The European Partnership for Brain Health delivers its mission through ten interconnected Work Packages (WPs) that drive our core activities and strategic objectives. These packages feed into four Central Hubs, ensuring that all efforts contribute cohesively to our shared vision and maximise impact across the brain health ecosystem.
Work Package 1 – Management and Coordination
WP1 comprises the overall coordination and management of the entire Partnership. It supports an effective governance through the establishment of a variety of different boards and smooth operational processes via the Coordination Office. Furthermore, WP1 ensures continuous communication with the European Commission and the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) as well as internal communication with all participants. The development of annual work programmes and impact monitoring also fall within this area of responsibility. Finally, WP1 promotes sustainability and dialogue with other European Partnerships and relevant initiatives.
WP Lead: DLR
Work Package 2 – Research and Funding
WP2 realises funding of research and innovation through joint transnational calls (JTCs). Five types of complementary funding instruments are being implemented, including Joint Transnational Calls for research funding, High-Risk-High-Reward calls, calls specifically focused on Ethical, Legal and Social aspects (ELSA), joint funding actions with industry as well as Working Group Calls. The selection of projects follows high-quality evaluation standards involving scientific, patients and ethics reviewers. The aim is to support interdisciplinary consortia and implement the scientific strategy of the Partnership. Thus, WP2 creates the foundation for innovative research and innovation projects in the field of brain health.
WP Lead: ANR
Work Package 3 – Call Monitoring
WP3 monitors the progress and impact of implemented research projects throughout their entire runtime. It defines common monitoring indicators and reporting procedures for national and EU criteria. Through midterm and final reviews, the progress of funded projects is monitored. Additionally, an impact assessment of the calls and results generated in funded projects takes place. The accompaniment of legacy projects from the predecessor initiatives JPND and ERA-NET NEURON also belongs to the tasks.
WP Lead: AEI/FECYT
Work Package 4 – Translation of research results into Practice
WP4 identifies the needs for accelerating the translation of research results into practice and feed those into regional, national and pan-European priorities. In different formats, such as Reverse Technology Transfer events, hackathons, roundtable, workshops and networking events, researchers are being connected with investors, clinicians, patients, private sector representatives and other relevant stakeholders. The Partnership also offers accompaniment and strategic advice for researchers along the translational pathway to further develop their innovative research findings towards new brain health solutions for the market. Finally, WP4 engages with European regulatory and policy entities to ensure alignment with the evolving needs of the brain health sector and to overcome existing barriers.
WP Lead: VLO-WEWIS/ZonMw
Work Package 5 – Empower and Engage with Science and Society
WP5 fosters active Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) within the activities of the EP BrainHealth. Patient advocates are involved in all steps of the research process, including the definition of strategic and research priorities of the Partnership. In addition, open calls for the public for future topic propositions are being implemented to ensure a close link with the most pressing needs from the patient and society perspective. Through an extensive portfolio of workshops, webinars and trainings, capacities for PPI in research are being built on both sides, patient advocates and researchers. The Work Package also fosters interdisciplinarity throughout the Partnership and builds capacities for social innovation to better integrate it into the research process. A Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) strategy for the EP BrainHealth will address, amongst others, PPI, ethical, equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) aspects, protection of vulnerable groups, quality of research, open science and environmental responsibility.
WP Lead: NWO
Work Package 6 – Strengthen International Collaboration and Global Outreach
WP6 strengthens international collaboration and global outreach of the Partnership. It aligns with leading global brain health initiatives and promotes knowledge exchange with international partners. With the aim of providing diverse perspectives on brain health and widening the geographical coverage of the Partnership, global actors with potential to align scientifically or strategically with EP BrainHealth will be identified for future joint activities. Through science diplomacy, the positioning of EU brain health research on the global stage is strengthened aiming to foster global policy influencing pan-European and international practice for brain health. Finally, by bringing together key stakeholders of the brain innovation value chain such as EU institutions, regulatory bodies and trade associations including also relevant international organisations, the competitiveness of the EU in brain research and innovation will be strengthened.
WP Lead: EBC
Work Package 7 – Strategy Alignment and Priority Setting
WP7 implements the strategic alignment and priority setting of the Partnership. Aiming to ensure that the EP BrainHealth stays abreast the priorities and needs of the brain health ecosystem and implements the appropriate instruments to address them, the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) is updated regularly. Annual foresight symposia analyse trends in the brain health field and identify research needs to make sure that funding resources correspond to current needs of the ecosystem. Continuous dialogue with other Work Packages secures a holistic strategy for the future.
WP Lead: ANR/INSERM
Work Package 8 – Resources for the Future of Brain Health Research
WP8 builds capacities for the future of brain research. This includes the facilitation of data standardisation, harmonisation, and consequently the use of European Research Infrastructures, relevant to the brain health community. Funded researchers are trained in data management, how to deal with ethical aspects of their research and how to make the best use European Infrastructures, open science and FAIR data principle, etc. An extensive knowledge hub will be set up to gather and centralise all important information in this regard. Another focus of this Work Package is the support of Early Career Researchers through various formats, including stipend and mentoring programmes, video competitions, poster and paper prices.
WP Lead: DLR
Work Package 9 – Communication and Dissemination
WP9 ensures effective communication and dissemination of EP BrainHealth’s activities, outcomes, and impact to a broad range of stakeholders, including researchers, healthcare professionals, policymakers, patient organisations and the general public. Through the EP BrainHealth website, newsletters, social media, multimedia content and targeted outreach activities, WP9 strengthens the visibility of the Partnership, engages key audiences and promotes its activities, opportunities, results, and success stories.
WP Lead: CSO-MoH
Work Package 10 – Ethics
WP10 sets out the ethics requirements that all projects must comply with. An external Ethics Advisory Board has been implemented to offer independent opinions. This board focuses on complex and/or serious ethics cases identified during the evaluation of EU-co funded research projects. The work ensures that all activities adhere to the highest ethical standards and regulations.
WP Lead: DLR
The Four Central Hubs of EP BrainHealth
Bridging the gap between scientific discovery, policy, and patient care, EP BrainHealth organises its operational framework around four central hubs. These hubs serve as the strategic engine of the Partnership—aligning Work Package outcomes, preventing fragmentation, and directing European collaboration towards tangible healthcare impacts.
Hub A: Increasing Competitiveness
This Hub focuses on supporting scientific excellence and innovation through joint funding activities and capacity building. It ensures high-quality research outputs and the effective implementation of transnational calls.
Contributing Work Packages: WP1, WP2, WP3, WP4, WP6, WP7, WP8, WP9
Hub B: Accelerating Innovation
This Hub drives the translation of research results into practice and healthcare solutions. It connects scientific findings with real-world needs in the brain health sector.
Contributing Work Packages: WP2, WP3, WP4, WP5, WP6, WP7, WP9
Hub C: Building Capacities for Research
This Hub boosts high research quality standards, FAIR and open data sharing, and specialized training to strengthen research capabilities across all participating regions, including the next generation of researchers.
Contributing Work Packages: WP1, WP2, WP3, WP5, WP8, WP9
Hub D: Structuring the BrainHealth Ecosystem
This Hub focuses on alignment and coordination with partners inside and outside Europe and all relevant stakeholder groups along the entire translational value chain, including society.
Contributing Work Packages: WP1, WP2, WP3, WP4, WP5, WP6, WP7, WP9