NCL Research Award

Medical and basic science researchers worldwide are invited to submit innovative clinical or translational basic science projects to contribute to finding a cure for juvenile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCL), also called Batten disease. Scientists from related areas of science including Alzheimer’s disease, aging and other lysosomal storage disorders are particularly encouraged to apply for the NCL Research Award. Applications are due by email by Oct. 31, 2013, to research@ncl-foundation.com. Applicants must use the provided application form, available at www.ncl-stiftung.de/englisch/media/dokumente/promotion/ncl_research_award/ncl_application_form_2013.docx.

More information is available at www.ncl-foundation.com.

Healthy Lifestyle and Prevention of Stroke

The wonderful city of Dubrovnik was the host of the 24th Summer Stroke School with international participation June 3-8. The summer school was held under the auspices of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts. The usual and proud auspicates were Inter-University Centre Dubrovnik, Croatian Stroke Society, Medical School University of Zagreb, Central and Eastern European Stroke Society and Applied Research Group on Delivery of Neurological Services (RGODNS) of World Federation of Neurology (WFN).

Course Director Vida Demarin, fellow of Croatian Academy of Arts and Sciences (Zagreb, Croatia), Professor Roman Haberl (Munich, Germany), Professor Kurt Niederkorn (Graz, Austria), Professor Tatjana Rundek (Miami, USA) and Professor Zlatko Trkanjec (Zagreb, Croatia) have once again shown that Croatia is one of Europe’s centers of knowledge. The course gathered many experts from around the world who unselfishlessly shared their clinical and personal experience and knowledge with course participants.

The aim of the course once again supported the cooperation and promoted the exchange of knowledge and experience among participants from different countries. This meeting shed a new light on epidemiology of stroke, its primary and secondary prevention, diagnostics, therapy and rehabilitation. All participants had a unique opportunity to share their national stroke data and discuss specific stroke problems of their country. Countries of East and West Europe had an opportunity to work together on solving problems related to stroke, whether they were medical, economical or of some other nature.

The diverse scientific program embraced different aspects of stroke, from the importance of spreading knowledge about stroke, stroke prevention in 2013, prevention of stroke in atrial fibrillation, a new era, IMT/plaque, the same or different phenotypes, recent advances in ultrasound diagnosis, dissection of carotid and vertebral arteries as a cause of stroke, aortich atheroma as a risk factor for stroke, sensory impairments after stroke, silent brain infraction, thrombectomy in acute stroke, gender differences in stroke, detection of cerebral emboli using transcranial doppler, vascular mild cognitive impairment, gut — your second brain, diagnosis and treatment of vertebral artery stenosis, examination after stroke, postpartum stroke, advanced glycation end products (AGE) and their role in carotid atherogenesis, and many more interesting topics.

All of the hard work was awarded by a rich social and cultural program: an excursion to the island of Lokrum, a violin recital by Midori Komachi organized by Uta Schneider in honor of Professor Vida Demarin in Rectors Palace in the heart of Dubrovnik, and the closing night of this Summer Stroke School that offered flavors and tastes of traditional Mediterranean tasty and healthy foods in the peaceful atmosphere of Dubrovniks’s peninsula Babin Kuk. Altogether, it was a worthwhile and interesting scientific and social program and once more a successful Summer Stroke School. We look forward to the 25th Summer Stroke School June 9-13, 2014.

Early Neurological Films at Medical Congresses

During the past decade, historical neurological films gained popularity in the neurological community. Early films were made by neuroscientists in several cities, including Leuven (Van Gehuchten), Paris (Paul Sainton), Berlin (Paul Schuster and Arthur Simons), Bucharest (Georges Marinesco), Philadelphia (Theodore Weisenburg), Boston (Denny-Brown), Turin (Camillo Negro), Bologna (Vincenzo Neri), London (S.A. Kinnier Wilson), Utrecht (Magnus) and Leiden (Rademaker); many surfaced during the past decades.

[Read more…]

Advancing Our Goals

Donald H.  Silberberg

Donald H. Silberberg

How can we help individuals with neurological problems obtain the best possible care in every country? The World Federation of Neurology, representing about 27,000 neurologists from 113 countries, plays a potentially critical role in this effort. Through its officers, 15 committees and over 20 working groups, the WFN seeks to educate, advocate and support research and clinical care in many parts of the world. A particular focus is to bring improved services to areas that are under-resourced. [Read more…]

JNS: New Editor, New Face, New Content

Vladimir Hachinski

Vladimir Hachinski

The Journal of Neurological Sciences (JNS) is the official journal of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN). Under the leadership of Robert Lisak and his team, the journal has grown steadily in its impact factor, circulation and income for the WFN. We are most grateful to Lisak, his team and his indispensable manager, Susan Hutton, for their dedication and accomplishments. [Read more…]

Eli S. Goldensohn

goldensohnEli S. Goldensohn, a pioneer in the development of video-EEG monitoring, passed away March 22, 2013, at the age of 97. During his long career, he was on the faculties of the University of Colorado, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, the College of Physicians & Surgeons at Columbia University, and after retiring from Columbia, he spent more than a decade at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. [Read more…]

Mark Your Calendars

2013

 

Second SFCNS Congress: Swiss  Federation of Clinical Neuro-Societies

June 5-7, 2013

Montreux, Switzerland

http://kongress2.imk.ch/sfcns2013/ [Read more…]

WFN Headquarters Office is Moving

After five years in Richmond-upon-Thames, WFN Headquarters Office is relocating to new premises in London. The new address is in Hammersmith at 1 Lyric Square, London W6 0NB. The new telephone and fax numbers are: [Read more…]

Candidate Statement: President – Werner Hacke, MD, PhD, DSc (hon), FESC

Neurology is changing rapidly!

hackeThe spectrum of neurological diseases is undergoing major changes in incidence, spectrum and therapeutic options. There is an increase of neurological diseases in an unprecedented manner all over the world. While infectious diseases are still a major health problem in low and middle income countries, all societies are facing a massive increase of noncommunicable diseases linked to risk factors and aging population. [Read more…]

Candidate Statement: President – Raad Shakir

shakirThe WFN has been part of my life for 32 years. It all started when I presented a paper at the 1981 World Congress in Kyoto. I soon realized that neurology is an international fraternity of like-minded people who strive to understand and advise each other. This was made more poignant as I was already an émigré from my own country of birth, Iraq.  [Read more…]