1. The ERA-NET NEURON Advancing Neuroscience in Europe and beyond Dr. Sascha Helduser DLR-PT, Bonn, Germany

2. ERA-Net NEURON Cofund NEURON = Network of European funding for Neuroscience research ERA-Net in the area of disease-related neurosciences SSA NEURON, 2003-2004 4 funding organisations 4 countries NEURON, 2007-2011 18 funding organisations 13 countries NEURON II, 2012-2015 24 funding organisations 18 countries NEURON Cofund, 2016-2020 27 funding organisations 19 countries

3. ERA-Net NEURON Cofund Partners Policy makers Research community General public FWF MRC NWO MINECO ISCIII ANR CNRS Inserm CSO-MOH NCBR CIHR FRQS FCT BMBF DLR SAS AKA RCN FNRS FWO MOH TÜBITAK UEFISCDI VIAA

4. Strategic Research Agenda Developed by Scientific Advisory Board plus external experts, published January 2015 Feeback from professional societies and patient organisations Scientific Priorities Topic 1: Understanding disease mechanisms (cell-based & animal models, comorbidities, and resilience) Topic 2: Understanding disease progression (pathology, diagnosis, biomarkers, stratification) Topic 3: Interventions (prevention and treatment) Neurological diseases Psychiatric disorders Sensory organ diseases and peripheral nervous system disorders

5. NEURON Activities – Joint Calls for Proposals Just launched JTC 2016 ‚External insults to the nervous system‘ Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries Jointly with EU Commission, up to 20 m€ Biomed. Research

6. Intensity of Network Collaboration collaboration of NEURON-funded research groups (calls 2008-2013) ‚Underrepresented countries‘ include: Latvia Romania Slovakia How to improve collaborations?  ‚soft‘ incentives: Widening Concept

7. Aim: Inclusion of ‚underrepresented countries‘ Instruments: –Enlargement of consortia (6 instead of 5 research groups), if underrepresented countries included –Options for addition of partners during evaluation process: Pre- proposal Full proposal Project start Pre-evaluation:  Option for future calls post-evaluation:  Low threshold  Direct application to the consorita Consortium enlargement

8. Widening Concept – Results First applied in the call of 2014 ‘Neuroinflammation’ –Two consortia added new partners from Latvia and Slovakia, respectively –Smooth process Continued in the call of 2015 ‘Neurodevelopmental Disorders’: –2 Romanian groups for widening identified –Projects still under negotiation Call of 2016 ‘External Insults’: –2 consortia made use of enlargement and included Romanian and Slovakian groups, respectively

9. Thank you for your attention. www.neuron-eranet.eu

10. Widening Concept – Successes 2 consortia added partners from Latvia and Slovakia CnsAflame Topic: Neuroinflammation after traumatic brain injury Consortium composition: Germany, France, Sweden, Israel additional partner: Prof. Dr. Maija Danbrova Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology Latvia  Translational aspect added METRA-BBB Topic: The role of the blood-brain-barrier for regulation of neuroinflammation Consortium composition: Germany, Austria, France, Canada additional partner: Dr. Adela Penesova Laboratory of Human Endocrinology Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, SAS Slovakia  Broadening of research approach