Brain Health & Research at UNGA78 | Caroline Montojo, Dana Foundation

As part of the European Brain Council (EBC)’s Global Partnerships in Brain Research activities, EBC, in collaboration with the Baker Institute for Public Policy, the Brain Capital Alliance, and the Brain Health Nexus organised an event last September 2023 at the Science Summit at the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA78).

Across the globe, society is facing brain challenges like never before—improving the health and well-being of citizens has become the top priority for many governments and brain health should not be left behind. Brain disorders, neurological and mental alike, are pervasive and pernicious diseases that are often difficult to treat. Enhancing global brain research collaboration can spur innovation and quicken effective outcomes to the benefit of people living with brain conditions everywhere.

Over the last few years, EBC has served as a convener for experts in the brain community to share best practices, exchange ongoing work and align priorities to forge a joint path forward to understand and address the brain rather than in silos across continents. Dialogue over the last years determined that coming together and addressing global partnerships in a united, concrete manner was an ideal and vital next step to tackle the global burden of brain disorders together.

The September 2023 event was a first step to move past discussion and work towards explicit and tangible next steps in solidifying global efforts in brain research, covering a number of important areas for action, with as many relevant actors involved, to build towards a Call to Action and Policy Recommendations on Global Partnership in Brain Research to guide national, regional and global policymakers towards better addressing brain health in the future, particularly as they prepare for the post-Sustainable Development Goals era with the Summit of the Future 2024 and the High Level Conference on the UN NCD Strategy 2025.

We sat down with key stakeholders to hear from them why such an event, building global partnerships and tackling brain health together is so important, more now than ever. Dr. Caroline Montojo, President & CEO, Dana Foundation shares her views.