Listen to the newest Brain Talks episode on rethinking the way we look at disease burden, featuring perspectives from patients, researchers, and policy experts on what it truly means to live with generalised Myasthenia Gravis (gMG).

This episode tackles a critical question: Are we truly capturing what rare brain diseases cost patients, families and society?

In this episode, host Sam Pauly explores:

🔹 The patient reality: Christina Ramirez shares her lived experience of gMG and its profound daily impacts on patients and families.
🔹 The research lens: Adrian Kielhorn presents findings from the gMG 360 study – revealing, for instance, that 2/3 of the disease's economic impact falls on patients and caregivers – a burden largely invisible to traditional healthcare assessments.
🔹 The policy perspective: Vinciane Quoidbach from the European Brain Council discusses the "Rethinking Myasthenia Gravis" project and how adaptive pathways, real-world evidence and patient-experienced data can transform care for rare brain diseases. 

With innovative therapies emerging and policy frameworks evolving, now is the moment to redesign care pathways that reduce burden, accelerate access and ensure no gMG patient is left behind.

October is Rett Syndrome Awareness Month, and we are proud to share a special episode of Brain Talks dedicated to raising visibility of this rare neurodevelopmental disorder. In this episode, Tom Pulles from Acadia Pharmaceuticals discusses research and advocacy, Professor Maria Mazurkiewicz-Bełdzińska explains the challenges of diagnosis and new treatment advances, and Pedro Rocha, Treasurer of Rett Syndrome Europe, shares a powerful perspective from the patient community. Together, their voices show why awareness, advocacy, and innovation are so vital for patients and families living with Rett syndrome.

Welcome to the first episode of Season 5 of Brain Talks! We’re kicking off this new season just a month before the 5th edition of the Brain Innovation Days with a special episode with Frédéric Destrebecq, Executive Director of the European Brain Council (EBC). Get a sneak peek into the programme, the central theme, and exciting new features awaiting you at the 5th edition of the Brain Innovation Days. Tune in for exclusive insights and highlights on what to expect from Europe’s premier brain health innovation event!

This episode focuses on the core themes of the HEREDITARY project: cutting-edge AI and advanced analytics, multimodal health data, and the vital issues of data privacy and security. It explores how AI and machine learning are reshaping scientific research—unlocking new possibilities while raising important questions around privacy and citizen engagement. Using HEREDITARY’s bold vision and methodology as a foundation, it highlights how AI can become a powerful driver of EU leadership in science and innovation. Joining the discussion are Elisabetta Biasin, Researcher at the KU Leuven Centre for IT & Law (CiTiP) and HEREDITARY project partner, and Helena Ledmyr, Director of Development and Communications at the International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility (INCF). They share expert insights into how AI is transforming brain research, while navigating the complex legal, ethical, and regulatory frameworks that come with it. By the end of this episode, listeners will gain a clear view of how AI is powering new frontiers in neuroscience, better understand the legal landscape, and take away practical ideas for meeting data protection and ethical requirements in research.

In this episode, we look into the pressing challenges and exciting opportunities facing basic research and innovation in the European Union—at a time when scientific progress in neuroscience is more critical than ever. We’ll explore the urgent need to strengthen support for researchers, the pivotal role of the upcoming EU Framework Programme for Research & Innovation (FP10), and the future of the European Research Area (ERA).Join us as we unpack the vital link between fundamental neuroscience and real-world health applications, and why a robust, well-supported research ecosystem is key to unlocking the future of brain health in Europe.

In this episode, we are joined by Member of the European Parliament Tomas Zdechovský, Matthieu de Vilmorin, Past President of Schizo Oui, and Professor Merete Nordentoft, a leading expert in psychiatry at the University of Copenhagen. Together, they shed light on the pressing challenges and opportunities in the care and treatment of schizophrenia across Europe. Schizophrenia remains one of the most complex mental health conditions to manage, with profound and lasting impacts on young people and their families. While treatment options have evolved, persistent barriers—such as delayed diagnosis, discontinuity in care, and limited long-term support—continue to hinder recovery and quality of life for many. This episode explores the key findings from the second phase of the Rethinking Schizophrenia project, spearheaded by the European Brain Council in collaboration with the European Psychiatric Association. Drawing on insights from over 200 health practitioners across nine European countries—Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the UK—the project delivers a comprehensive analysis of care pathways and offers recommendations to improve early intervention, shared decision-making, and recovery-oriented approaches. With reflections from experts and powerful contributions from patient and caregiver advocates, we examine how to overcome stigma, close systemic gaps, and create a more inclusive and effective mental health system for all. Tune in now to hear how collaborative action and policy change can reshape schizophrenia care—and help support long-term recovery across Europe.

