The ERA-Net NEURON, in cooperation with the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) QUEST Center, hosted a 2.5-day Open Science workshop under the umbrella of the European Partnership for BrainHealth. The event brought together 23 funded projects from ERA-Net NEURON JTC 2025 and JPND Joint Transnational Calls (JTCs) 2023–2025.
A First Joint Workshop Bridging Disciplines
This workshop marked a first: a joint format combining NEURON and JPND projects. By bringing together biomedical and public health research communities, the event created a dynamic platform to address real-world challenges in brain health. Participants exchanged ideas across disciplines, exploring how research, practice, and societal impact can be better connected.
With 41 participants—including researchers, instructors, and organizers—the workshop fostered a collaborative environment focused on learning, discussion, and networking. It also highlighted the importance of strengthening connections between scientific communities within the emerging European Partnership for BrainHealth.
Key Topics: From Research Quality to AI and Ethics
Over the course of the workshop, participants engaged with a broad range of topics essential for modern research, including:
- Research robustness and reproducibility
- Data management and infrastructures
- Neuroethics and artificial intelligence
- Public and patient involvement in research
Highlights from the Program
The interactive program combined expert input with hands-on sessions:
- Research infrastructures: Dr. Sabine Hölter (Helmholtz Munich) introduced ESFRI INFRAFRONTIER, the European Mouse Mutant Archive (EMMA), and the German Mouse Clinic—key resources for projects involving animal and human studies.
- Ethics and AI: Dr. Julia Inthorn (Munich School of Philosophy) addressed ethical challenges in neuroscience and artificial intelligence. In light of the European AI Act (2024), she highlighted the need for risk assessment when applying machine learning to large datasets.
- Data management planning: Dr. Marek Suchanek (Czech Technical University in Prague) led a tutorial on developing Data Management Plans using the Data Stewardship Wizard (DSW), an open-source tool for collaborative planning.
- Experimental design: Dr. Natascha Drude and Dr. Ulf Tölch (BIH QUEST Center) guided participants through interactive sessions on internal, external, and translational validity, as well as research reliability.
A New Interactive Format: Patient Involvement
A standout feature of the workshop was the session on Patient and Public Involvement (PPI). Using a speed-dating format, participants engaged directly with patient representatives in short, rotating discussions. This innovative approach provided valuable insights into how patients and stakeholders can be meaningfully involved throughout the research process.
Supporting New Research Consortia
The workshop is designed to help newly funded consortia get off to a strong start. In addition to resources available through the NEURON platform, it addresses practical challenges in international collaboration and offers valuable networking opportunities across projects.
Looking Ahead: A New Era for Brain Health Research
The 2025 calls marked the final funding rounds of the longstanding NEURON and JPND initiatives. Both programmes are now transitioning into the European Partnership for BrainHealth, launched in 2026.
This new partnership expands the scope of previous initiatives, adopting a more inclusive and holistic approach to brain health. Through annual Joint Transnational Calls, it will continue to support multidisciplinary and translational research addressing biological, social, and environmental determinants of brain health across the lifespan.
Importantly, the highly valued QUEST workshops will continue as part of this new framework—ensuring ongoing support for collaborative, high-quality research in Europe.