Ready to take the next step in your neurosurgical training? Don’t miss the opportunity to join the EANS Training Courses, a cornerstone of neurosurgical education with a tradition of excellence dating back to the 1970s.

Bringing together young neurosurgeons from across Europe, the courses offer high-level education, hands-on learning experiences, and valuable opportunities for international exchange with peers and experts.

Become part of a programme that has shaped generations of neurosurgeons.

Application deadline: 30 September 2026

For more information and details on how to apply, please visit our website or contact our Events - Training Courses & Exams Manager Visi Navarro.

The European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS) had a strong presence at the XXIX Congress of the Spanish Society of Neurosurgery (SENEC) in Córdoba, Spain, held under the inspiring theme "Close to People, Close to the Future."

The congress featured a high-level, collaborative, and global scientific programme, bringing together top-level national and international experts who shared their knowledge and experience through pre-congress courses, plenary lectures, and parallel sessions covering all areas of neurosurgery, with a particular focus on innovation and future developments in patient care.

EANS was represented through the participation of the EANS Spine Section, which contributed to the scientific programme and highlighted the Association’s commitment to advancing spinal neurosurgery. The involvement of EANS at SENEC reflects the importance of close partnerships with National Member Societies and the shared goal of promoting excellence in neurosurgical care across Europe and beyond.

The future of cerebrovascular neurosurgery will take centre stage in Marseille, France, as the 13th Annual EANS Vascular Section Meeting brings together leading specialists from Europe and the United States for two days of scientific exchange, collaboration, and innovation.

This prestigious meeting provides a unique forum for neurosurgeons, neurointerventionalists, neuroradiologists, neurologists, and all professionals involved in cerebrovascular care to explore the latest developments, share experience, and discuss the challenges shaping the field.

Taking place in conjunction with the annual ESMINT Congress, the meeting will feature dedicated Joint EANS/ESMINT sessions, creating an exceptional environment for interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration across specialties.

The majority of the programme will once again be dedicated to oral presentations of submitted abstracts and interactive plenary sessions, providing a platform for members to showcase their latest research and ideas.

Adding to the educational experience, the meeting will also feature the Hands-On Workshop: Practical Vascular Neurosurgery on 31 August 2026. Limited to a small group of participants, this exclusive workshop offers a unique opportunity for focused, practical training with expert faculty.

Join leading voices from Europe and the US in Marseille and be part of the conversation defining the future of cerebrovascular care.

Registration is now open.

The future of neurosurgery is shaped by research. Join the EANS Research Course 2026 on 30 September 2026 in Hamburg, Germany, and gain the essential skills to develop, conduct, and communicate impactful clinical and translational research.

Taking place as a pre-congress course ahead of the EANS Annual Congress, the newly restructured Research Course has been designed for clinicians, scientists, residents, fellows, and healthcare professionals who want to strengthen their research expertise and take the next step in their scientific journey.

Led by an internationally renowned faculty, this one-day, state-of-the-art programme will guide participants through the key stages of the research process. from developing a meaningful research question and designing robust clinical studies to presenting findings effectively and successfully publishing scientific work.

Whether you are beginning your academic career or looking to enhance your existing research skills, the course offers practical insights, expert guidance, and valuable strategies to help transform ideas into high-quality scientific contributions.

By bringing the course to Hamburg immediately before the EANS Annual Congress, participants can benefit from easier access while learning from some of the leading experts in neurosurgical research. Beyond the educational programme, the course offers a unique opportunity to network with internationally recognised researchers and establish collaborations that can shape future scientific careers.

The preliminary programme is now available, and registration is open.

We look forward to welcoming you to Hamburg for an inspiring day of learning, networking, and scientific discovery!

Join us on 30 September 2026 in Hamburg for the EANS Peripheral Nerve Surgery Pre-Congress Course, a unique educational opportunity dedicated to one of the most challenging and rewarding subspecialties in neurosurgery.

