Seminar: New Modalities in Neurodegenerative Disease Management – Is Europe Ready to Innovate? | May 13 2025 | 12:30-17:30 CEST | Brussels

Estonian Research Council Brussels Office and ScanBalt® are organising a high-level seminar to address the pressing need for innovation in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, to catalyse action and foster dialogue on the future of early diagnosis and care in Europe.

Date: May 13, 2025

Time: 12:30 – 17:30  CEST

Location: Permanent Representation of Estonia to the EU, Rue Guimard 11/13, 1040 Brussels, Belgium

Early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases remains a major challenge in Europe. Traditional diagnostic methods are often invasive, costly, and slow—delaying crucial interventions. However, groundbreaking innovations are on the horizon. The same is true for the treatment of these diseases.

New blood tests and AI-driven cognitive assessments are set to transform early detection, making it faster, more accessible, and less invasive. These advances could allow timely interventions, significantly improving patients’ quality of life. However, their implementation requires urgent attention from policymakers.

Is the European Union ready to integrate AI into healthcare? How do we ensure ethical AI use? How do we safeguard patient data? What legal frameworks are needed to support innovation while maintaining trust?

Join us for a high-level seminar where policymakers, industry experts, and academia will collaborate to explore how to bridge policy, technology, and healthcare for the future of neurogenerative disease diagnosis and care in Europe.

Programme:

12:30 – 13:00 | Registration and Welcome Coffee

13:00 – 13:15 | Welcoming Speeches

13:15 – 14:00 | Keynote Presentations

• Prof. Mart SAARMA,
  Neuroscientist | President of the Estonian Academy of Sciences/ Senior Partner / CSO / Member of the Board of Directors | GeneCode – “Development of Novel Drugs for Disease-Modifying Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease”
• Prof. Toomas TOOMSOO,  Neurologist | Confido Medical Centre – Centre for Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders/Professor of Neurology | Tallinn University – “Discovered Today, Treated Tomorrow: Future Medicine Transforming Neurodegenerative Disease Care”

14:00 – 15:30 | Panel Discussion: New Opportunities in Diagnosis and Care of Neurodegenerative Diseases

This panel will explore how the European Health Data Space (EHDS) and advancements in research can improve diagnosis and care for neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Discussions will highlight the role of AI-driven digital diagnostics in early detection, focusing on non-invasive methods that benefit both patients and healthcare systems, as well as novel treatment opportunities in the pipeline.

Panellists:

• Prof. Mart SAARMA, Neuroscientist | President, Estonian Academy of Sciences
• Dr. Alexandra KÖNIG, Chief Clinical Research Officer | ki:elements
• Dr. Markus MUNDHENKE, Director of Health Policy & Scientific Affairs | Bayer Vital 
• Douglas DRAKE, Senior Business Development Manager, Real World Evidence | LOGEX
• Prof. Toomas TOOMSOO, Professor of Neurology | Tallinn University

15:30 – 16:00 | Coffee Break

16:00 – 16:30 | Keynote Presentations (TBC speakers)

16:30 – 17:30 | Panel Discussion: Technological and Regulatory Challenges

This panel will explore the technological and regulatory challenges of health data exchange within the EU, focusing on infrastructure, interoperability, and solutions for seamless integration. Additionally, the session will examine Europe’s regulatory preparedness, particularly the AI Act, and address ethical considerations in utilising health data for innovation. It will examine the implementation of regulatory frameworks across Member States and their impact on cross-border health data usage.

Panellists:

• Experts to be confirmed

17:30 – 17:45 | Conclusions

17:45 – 18:30 | Networking Reception

Networking Opportunity: Participants will have the chance to network with scientists, researchers, health politicians, regulatory authorities, technology and data experts, and representatives of patient organisations.

Note: This programme is under development and subject to updates.

REGISTER NOW!