Neuroepidemiology

Activities and Description of the EAN Scientific Panel on Neuroepidemiology

At the end of 2008, the panel included 35 members from across Europe, high quality researchers covering focused interests in the epidemiology of a variety of neurological disorders, and clinical expertise. The Scientific Panel (SP) was integrated with new members in order to geographically cover all European Countries, and allow active neuroepidemiologists to participate to our activities. Members have been shared the EAN general policies. They are invited to participate to the meetings held within the EAN annual congress, and contacts are individually undertaken on a weekly basis on EAN activities to be planned and carried out.

Indeed, due to their expertise in methodology, our panel members are committed to transversally collaborate with other EFNS panels in ensuring adequate study designs and correct interpretation of results.

The panel further aims to promote and support the use of standardized strategies across the panels to produce EAN guidelines according to the EAN principles. One such strategy currently implies training panel members on the use of GradePro application to generate recommendations.

The SP ultimately fosters the spread of an epidemiological culture among neurologists, as well as the establishment of neuroepidemiological study groups in countries developing a strong interest for the discipline (e.g. Bulgaria, Moldova, resource-poor countries). In the past, members of the SP have individually collaborated with liason societies, such as the European Charcot Foundation for Multiple Sclerosis Research, European Multiple Sclerosis Platform (EMSP), and the European Brain Council (EBC).