European Month of the Brain
As reported last month, the Commission has declared the month of May to be the European ‘Month of the brain’ following its announcement, on 30 April, of its decision to award €150 million of funding to 20 new international brain research projects. This will bring the total EU investment in brain research since 2007 to over €1.9 billion. Over 50 events across Europe will be organised in May as a way to highlight European research and innovation in the area of neuroscience, cognition and related areas, such as ICT. Six of these events are being organised by the Irish EU Presidency. The Commission organised two major conferences, on 14 May in Brussels and – together with the Irish EU Presidency - on 27-28 May in Dublin.
Research, Innovation and Science Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn stressed that current spending on treating those affected by brain-related diseases or illness is already €1.5 million every minute adding that this burden on the health care systems is likely to rise as the population ages.
The 20 projects that are shortlisted for EU funding are expected to deliver new insights and innovations in key areas, such as traumatic brain injury, mental disorders, pain, epilepsy and pediatric conduct disorders. While the projects cannot be named before the grant agreements are finally concluded, all are expected to start this summer. Industry and small business partners will be particularly involved in three of the areas - mental disorders, epilepsy and pediatric conduct disorders – to fuel innovation and real-life solutions.
There will still be opportunities for brain research under all three pillars – ‘scientific excellence’, ‘industrial leadership’ and ‘societal challenges’ of the next EU research and innovation programme, Horizon 2020. The ‘health, demographic change and well-being’ section, which will aim to improve the diagnosis, understanding and treatment of diseases, will be particularly relevant.
As society ages, brain-related disorders are expected to affect at least one in three persons during their lifetime, costing some €800 billion in Europe every year. This is more than what is spent on cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Advances in neuroscience are crucial to keep ageing societies healthy.
Deciphering how the brain works has long-term benefits for society and could play a greater role in driving innovation in Europe's pharmaceutical industry.
For more information: http://ec.europa.eu/research/conferences/2013/brain-month/index_en.cfm