In the latest episode of the Brain Talks podcast, Sam Pauly is joined by a panel to discuss the importance of the pitch competition at the Brain Innovation Days and to present the Jury Prize-winning startup, BrainTale. Julie Rachline, the CEO of BrainTale and winner of the Jury Prize at the Pitch Competition, highlights the company’s groundbreaking work in the field of neurological health. Along with Pascal Joncour, a member of the jury and partner at Convergence Partners, and Frédéric Destrebecq, Executive Director of the European Brain Council, the discussion focuses on the challenges and opportunities startups face in the medtech space. The episode sheds light on how collaborations, especially at events like Brain Innovation Days, can drive innovation and support new ventures in advancing brain health technologies.

In the latest episode of the Brain Talks podcast, Sam Pauly is joined by three expert guests: Karen Carr from AbbVie, Dr. Reto Agosti of the Zurich Headache Center, and Frédéric Destrebecq, Executive Director of the European Brain Council to discuss the challenges and opportunities in migraine care, exploring both clinical and policy perspectives.

Together, they shed light on the barriers to effective diagnosis and treatment, the societal and economic impacts of migraines, and innovative solutions paving the way for better care. The discussion highlights the significant delays many patients face in receiving a proper diagnosis, often exacerbated by stigma and misperceptions about migraines. The conversation also underscores the immense burden migraines place on individuals, healthcare systems, and economies, calling for greater policy prioritization.

Tune in to learn how the brain health community is breaking barriers and driving meaningful change for people living with migraines.

As the EU Health Technology Assessment (HTA) landscape transforms with the upcoming Joint Clinical Assessment (JCA), what does this mean for timely access to innovative therapies and reducing duplication of efforts across Member States? 

In this episode, Frédéric Destrebecq, Executive Director of the European Brain Council, sat down with Dr. Dimitrios Georgiopoulos, Senior Vice President and Global Franchise Head for Neurology & Immunology at Merck Healthcare, to discuss the opportunities and challenges of the new Health Technology Assessment Regulation, particularly for orphan and neurological treatments. Join us to explore how this new framework aims to harmonize methodologies, empower patient engagement, and shape a collaborative future for healthcare across the EU.

Neurodegenerative disorders have a huge societal burden and heavily impact the lives of those affected. Artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare is a booming field: the development of computer programs and systems able to emulate tasks normally requiring human intelligence such as recognizing patterns, taking decisions, evaluating and predicting is set to revolutionize the prevention and care of people with neurodegenerative disorders.

In this Brain Talks episode, Sam Pauly is joined by Dr Alessandro Guazzo, Postdoctoral Fellow at Carnegie Mellon University and Dr Ira Haraldsen, Primary investigator and Head of the Cognitive Health Research group at the Oslo University Hospital.

Welcome to Season 4 of Brain Talks!

In this first episode, join our host Sam Pauly with special guests: Lisa Burke, Master of Ceremony for the 4th edition of the Brain Innovation Days, and Frédéric Destrebecq, Executive Director of the European Brain Council.

Discover exclusive insights on the event’s brand new theme, “Navigating the Brain Across a Lifetime,” learn more about the programme, but also its key sessions, new interactive experiences, and much more!

The increasing number of people living with two or more chronic disorders (multimorbidities) poses an urgent need to better understand underlying mechanisms for better prevention and care throughout the life course. Somatic disorders e.g., type 2 diabetes and brain disorders e.g., Alzheimer’s disorder often co-occur. If a single molecule was the key to some of the greatest health challenges of our time, what would tomorrow look like?

The EU-funded PRIME project aims to unravel the insulin-dependent mechanisms underlying both somatic conditions (e.g., type 2 diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome) and brain disorders (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease, obsessive-compulsive disorder, autism spectrum disorders).