Designed to provide a comprehensive 360° perspective on peripheral nerve surgery, the course features an outstanding international faculty of renowned experts who will share their experience, practical knowledge, and the latest developments in the field.

This year's programme is structured around two major thematic pillars in peripheral nerve surgery: nerve tumors and peripheral nerve entrapment syndromes. Together, they provide a comprehensive overview that integrates fundamental science, diagnostic work-up, therapeutic strategies, and interactive case discussions.

A distinctive feature of the course is its interactive format. Discussions throughout the day will encourage participants to exchange ideas, ask questions, and engage directly with the worldwide experts, creating an enriching learning experience.

Registration is open. Explore the programme and secure your place today!

Dr. Gloria Villalba Martínez is a neurosurgeon at Hospital del Mar in Barcelona, Spain, with a special interest in neuromodulation for pain and psychiatric disorders. Since joining the department in 2006, she has combined clinical practice with research and teaching, contributing to the development of innovative therapies for patients with complex neurological and psychiatric conditions.

Throughout her career, Dr. Villalba has focused her clinical and research activities on neuromodulation for chronic pain and psychiatric disorders. She contributed to the development of a comprehensive neuromodulation program for neuropathic pain, which led to Hospital del Mar being designated by the Spanish Ministry of Health as a National Reference Center (CSUR) for Neuropathic Pain and Neuromodulation. She has also contributed to clinical research on deep brain stimulation (DBS) for severe treatment-resistant anorexia nervosa, including a pioneering clinical trial conducted in Spain. She currently serves as Co-Principal Investigator of a European clinical trial evaluating the combination of deep brain stimulation (DBS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for cocaine addiction.

Alongside her clinical and scientific work, Dr. Villalba has maintained a strong commitment to education and academic development. She has held academic appointments at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and Universitat Pompeu Fabra and continues to contribute to teaching while conducting research at the Hospital del Mar Research Institute.

Beyond the operating room, Dr. Villalba has also explored the human side of neurosurgery. Following several media appearances, she authored On the Other Side of the Scalpel (Penguin Random House), a book reflecting on the relationship between neurosurgeons, patients, and their families, and offering a perspective on the human side of neurosurgery beyond the operating room.

What has been your greatest achievement in neurosurgery?

I believe that being able to innovate in an environment with limited resources is, in itself, one of my greatest achievements. I am particularly proud of helping to establish a comprehensive neuromodulation program for neuropathic pain, which contributed to Hospital del Mar being designated as a National Reference Center (CSUR) for Neuropathic Pain and Neuromodulation. I am also proud to have participated in pioneering clinical research on deep brain stimulation for severe anorexia nervosa and to continue exploring new neuromodulation therapies for complex neuropsychiatric disorders.

What has been your greatest challenge in neurosurgery?

One of the greatest challenges has been learning to approach the most difficult moments in neurosurgery with empathy while maintaining emotional resilience. Supporting patients and their families when surgery is no longer an option has taught me that being a neurosurgeon also means continuing to care beyond the operating room.

What advice would you give to young neurosurgical trainees?

Having a mentor is one of the greatest assets when you are young and inexperienced—not only in neurosurgery, but in life. I would also encourage young neurosurgeons to keep an open mind, continue learning, travel, build professional networks, and pursue the projects they truly believe in, even when resources are limited.

Submissions are now open for an upcoming Special Issue of Brain & Spine entitled “Functional Neurosurgery: Current and Emerging Therapies for Movement Disorders, Psychiatric Disorders, Epilepsy, and Pain.”

Functional neurosurgery continues to advance rapidly through developments in neuromodulation, neuroimaging, connectomics, robotics, and artificial intelligence. These innovations are enabling increasingly precise, accurate, and patient-tailored treatment approaches across neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Reflecting this progress, the Special Issue aims to showcase cutting-edge research and perspectives from the international functional neurosurgery community and highlight current developments shaping the field. Contributions are encouraged across a broad range of topics including movement disorders, psychiatric neurosurgery, epilepsy surgery, pain, stereotactic and connectomic approaches, adaptive neuromodulation, minimally invasive therapies, robotics, artificial intelligence, and translational neuroscience.

