award Lecture, “Navigating the translational arc for childhood-onset genetic movement disorders”
- John Rothwell, Charles Brown-Séquard Award Lecture, “Non-invasive neuromodulation in neurology”
- Riccardo Soffietti, Camillo Golgi Award Lecture, “Progress in gliomas: From histology to molecular biology and from surgery to precision therapies”
- Frank Winkler, The Brain Prize Lecture, “Neural influences on brain tumor growth and therapy resistance”
This year’s overarching theme of Brains, Bytes & Beyond: Tech in Neurology brings an exciting modern flavour to the programme. Advances in computing are already transforming not only clinical medicine, but also wider society, bringing huge potential advantages as well as new challenges and risks. Via the prism of this overarching theme, numerous sessions in Geneva will examine what these changes mean for neurology, including a special symposium on innovations in neurology, two focused workshops on AI applications and many other invited lectures that will help to build a picture of the current and future role of tech in neurology.
As always, a huge amount of work has gone into preparing this year’s congress, involving many amazing people, all of whom are focused on creating an event that is as engaging and relevant as possible. Our scientific panels, committees and subcommittees, the local organising committee and the EAN Board, and of course all our abstract submitters and reviewers – all have contributed to moulding the outstanding scientific and educational experience that we are confident this congress will provide. Whether this is your 12th EAN congress or your first, we are certain you will find plenty to meet – and even beat – your expectations.
We look forward to seeing you in Geneva!
Warm regards,
Elena Moro, EAN President
