The European Partnership for Brain Health (EP BrainHealth) Foresight Symposium (May 20, 2026), held in Paris following the official launch of the Partnership, provided an important opportunity for stakeholders across Europe to look beyond the immediate research landscape and consider the future direction of brain health research, innovation, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care.

Bringing together Member States, researchers, clinicians, innovators, policymakers, industry representatives, and patient organisations, the symposium focused on identifying future priorities and opportunities that could shape the next generation of brain health research and healthcare delivery across Europe. Discussions explored how Europe can strengthen collaboration, accelerate innovation, and ensure that scientific advances translate into meaningful improvements for people living with neurological, psychiatric, and neurosensory conditions.

Representing the neurological patient community in her capacity as Executive Director of the European Federation of Neurological Associations (EFNA), Dr Orla Galvin welcomed the strong emphasis placed throughout the symposium on multidisciplinary collaboration and the growing recognition that patient perspectives are essential in shaping the future of brain health research.

A central theme emerging from the discussions was the need to ensure that future research agendas are not developed in isolation from lived experience. Patient organisations and advocates provide critical insight into unmet need, diagnostic barriers, treatment burden, quality of life, and the realities of navigating healthcare systems. These perspectives help ensure that research priorities remain grounded in outcomes that matter most to people living with brain conditions and their families.

The symposium also reinforced the importance of addressing the major challenges that continue to exist across neurological conditions, including delayed diagnosis, unequal access to specialist care, limited treatment options in many disease areas, and the need for more personalised and precision-based approaches to care. As discussions looked towards the future, there was clear recognition that innovation must extend beyond scientific discovery alone and include improvements in healthcare delivery, patient pathways, rehabilitation, mental well-being, and long-term quality of life.

Given the critical importance of data generation, scientific dissemination, and publication in advancing neurological research, it was particularly valuable to hear from leading figures in scientific publishing, including Elena Becker-Barroso and Etienne Hirsch. Orla was also delighted to share the stage with fellow patient advocates including Susanna van Tonder, Raluca Nica, and Laura Castro Aldrete. Their expertise and perspectives further reinforced the value of meaningful patient engagement and the importance of ensuring that lived experience remains central to shaping future research priorities and healthcare innovation.

Throughout the morning and afternoon sessions, the state of the art of research in brain health was presented across the thematic areas covered under Call 1 and Call 2 of the Partnership. Discussions highlighted emerging advances in pharmacological interventions, neurotechnological interventions, digital interventions, and social, cognitive, and behavioural interventions, reflecting the increasingly multidisciplinary nature of brain health research. Presentations also explored cutting-edge developments in genetics and molecular stratification, tau propagation and molecular pathology, microglia and immune stratification, and vascular mechanisms underlying neurological disorders. Collectively, these discussions demonstrated both the complexity of brain disorders and the significant opportunities for innovation through collaborative, cross-sectoral research approaches.

EFNA extends a sincere thank you to Ulrika Bußhoff for her leadership and commitment in coordinating this ambitious initiative through the DLR Project Management Agency. We would also like to recognise the important contribution of Catherine Marquer and the wider team at Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR) for their role as co-organisers of the symposium. Their collaborative efforts brought together an exceptional range of expertise and stakeholders, helping to create a strong foundation for the future success of the European Partnership for Brain Health.