Welcome to the European Paediatric Neurology Society (EPNS)!
An international and independent non-profit making Society for physicians, health professionals, scientists, and students with research and/or clinical interest in Paediatric Neurology. Our mission is to promote excellence in patient care, research, and education to improve the neurological outcome of children and young people in Europe and across the world.
As I reflect on 2024, I am proud to report that European Paediatric Neurology Society (EPNS) has taken further steps in our mission to promote excellence in patient care, research, and education to improve the neurological outcome of children and young people in Europe and across the world. The year 2024 has been one of strengthening our established activities, increasing our advocacy efforts and looking forward to how the EPNS will look in the future.
In 2024, in line with previous years, we saw a steady increase in our EPNS membership numbers with 649 new members joining our society. This growth not only strengthens our collective voice but also enhances the diversity of expertise and experience within our network.
Our 8th biennial EPNS Research Meeting took place in October 2024 hosted in Ljubljana. In an environment that stimulated international collaborations and research in Paediatric Neurology, we were thrilled to welcome Paediatric Neurologist researchers at all stages of their career. The feedback received has been excellent and I send my personal congratulations to the EPNS Research award winners.
The EPNS Scientific and Research Committee together with the Local Organising Committee have put together a scientifically stimulating programme for the 16th EPNS Congress which will take place in Munich Germany on 8-11 July 2025. I hope to see you there where you will be part of a unique ABC format to learn, network and exchange ideas on an international stage.
Don’t forget to also mark the 17th EPNS Congress on 6-10 April 2027 in Barcelona in your calendars, and in July 2025 we will announce the location of EPNS Congress 2029.
The EPNS Education and Training committee continues to focus on promoting excellence and providing a comprehensive learning environment in Paediatric Neurology. During 2024 the EPNS Moodle has been enhanced and we are pleased to see that this excellent resource has been used by more and more of our EPNS members. Our regular EPNS webinar programme maintains high attendance and has been heightened by the introduction of the new EEG Club webinars which take place twice monthly. The EPNS is thrilled to support the EPNS Visiting Teachers and EPNS Fellowships, which provide career changing opportunities for our EPNS members. In February 2024 we hosted our well-established training courses as part of the 3-year rolling programme in Ferrara covering the topics ‘Acute Neurology’ and ‘Neurophysiological Investigations’. The unique biennial EPNS Masterclass took place in the surroundings of Cambridge University in the UK in September 2024 under the topic heading of ‘Great Expectations’. The 6th Biennial EPNS Caucasus Teaching Course was hosted in Tbilisi, in November 2024, with the opportunity for virtual attendance of the first day of the course, which covered the topic ‘Neonatal Neurology’.
I hope you will be able to get involved in our planned educational activities for 2025, which include the next round of EPNS Training Courses in Ferrara, with the topics ‘Movement Disorders’ and ‘Neuroimaging’. The 2nd fully virtual joint EPNS/ERN-RND Spring School will be taking place in March 2025 under the heading ‘Challenges of Treating Rare Neurological Diseases’ and in the same month, the EPNS Central Eurasia Workshop on ‘ Epileptic conditions of children from Newborn to childhood’ will be in Almaty City. Not forgetting the opportunity for EPNS Fellowships, Visiting Teachers, the EPNS Exam taking place on 8 July 2025, and much more.
The EPNS Advocacy and Collaboration Committee made significant strides in our advocacy efforts, particularly for the implementation of the Intersectoral Global Action Plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders (IGAP) which is a major focus for the EPNS in the coming years ahead. Our 44 EPNS IGAP representatives in Europe are playing an essential role in lobbying at a national level and plans are taking shape for the EPNS to provide additional support to help our EPNS IGAP representatives in this role. We encourage and empower all our EPNS members to be advocates of Paediatric Neurology and Brain Health within their own communities.
In addition, the EPNS continued to build strong alliances with other organisations who share similar goals, and I urge you to read in particular the EPNS Advocacy and Collaboration Committee update within this annual report to appreciate the breadth of work taking place. These partnerships amplify our collective voice on behalf of Paediatric Neurology and bolster our efforts to address the healthcare gaps.
As we move into the next year, the EPNS remains committed to advancing our advocacy efforts. We will continue to prioritise the IGAP implementation. Together we are stronger in advocating for easy and equitable access to the highest standard of patient care in neurology for children, young people, and support for their caregivers
The Young EPNS (YEPNS) is an established integral part of the EPNS. The efforts of the YEPNS play a vital role in the operation of the EPNS and I am proud to acknowledge their dedication. Their energy, innovation, and commitment are making a lasting impact on our society, and I look forward to building on these successes in the coming year.
With one representative from almost all European national Paediatric Neurology associations, the Committee of National Training Advisers (C N A) continues to be a valuable network assisting in important EPNS projects, including shaping the EPNS Exam.
Lastly, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to all our EPNS members and collaborators for your continued support and trust in the EPNS. I also want to express my sincere thanks to our EPNS Board members, whose guidance and vision continue to propel our society forward and whose commitment and expertise are the cornerstone of our success.
As we move into 2025, I remain optimistic about the future of the EPNS. Recently the EPNS Board members took part in a brainstorming strategy session, and we will be building on this in the coming months to review how the EPNS will evolve.
Together, we will continue to make a positive impact on patient care, research, and education to improve the neurological outcome of children and young people in Europe and across the world. I look forward to working with all of you to further our mission and achieve even greater success in the years ahead.
Best regards
Professor Kevin Rostasy
EPNS President 2022-2026
Education, Promotion, Networking, Science for Paediatric Neurology
Message: November 2023