In this new Brain Talks episode on the integration of mental and somatic health, Sam Pauly sat down with two partners in this EU-funded project PRIME: Silke Matura, Group Leader at the Goethe University Hospital, and Simone Macri, Researcher at the Italian National Institute of Health.

The Covid-19 pandemic shed a crude light on how instrumental research and innovation are in the European Union. This crisis revealed significant disparities and fractures between Member States. More importantly, patients living with neurological or mental disorders were heavily impacted by the pandemic, and faced tremendous challenges to maintain their access to care and to meet their medical needs.

In this episode, Frederic Destrebecq, Executive Director of the European Brain Council, Christian Suojanen, Founder & CEO of Broadreach Global, and Professor Michel Goldman, renowned medical doctor and researcher, discuss the post-pandemic European landscape, and address the major challenges and opportunities for brain research and innovation in the EU.

From fostering a collaborative climate within the wider brain community to an ambitious European Brain Research and Innovation Plan, join our journey on what it takes to make brain research and innovation a European priority for the 21st century.

This Brain Talks episode on Urban Environment and Brain Health features two projects on brain health, funded by the European Union under the same main programme (H2020-EU.3.1. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Health, demographic change and well-being): BRAINTEASER and eMOTIONAL Cities.

Evidence shows that environmental factors may influence both the aetiology and the progression of a number of brain conditions. Through cost-effective sensors and apps, a comprehensive analysis of clinical, lifestyle and environmental data and predictive/preventive AI models for patient stratification and disease progression, BRAINTEASER aims to better inform people living with MS and ALS and support clinical decision making in 4 urban areas: Madrid, Turin, Lisbon and Pavia.

Urban living is associated to an increase in mood and anxiety disorders, drugs addiction and risk of schizophrenia and psychosis. Through urban stress research, emotional mapping, urban prevention and therapy research, eMOTIONAL Cities aims to explore how urban planning and design could positively impact brain health in 4 cities: Lisbon, Copenhagen, London and Lansing.

Despite the burden, migraine is not consistently recognized in health policy. However, countries are making progress and establishing a way forward for patients.

In the latest Brain Talks episode, Sam Pauly sat down with Dawn Carlson, AbbVie's Vice-President of Neuroscience Clinical Development, and Alessandra Sorrentino, migraine patient and representative of Alleanza Cefalalgici, to discuss promising developments in migraine care, management, and policy prioritization.

This episode was recorded in partnership with AbbVie.

In this third episode of Brain Talks | Season 3, Alice Medialia (Columbia University), Péter Kéri (GAMIAN-Europe), and John Saunders (EUFAMI) sat down with Sam Pauly to share some thoughts and advices on how to ensure the meaningful engagement of patients with lived experiences of mental health conditions.

In partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim, this episode was recorded live from the third edition of the Brain Innovation Days

Join us for the second episode of this new season of Brain Talks, where Dimitrios Georgiopoulos, Global Business Franchise Head for Neurology and Immunology at Merck Healthcare, delves into the world of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) care.Discover Merck's patient-centered approach and explore the challenges and opportunities for young people living with MS in the EU. With 2.9 million people affected, this is a conversation that impacts us all.

Brain Talks are back for a third season!


Join us in unveiling the highly anticipated 2023 edition of the Brain Innovation Days with Prof. Suzanne Dickson, President of the European Brain Council, and Frédéric Destrebecq, Executive Director of EBC.

Tune in to the new podcast episode to hear Sam Pauly talk with two expert guests Professor Asgeir Jakola, Director of the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS) Research Fund & Dr Victor Staartjes, a neurosurgery resident at the University Hospital Zurich. They look at how the EANS Research Fund facilitates neurosurgical research across Europe.

In today's Brain Talk, we’ll be looking at the role technology currently plays in neurosurgery. We are joined by Dr Pieter Kubben, a neurosurgeon at Maastricht University Medical Center and the founder of the Neuromind App and Dr. Marike Broekman, a neurosurgeon in the Department of Neurosurgery at Leiden University Medical Center. She is the first female board member of the European Association of Neurosurgical Associations or EANS, and her main clinical and research interests focus on Neuro-Oncology and Ethics.