Mini Conferences are small, topically focused conferences organised entirely by invited member societies and partner organisations on the occasion of the FENS Forum 2024. The Mini Conferences will be held on Tuesday 25 June 2024 between 10:00 -14:00 CEST.
Attendance to the Mini Conferences is accessible to non-participants of the Forum via a separate registration.
MC01: Prioritising Brain Health in Youth: Bringing Neuroscience to Society and Informing Policy
Organiser: European Brain Council
Description: According to OECD half of the population will have to contend with mental health problems at some point in their life. Two-thirds of mental health disorders manifest before age 25. Good brain health plays a significant role in an individual’s well-being and profoundly impacts the collective economy and society. Today there is an urgent action needed on failing youth mental health.Neuroscience and brain development are key to address the situation. Understanding neural circuits is critical for gaining insights into the etiology of mental disorders. Brain development does not stop at birth and some aspects continue throughout infancy, childhood, and adolescence, allowing the full development of cognitive functions. Different determinants related to physical health, healthy environments, safety and security, life-long learning, and social connection as well as access to quality services influence the way our brains develop, adapt, and respond to stress and adversity. Ongoing progress in neurobiology and cognitive neuroscience allow the design of better prevention and intervention strategies to help avoid brain deficits and/or limit their impact and maintain brain health.
Although effective early detection and interventions exist, there are numerous unmet needs along the mental health care pathways. Navigating the mental health services system is often complex for patients and families due to fragmented services and discontinuity of care. Policies and programs to prevent and mitigate the negative impacts on schooling, employment, families, and risky behaviors are also paramount. The European Commission’s communication on a comprehensive approach to mental health released in June 2023 is a step forward but requires more commitment to boost children and young adult’s mental health. The European Brain Council (EBC) and the Federation of European
Neuroscience Societies (FENS) will convene a Mini Conference on 25 June at the upcoming FENS Forum 2024 in Vienna to address these challenges. The event will explore what the opportunities are of incorporating a transdiagnostic and biopsychosocial-informed perspective. The meeting will bring
together neuroscientists, clinicians, researchers, policymakers, patients & caregivers to raise awareness on brain health, bridging the gap between research, policy, and society.
Aim: The event will aim 1) to look at solutions integrating research & innovation going beyond medicalisation; 2) to examine ongoing progress in neurobiology and cognitive neuroscience allowing the design of better prevention and intervention strategies and 3) to address inclusiveness, health, and education challenges. This is a follow-up to the special interest session on “Brain capital and the young generation” that took place during FENS Forum 2022.
Learn more about this Mini Conference here.
MC02: Understanding the Neuronal Mechanisms Driving Behaviour: from Molecular and Cellular Processes to Complex System Interactions
Organisers: European Brain and Behaviour Society (EBBS) and European Behavioural Pharmacology Society (EBPS)
Description: Our mini conference will be an exciting event bringing together established leaders and early career researchers from the behavioural neuroscience community for a day of amazing science and networking opportunities.
The overarching theme of the 2024 EBBS/EBPS mini-conference will be Understanding Neuronal Mechanisms Driving Behaviour. Under this theme, speakers will present research focused on elucidating the intricate neural processes that underlie behaviour, spanning from the molecular and cellular levels to broader systems interactions. Cutting-edge behavioural and neuroscience techniques that provide deeper insights into the emergence of complex behaviours will be highlighted. Each session will end with a Q&A.