At the start of its ‘European Month of the Brain’ initiative, the European Commission has earmarked some €150 million of funding for 20 new international brain research projects.

It will bring the total EU investment in brain research since 2007 to over €1.9 billion. The ‘European Month of the Brain’ (#brainmonth) will highlight European research and innovation in the area of neuroscience, cognition and related areas through over 50 events across Europe this May. The initiative aims to showcase the latest achievements in the field, but also to urge a more decisive effort to combat brain diseases. It also aims at highlighting how studying the brain can revolutionise computing. The initiative comes as the profile of brain research has been raised recently with ambitious new projects in the EU.

European Research, Innovation and Science Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn said: “Many Europeans are likely to be affected by brain-related disease or illness during their lifetime. Treating those affected is already costing us €1.5 million every minute and this burden on our healthcare systems is likely to rise as our population ages. Brain research could help alleviate the suffering of millions of patients and those that care for them. Unlocking the secrets of how the brain works could also open up a whole new universe of services and products for our economies.”

Brain related disease

Some 165 million Europeans are likely to experience some form of brain related diseases during their life. As the population ages, with more people affected by Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative or age-related mental disorders, treatment costs are likely to go up sharply. Finding better ways of preventing and treating brain diseases is therefore becoming urgent. Understanding how the brain works is also important to keep our economies at the forefront of new information technologies and services.

Brain research

The ‘European Month of the Brain’ will underline the crucial importance of brain research and healthcare for our societies and economies; showcase EU achievements in these fields; debate the future direction of research and policy; discuss how to improve the allocation of resources within and between individual countries; and lift taboos around mental health.

See also for full list of event and countries involved http://ec.europa.eu/research/conferences/2013/brain-month/index_en.cfm

Henry BORZI