Spring School

EAN Spring School, Steinschaler Dörfl, Austria

April 29 - May 3, 2026

Application for Spring School 2026 will be open from 1 December 2025 to 31 January 2026. 

Dedicated to clinical neurologists in training who did not yet complete their residency/clinical speciality training
and wish to boost their knowledge and get the chance to enable personal contacts among participants and faculty members.

Faculty members will present examples of the optimal organisation of neurological care, neurological services and postgraduate education throughout Europe, in the form of plenary sessions in the morning and afternoon workshops for smaller groups to amplify the learned content from the morning.

Organisers: 
EAN Teaching Course sub-Committee, Programme leads: Roland Wiest, Martina Bočková
EAN Office: Kathrin Jehle, grants(at)ean.org 

Location

ARRIVAL: Wednesday, 29 April 2026

SCHOOL: Thursday-Saturday. The lectures are scheduled for the three consecutive days. Participation in the entire event is mandatory.

DEPARTURE: Sunday morning, 3 May 2026

CAPACITY: up to 120 participants (40 per afternoon course to guarantee interactive workshops)

Accommodation, tuition, board and programme are covered by EAN. Participants pay for their travel only.
All participants will receive a certificate after having finished the course.

VENUE

Nature Hotel Steinschaler Doerfl
Taschlgrabenrotte 2
A-3213 Frankenfels
Austria

The venue is about 2 hours south-west of Vienna, located 750m above sea level, with a splendid view into the valley. 

Please be aware that you must have an active RRFS or Full membership in order to apply for the Spring School. Approval of your membership may take up to 10 working days and we advise that you submit your complete membership application at least 3 weeks before the deadline for applications for this event.

RRFS members are listed in the RRFS membership section, Full members are listed in the Full membership section.

 

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Applications for Spring School 2026 can be submitted from 1 December 2025 to 31 January 2026. 

Additional document: Proof of 2 year neurology experience/eligibility (can be from programme supervisor, programme director or current employer). 

PRESENT YOUR CASE REPORT

We invite you to present your case report related to the Spring School topics.
Please complete the abstract-textbox within the online application (up to 250 words), including a statement why the case is important and clinically relevant. 
Up to 6 case reports will be selected for a 10-minute presentation during the scientific dinner.
The three best presentations will be selected by the faculty, awarded and later announced on eanNews.

For the annual Spring School 120 participants can be accepted.  

Each application is reviewed by 2 members of the EAN educational committees, plus a final review by the Teaching course sub-Committee Chair and a nominated responsible member.  

Rating process 

In order to have a reliable grading system, the score for each application is a result of 3 separate scores: 

  • 1 score for the application
  • 1 score for the CV 
  • 1 score for the overall impression 

Acceptance process

The selection of accepted participants is based on the mean scores and the overall impression. 

In order to avoid empty spots due to unforeseen circumstances and last-minute cancellations, EAN accepts 130 applications for the Spring School.

Other rules that apply: 

Terms and conditions for participation in EAN events & for receipt of EAN grants 

The terms apply for all EAN activities and grants, meaning that participants who successfully applied and will receive a financial contribution or tuition from EAN. 

Read terms and conditions

Discover more

Find related Spring School content:

Teaching material

Download programmes and presentations:

Teaching material

There is no price tag to the learned knowledge and education nor the new connections you make for your future career path. The value of tuition, accommodation & board for each Spring School participant corresponds to € 1.000,-.

Programme

Welcome Day

Wednesday, 29 April 2026

20:00 Opening followed by welcome dinner

Heart & Brain

Day 1: Thursday, 30 April 2026

Morning sessions

08:30-09:30 Treatment synergies in cardio-/neurovascular diseases
Maurizio Paciaroni (Ferrara, Italy)

09:30-09:45 Coffee break

09:45-10:45 Anticoagulant treatment of the ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke
Slaven Pikija (Graz, Austria)

10:45-11:00 Coffee break

11:00-12:00 Other prevention strategies in diseases of the heart & brain
TBA

12:00-13:00 Lunch break

 

Afternoon workshops 
3 groups of 40 participants will rotate from workshop to workshop.

13:00 – 14:00 Workshops
14:00 – 14:15 Break and change of session rooms
14:15 – 15:15 Workshops
15:15 – 15:30 Break and change of session rooms
15:30 – 16:30 Workshops

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16:45 Evening programme: Excursion and dinner

Gut & Brain

Day 2: Friday, 1 May 2026

Morning sessions

09:00-10:00 The role of lifestyle and diets to prevent or treat neurological disorders
Rima Nabbout (Paris, France) 

10:00-10:15 Coffee break

10:15-11:15 The role of gut microbiota in neurological disease pathogenesis
Sandra Morais Cardoso (Coimbra, Portugal)

11:15-11:30 Coffee break

11:30-12:30 Gut & Brain: Emerging therapeutic strategies
Jutta Keller (Hamburg, Germany)

12:30-13:00 RRFS presentation:  Possibilities for junior neurologists within EAN - from education to research and career development
TBA

13:00-14:00 Lunch break

 

Afternoon workshops 
3 groups of 40 participants will rotate from workshop to workshop.

14:00 – 15:00 Workshops 
15:00 – 15:15 Break and change of session rooms
15:15 – 16:15 Workshops
16:15 – 16:30 Break and change of session rooms
16:30 – 17:30 Workshops 

*********

19:30 Evening programme: Scientific dinner

Case presentations by participants with Q&A from the jury

The lecture and workshops of Jutta Keller are organized in cooperation with the United European Gastroenterology (UEG)

Breath & Brain

Day 3: Saturday, 2 May 2026

Morning sessions

09:00-10:00 Sleep apnea before and after stroke
Poul Jørgen Jennum (Copenhagen, Denmark)

10:00-10:15 Coffee break

10:15-11:15 Sleep related breathing disorders and epilepsy
Ramin Khatami (Barmelweid, Switzerland)

11:15-11:30 Coffee break

11:30-12:30 Supportive therapies in late stages of neurodegenerative disorders
TBA

12:30-13:30 Lunch break

 

Afternoon workshops 
3 groups of 40 participants will rotate from workshop to workshop.

13:30 – 14:30 Workshops 
14:30 – 14:45 Break and change of session rooms
14:45 – 15:45 Workshops
15:45 – 16:00 Break and change of session rooms
16:00 – 17:00 Workshops 

17:00 – 17:30    Exit Exam

*********

Evening programme: Goodbye party