The guest editors welcome submissions of original research articles, reviews, technical notes, and perspective papers that advance innovation and understanding in functional neurosurgery.

The submission window is open from 1 May to 7 October 2026. Manuscripts should be submitted via the Brain & Spinesubmission platform. To ensure inclusion in the Special Issue, authors should select “VSI: Functional Neurosurgery”under Article Type during submission.

All manuscripts will undergo standard peer review, and accepted articles will be published without article processing charges.

Guest Editors: Olaf E.M.G. Schijns, MD, PhD (Managing Guest Editor) Marie Krüger, MD, PhD (Guest Editor) Pablo Andrade, MD, PhD (Guest Editor)

Marie Krueger
Section of Functional Neurosurgery Chair

Join us for the EANS Skull Base Neurosurgery & Radiosurgery Sections Joint Webinar: Multidisciplinary Management of Cavernous Sinus Meningiomas on 1 July at 17:00 CEST.

The 12th Congress of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) was held in Geneva from 27–30 June 2026, bringing together leading neurologists from across Europe and beyond for a high-level scientific meeting dedicated to advancing research, education, and clinical practice in neurology.

EANS President Francesco Sala represented the Association at the Congress, reinforcing the importance of close collaboration between neurology and neurosurgery. His participation highlighted the EANS commitment to strengthening interdisciplinary dialogue and fostering joint initiatives in education, research, and patient care.

The congress provided an important platform for scientific exchange across disciplines, showcasing cutting-edge developments in neurology and underlining the value of continued partnership between European neurological and neurosurgical communities.

EANS President Francesco Sala represented the Association at the 77th DGNC Annual Meeting in Aachen. The DGNC is the most represented national society within the EANS, with many members having served as EANS Officers and continuing to support the Association.

The meeting highlighted strong European collaboration and provided a platform for scientific exchange and continued dialogue in neurosurgery. The congress brought together neurosurgeons from across Europe who exchanged knowledge and discussed the latest innovations in neurosurgery.

At the beginning of June, a strong EANS delegation attended the Slovak Neurosurgical Society Meeting in Bratislava, hosted by Andrej Steno. EANS was represented by Francesco Sala, Claudius Thomé, Lukas Rasulić, Andreas Demetriades, Christian Freyschlag, and Nikolay Gabrovsky, reflecting the Association’s active engagement in European neurosurgical collaboration.

The meeting brought together an international audience and provided an important platform for scientific exchange. It also marked the 80th anniversary of the foundation of the first Neurosurgical Department in the former Czechoslovak Republic in 1946, established in Bratislava by Jozef Žucha, highlighting a significant milestone in regional neurosurgical history.

From 15–17 June, the 18th Asian Australasian Congress of Neurological Surgeons was held in Manila under the motto “Unity in Neurosurgery: Linking Asia from Local to Global.” The congress brought together leading neurosurgeons from across Asia, Australasia, Europe, and beyond for a high-level scientific exchange and international collaboration.

The EANS was strongly represented at this major global meeting, reinforcing its commitment to international partnership and the advancement of neurosurgical knowledge worldwide. EANS President Prof. Francesco Sala participated actively in the congress, contributing to discussions on global collaboration in neurosurgery and the importance of shared educational and scientific initiatives across continents.

Neurolympics 2026: Where Neurosurgery Meets the Spirit of Sport

From 20–22 May 2026, the Olympic Stadium of Rome hosted Neurolympics 2026, a pioneering event that combined cutting-edge neurosurgical education with an innovative dimension of active sports engagement and camaraderie among faculty and participants.

