Other News

As a follow-up to the survey on the renovation of the ICH Good Clinical Practice Guidelines (ICH E6) conducted in August, the Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative (CTTI) has launched a new open comment opportunity which enables specific comments to be collected.

The "Central Asian Movement Disorders Course" was conducted in the capital city of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, on June 22-23, 2019. The venue was the conference room of Kyrgyz-Turkish Center named after Chingiz Aitmatov of the historic National Library of the Kyrgyz Republic named after Alykul Osmonov. The two-day course was jointly organized by the Movement Disorders Society and Parkinson’s Disease Alliance - CIS, and the Clinical Hospital of the Administrative Department of Presidential and Government Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic. Support was provided by the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society Asian Oceanian Section (MDS-AOS) under the auspices of the Developing World Education Program (DWEP).

The European Federation of Neurological Associations (EFNA), together with European Brain Council (EBC) and European Academy of Neurology (EAN), has sent an open letter to EU leaders, making a strong case for increased prioritisation of neurological/brain health in EU policies and calling for concrete measures to be undertaken to counteract the increasing burden of brain disorders.

The AD Detect and Prevent project, which is funded through Horizon 2020 and led by the Danish digital therapeutics company Brain+, aims to develop a robust digital tool for improving the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This integrated tool aims to first detect subtle cognitive signs associated with Alzheimer’s disease (before the possible emergence of clear symptoms) and to subsequently provide personalized intervention programmes that address risk factors connected to Alzheimer’s dementia.

This September, European Member States nominated their picks for the College of Commissioners, also known as the European Commission President’s team. Each Member State needs to nominate one Commissioner, which then are assigned a portfolio, a department, by the President-elect and then heard and confirmed by the relevant committees in the European Parliament.

News from other Societies

The EU Health Coalition published two statements in September on research coordination and access to innovation. The first statement called for a balanced Horizon Europe fostering research and innovation that ensures sufficient coordination. The second one argues for the creation of a Stakeholder Forum for Better Access to Health Innovation to address persisting critical health challenges in the EU.

Health ministers and high-level representatives of the 53 Member States of the WHO European Region, as well as partner and civil society organizations, will take part in the 69th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe. The session took place at UN City, Copenhagen, Denmark, on 16–19 September 2019

Following the publication of its report on “The development of intercultural care and support for people with dementia from minority ethnic groups” in 2018, Alzheimer Europe has now launched an online repository of intercultural care initiatives, aimed at improving the situation of people with dementia and carers from minority ethnic backgrounds.

To celebrate World Brain Day (July 22nd), the European Federation of Neurological Associations [EFNA] co-hosted events in four European capitals – Brussels, Bucharest, Dublin and Warsaw!

During 2018 EFNA continued to build on some of their ongoing projects – such as the MEP Interest Group on Brain, Mind and Pain and the Training Initiatives for Neurology Advocates.

European elections: developments in EU institutions Even though summer has arrived in Brussels, activities have not slowed down at EU level and there have been significant changes in leadership announced. Below is an overview of the main developments in the ‘EU Bubble’ following the EU Elections of last May

31 July 2019: Alzheimer Europe' adds new trials to its Clinical Trials Watch resource

In 2018, EBC launched a wide range of events, projects and advocacy initiatives aimed at promoting brain research and addressing the disease burden of mental and neurological conditions.

 “SILENTLY LOSING THE BRAIN – The enigma of small vessel disease” Come to Copenhagen for the next Brain Prize Meeting in November 2019. With international keynote speakers, including the 2019 prize winners, the Lundbeck Foundation Brain Prize Meeting aims to bring a broad range of researchers to discuss why small vessel disease has emerged as a major contributor to dementia, migraine and stroke worldwide.