The Coordination and Support Action (CSA) BrainHealth joined global leaders in New York City at the 2025 Brain Days during the Science Summit of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80), organized by the European Brain Council (EBC) and partners. The event marked a pivotal step in bringing brain health to the forefront of the international policy agenda – from research coordination to societal resilience and sustainable development.
A Global Dialogue on Brain Health
As part of the “Future of Brain Health Policy” pillar, the CSA BrainHealth was featured by Friederike Bathe (CSA BrainHealth’s Head of the Coordination Office) in a high-level roundtable moderated by Frédéric Destrebecq (Executive Director of EBC), alongside Anthony Hannan (International Brain Initiative), Shubha Tole (President-Elect, International Brain Research Organization) and Alfred Njamnshi (Brain Research Africa Initiative).
The discussion reflected the shared ambition to overcome fragmentation and build a coherent global ecosystem for brain health. “We are part of an international brain movement,” said Anthony Hannan, “that incorporates brain health, the brain economy and brain capital – collectively at the cutting edge with enormous capacity for impact.”
Friederike Bathe emphasized Europe’s contribution to this vision through the upcoming European Partnership for Brain Health (EP Brain Health), set to launch in January 2026. “The Partnership capitalizes on growing momentum by aligning national investments and fostering the generation of solutions that improve quality of life for people in Europe and beyond,” she noted. “It will be one of the largest brain health research initiatives worldwide.”
From Europe to the World: Building the Brain Health Ecosystem
Speakers highlighted the growing convergence between regional and global efforts. Alfred Njamnshi offered a powerful metaphor: “If the brain does not work, the rest does not matter.” Reflecting on Africa’s progress in building scientific capacity, he underscored that “the magic of the brain is in connection” – a sentiment that resonated across continents.
Discussions also explored practical mechanisms for collaboration. IBRO’s Shubha Tole and IBI’s Anthony Hannan spoke about training programs, data sharing and the importance of equitable North-South partnerships. Shubha Tole called for a reframing of global cooperation: “We often talk about reaching out to LMICs, but I would like to see this flipped around – for these countries to lead, to invite others to join their research and innovation efforts.”
From Global Dialogue to Concrete Action
The UNGA80 Brain Days coincided with the UN High-Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs), where brain health was recognized as integral to the NCD and sustainable development agendas. The synergy between these events further strengthened the case for coordinated international action.
In his closing reflections, Frédéric Destrebecq noted that brain health “has moved from the margins to the center of the global health policy conversation.” The participation of the CSA BrainHealth underlined Europe’s commitment to ensuring that the forthcoming EP Brain Health acts as a bridge between European leadership and global collaboration.
Looking Ahead
The engagement of CSA BrainHealth at UNGA80 demonstrated that the future of brain health will depend on shared vision, mutual learning and sustained investment. As Friederike Bathe concluded, “Our goal is impact – to generate solutions that make life better for people affected by neurological and mental disorders everywhere.”
By connecting the dots between regional innovation and global diplomacy, the CSA BrainHealth’s participation in UNGA80 reinforced its central mission: to make brain health a unifying and actionable global priority.