Inspired by the shared values of neurosurgery and Olympic sports—precision, discipline, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of excellence—the meeting offered a unique environment where scientific exchange was complemented by sporting activities. At the heart of the event was the belief that neurosurgeons are more than just minds—they are also bodies that must be thoughtfully trained. The programme emphasized that success in both the operating room and on the field depends not only on individual expertise but also on collaboration, mutual trust, physical preparedness, and coordinated teamwork.

The event was proudly endorsed by the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS), whose strong institutional presence reflected its commitment to educational excellence and innovation. Among the distinguished EANS representatives were Prof. Francesco Sala, EANS President, Prof. Torstein Meling, Past President, Prof. Claudius Thomé, President-Elect, and Prof. Nikolay Velinov, Director of Hands-On Courses. The scientific programme also featured prominent EANS leaders, including Prof. Enrico Tessitore, Chair of the Spine Section, Dr. Milan Lepić, Chair of the Young Neurosurgeons Committee, and Prof. David Netuka, Training Committee Chair-Elect, together with numerous internationally renowned faculty members.

Neurolympics 2026 was chaired by Prof. Antonino Raco (Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome). The Course Directors—Dr. Daniele Bongetta, Prof. Giovanni Raffa (EANS Board Member for CME and Guidelines), Prof. Luca Ricciardi, Dr. Cesare Zoia, and Prof. Matteo Zoli—developed a highly interactive programme that successfully integrated scientific innovation, practical education, and the unifying values of sport.

The event proved to be a remarkable success, welcoming more than 250 participants from four continents and creating a truly international platform for exchange, learning, and collaboration. Neurolympics demonstrated how Italian and European neurosurgery continue to lead not only in scientific and clinical excellence, but also in the innovation of educational approaches, training models, and new formats for scientific communication and engagement.

By bringing together leading experts, young neurosurgeons, and the wider international neurosurgical community, Neurolympics established a distinctive new meeting format that fostered professional development, networking, and collaboration while celebrating the spirit of teamwork that lies at the heart of both neurosurgery and sport.

EANS Cranial Step II and Spinal Step II Hands-On Courses

21-26 June 2026, Lyon, France

Course Directors: Nikolay Velinov, Emile Simon and Cédric Barrey

The EANS Cranial Step II and Spinal Step II Hands-On Courses were held in Lyon, France, from 21–26 June 2026, marking the continuation of the EANS advanced stepwise training programme for neurosurgical residents in the final years of their training. Following the successful model introduced in Rotterdam, both courses were once again delivered as a combined course week, allowing participants to attend one or both programmes within a single integrated educational setting.

The Cranial Step II Hands-On Course (21–24 June), directed by Prof. Nikolay Velinov and Dr Emile Simon, built upon the foundations of Step I training and was designed for senior residents. The programme provided an in-depth exploration of advanced cranial neuroanatomy and focused on the planning and execution of complex neurosurgical procedures, including neuroendoscopy and selected skull base approaches. The course welcomed 20 trainees, who benefited from structured dissection sessions and close faculty supervision.

The Spinal Step II Hands-On Course (25–26 June), directed by Prof Nikolay Velinov and Prof Cédric Barrey, was aimed at senior residents seeking to refine their skills in advanced spinal surgery. The programme focused on detailed spinal anatomy, surgical planning, instrument handling, and advanced operative techniques. Through a combination of cadaveric dissection and guided instruction, participants developed greater confidence in performing complex spinal procedures. The course also welcomed 20 trainees, ensuring a high faculty-to-participant ratio and personalised mentorship.

Researchers, neurosurgeons, and other clinicians from many European countries, but also from Brazil, India, and the USA, met in June at Simula Research Laboratory in Oslo for a historic first joint meeting of EANS Pediatric and CSF sections. Organized in cooperation with the K.G. Jebsen Center for Brain Fluid Research at the University of Oslo, the meeting consisted of two intense days of lectures and discussions on one topic, but with many different aspects: Complex hydrocephalus in children and adults – advances, challenges, consensus and controversies.

