Marian Joëls: Opportunities and Challenges in European Neuroscience

Our most visible activity is, of course, the FENS Forum. We are in the process of organizing the 9th FENS Forum, taking place in July 2014 in Milan. We hope to welcome more than 7,000 participants. This should not only be a showcase of excellent neuroscience, but also the occasion for neuroscientists from Europe and elsewhere to gather in a lively environment. We also (co)organize smaller meetings, like the featured regional meeting in Prague in 2013 and the new biannual Dynamic Brain Conferences. The latter are small meetings at the highest scientific level. For my term, I have defined two additional goals. First, we will invigorate our program for higher education in neuroscience, which for many years has served and still serves a good cause. However, the European landscape in higher education has changed over the past ten years. Some tools need adaptation and new instruments will need to be developed. The second goal is to identify and facilitate the next generation in European neuroscience — a group of highly gifted neuroscientists based in Europe or with a European background. This will ensure that the base of European neuroscience remains healthy five to ten years from now. We really would like to involve them in FENS’ activities. We are working on an attractive format to turn this idea into a structural FENS activity.


SfN: The neuroscience field has exploded in recent years, particularly with the rising number of young scientists drawn to this dynamic discipline. What are some of the unique challenges facing young investigators in Europe and how do you envision FENS helping to address these? What role do you think FENS -IBRO schools program and national societies could play in supporting new investigators’ careers?

This is something very close to my heart. The two aims for my term directly relate to the future of young neuroscientists. We would like to offer them the best possible training partly through the network of existing local graduate schools (currently organized in the Network of European Neuroscience Schools) and through education that is not currently available at a local level. FENS is in the process of renovating the schools program in partnership with IBRO, SfN, and the Hertie Foundation, as well as hopefully by adding new partners. However, giving the next generation the best chance to succeed and flourish asks for more than training. Issues of crucial importance to neuroscientists’ careers, such as the challenges of publishing or the grant system, should be high on our agenda. They should be the subject of dialogue between current policymakers (including the FENS board) and people who are in the middle of building their career. Neuroscience is a big and beautiful adventure, but nowadays it is not an easy ride in some European countries and certainly not for young scientists. We will support them as much as we can.


SfN: The European Brain Council (EBC) released a heavily-cited report on the economic burden of brain-related diseases and disorders in Europe last year. How has FENS worked with the EBC to coordinate advocacy for neuroscience and how has the report helped raise the profile of neuroscience funding?

The EBC report has been extremely useful in convincing policymakers to invest in neuroscience because scientific efforts are the best answer to the burden of disease. Research can develop new strategies to treat or prevent brain diseases and have an enormous impact on the life of patients and their family members. FENS collaborates with other EBC members to coordinate such advocacy and policy initiatives. 

We should not forget, however, that neuroscience research is important for many aspects of daily life, not just for disease-related conditions. FENS will keep emphasizing that neuroscience research has an excellent return on investment for brain disease and otherwise. Basic neuroscience has value in itself and we work to communicate that to policymakers as well.


SfN: SfN and FENS recently launched a collaborative effort to support FENS’ national societies increase in advocacy activities through grants. Can you speak to some of the contributions these initiatives have made so far and how scientists can promote neuroscience in their home country?

Two years ago FENS started a joint activity with SfN to support advocacy about neuroscience in Europe. Member societies from FENS could apply for financial support to promote neuroscience advocacy at a national level. So far, sixteen projects have been funded. These are very diverse in nature, which is not unexpected, because the neuroscience advocacy needs of each country are unique. Some countries have organized big events to raise public awareness for neuroscience and its relevance to aspects of daily life. Other countries have organized small, more targeted meetings with policymakers responsible for important decisions regarding the funding of neuroscience. There were also more unexpected, out-of-the-box approaches. For instance, one linked neuroscience to art, showing this to the public at large. At this moment, the impact of the FENS-SfN advocacy program is still being analyzed. It is clear, however, that the initiative has helped sensitize FENS member societies to the importance of advocacy at the national level.


SfN: Neuroscience research is increasingly global in nature. What opportunities do you see in the globalization of science and how can FENS and SfN partner to advance the field?

With the Internet, the world is at your fingertips — including emerging research, potential collaborators, and data sets worldwide. As such, neuroscience is already a global enterprise. Yet some parts of the world are more privileged than others. There is huge potential not currently being tapped. The world can benefit from joint efforts of the brightest people to crack the code of how our brain works in health and disease. FENS, SfN, IBRO, and other societies should join forces to involve the best people in answering this question and advancing the field.