Besides many interesting lectures delivered by highly profiled experts among the faculty members from both sections, there were also several interesting presentations by colleagues who conduct research in this particular area of neurosurgery.

The meeting was supported and opened by EANS President Francesco Sala. The program was prepared by the chairs of both sections, Radek Frič and Jürgen Beck, along with Per Kristian Eide, director of the K.G. Jebsen Center. Giorgio Palandri, President of the Hydrocephalus Society, was also among the faculty of the meeting, highlighting its scientific value.

During two summer days in the Norwegian capital, more than 80 participants including many young colleagues, enjoyed the informal atmosphere of the meeting and the spirit of scientific dedication. The meeting marked not only close collaboration between these two sections, but also represented an example of successful cooperation with a dedicated research group in the host country.

The organizers of the meeting are grateful to all presenters and participants for their interest and contributions, which made this meeting a great success. The feedback from participants was very positive, and there are already plans to make this meeting´s format and topic a new tradition within the EANS.

Radek Frič
Section of Pediatric Neurosurgery Chair

Jürgen Beck
Section of CerebroSpinal Fluid (CSF) Chair

Course Directors: Nikolay Velinov & Ramon Torné

The seventh edition of the EANS Endovascular Course was held for the first time in Barcelona, Spain, in June 2026.

With the rapid development and increasing availability of endovascular treatment options, neurosurgeons are increasingly involved in multidisciplinary decision-making processes regarding whether patients should undergo endovascular or open surgical intervention. In this context, the course addressed the growing need for structured education in endovascular principles within the neurosurgical community.

Recognising that only a limited proportion of neurosurgeons in Europe have direct hands-on experience with neuroendovascular techniques, the programme placed particular emphasis on bridging this knowledge gap. This is especially relevant for young neurosurgeons, who may have limited exposure to endovascular strategies and therefore benefit from improved understanding of their indications, advantages, and limitations.

The course was designed for early-career neurosurgeons seeking to develop a foundational understanding of endovascular treatment. Its objective was to strengthen participants' ability to critically evaluate neurovascular pathology and contribute more effectively to treatment planning by gaining insight into both endovascular and microsurgical options.

The international faculty included dual-trained neurosurgeons as well as experienced neurointerventional specialists, who shared their clinical expertise, practical insights, and personal experience in the application of endovascular techniques. This multidisciplinary teaching approach provided participants with a balanced perspective on current practice and decision-making in neurovascular care.

The course welcomed 27 participants, creating an interactive learning environment that encouraged discussion, exchange of experience, and close engagement with faculty.

You are invited to submit your manuscript for the upcoming special issue of Brain and Spine: Functional Neurosurgery and Epilepsy Surgery: Current and Emerging Therapies for Movement Disorders, Psychiatric Disorders, Epilepsy, and Pain.

Functional neurosurgery and epilepsy surgery continue to evolve rapidly, driven by technological innovation, precision medicine, and a deeper understanding of neurological disease. From movement disorders and epilepsy to psychiatric disorders and chronic pain, these advances are transforming patient care and expanding therapeutic possibilities.

This Special Topic Issue aims to highlight scientifically rigorous and clinically impactful research that advances the precision, safety, and efficacy of functional neurosurgery, ultimately improving patient-centred outcomes and quality of life. We welcome original research, clinical studies, technical innovations, translational research, systematic reviews, and other high-quality contributions that address current and emerging therapies across the field.

Through this special issue, we hope to capture the diversity and dynamism of current research in epilepsy surgery and functional neurosurgery while fostering collaboration across institutions and disciplines.

We encourage you to contribute your work and join us in shaping the future of functional neurosurgery and epilepsy surgery.

Guest Editors: Dr. Olaf E.M.G. Schijns, Dr. Pablo Andrade, Dr. Marie T. Krueger

Submission Deadline: 07 October 2026