European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS) Annual Congress, Sofia, 13-17 October

25 November 2024

EANS2024 Annual Congress, Sofia, 13-17 October 2024

A Remarkable Congress

Held at the magnificent National Palace of Culture, in Sofia, Bulgaria, our congress brought together 1,859 participants from 89 countries, creating an unprecedented platform for scientific exchange and professional growth. With 373 lectures, 235 oral presentations, 454 oral e-posters, and 277 e-posters, we showcased the breadth and depth of European neurosurgery.

Innovative Perspectives

Following an exceptional Opening Ceremony led by the Congress President Prof. Dr. Nikolay Gabrovsky, and the EANS President Prof. Dr. Torstein R. Meling, the participants enjoyed 5 days of intensive scientific exchange. Our carefully selected keynote speakers were met with excep- tional enthusiasm, truly resonating with our community and bringing fresh insights to our congress. Prof. Roelfsema of the Netherlands Institute of Neuroscience presented groundbreak- ing work on developing a visual brain prosthesis to restore rudimentary vision for the blind. Prof. Jocelyne Bloch's innovative approaches to spinal cord paralysis treatment offered hope and groundbreaking methodologies that sparked intense professional interest. Working at CHUV and EPFL in Lausanne, she has led breakthroughs in neural repair and regeneration, successfully restoring mobility to patients once considered beyond help, making her a leading figure in neuroscience with a broad presence in high-impact journals such as Nature and Science.
The interdisciplinary approach continued with insights from AI expert Martin Vechev, who
provided cutting-edge perspectives on technological integration in neurosurgery, and strategic insights from EnduroSat CEO Raycho Raychev, who challenged us to think beyond traditional boundaries.
The diversity and caliber of these speakers demonstrated our commitment to pushing the
boundaries of neurosurgical knowledge, bridging multiple disciplines, and exploring pioneering frontiers of medical science.

Scientific Excellence

We are immensely proud of European neurosurgery and the talent of our neurosurgeons. With a diverse range of scientific sessions, masterclasses, and interactive discussions, EANS2024 has firmly established itself as the premier event in the global neurosurgical calendar.
Led by Prof. Dr. Michaël Bruneau, EANS Board Member: Scientific Liaison, this year's congress
scientific program distinguished itself through an unprecedented scientific level. The program represented the pinnacle of contemporary European neurosurgical research, with each presentation, from basic science to clinical applications, reflecting a remarkable depth of knowledge and a commitment to advancing our field.

Celebrating Excellence

We also took immense pride in recognizing outstanding contributions with several awards,
including:

The European Lecture: Prof. Niklas Marklund's traumatic brain injury research
The EANS Award for Exceptional Service: Prof. Pierre-Hugues Roche
The Lifetime Achievement Award: Prof. Jacques Brotchi
The Braakman Prize: Lauren Harris for exceptional FEBNS examination performance

For the first time, EANS celebrated the Fellow of the European Board of Neurological Surgery (FEBNS) Diploma with a momentous ceremony, marking a significant milestone in its history. This ceremony honored those who had rigorously completed both Part I and Part II of the exams to earn the prestigious FEBNS Diploma, emphasizing the importance of standardized neurosurgical training across Europe. By celebrating individual excellence and the achievements of emerging neurosurgical talents, the event underscored EANS’ commitment to the highest standards of professional development. This ceremony is set to become a valued tradition, celebrating excellence in neurosurgery and honoring the future leaders of our field.

More Than a Congress—A Community

Beyond the scientific rigor, EANS2024 celebrated the unwavering spirit of our community. The camaraderie within EANS has been extraordinary, reflecting our strength and unity. It was heartwarming to witness young neurosurgeons finding their place within our EANS, contributing to its continued growth and future success.
We experienced a fantastic congress and an excellent congress party that epitomized the friendliness that makes our society so special. The event was boosted by the absence of formal seating arrangements, which fostered a sense of unity and openness among attendees. Instead, the atmosphere was infused with excitement thanks to the addition of a live band, creating a great backdrop for conversations and connections. The party reached its peak during the spectacular laser-fireworks show, which illuminated the night sky and left everyone in awe.

Expressions of Gratitude

We want to express our gratitude to those who make our work possible: our families and our dedicated teams who stayed behind, running our families and clinical services with dedication while we gathered at EANS2024, as well as our patients - their trust and support form the foundation of all we achieve.
A special thank you goes to the incredible team within EANS—the EXCOM members, the EANS board members, and the EANS office, led by Valentini Amarantidou. With unwavering dedication, hard work, and integrity, we will continue to enhance the quality of neurosurgical patient care through training, education and research.

EANS 2024 AGM: Expanding Horizons in Neurosurgery

The EANS2024 AGM was successfully held in a fully packed hall on 13 October 2024. EANS office holders presented their reports with their annual activities and highlighted the desire to create new collaborations with other partner societies, while “keeping and improving the spirit of the EANS”. Marike Broekman, the EANS Treasurer, presented the past year’s financial report, spotlighting the society’s primary focus on educational courses.
When it comes to our Individual Members, we are thrilled to announce that our EANS family
has grown significantly, counting 2.519 individual members in total, as the Individual Member- ship Committee Chair, Marisa Gandia, announced. Furthermore, we are more than happy to welcome the Maltese Association of Neurologists & Neurosurgeons to the EANS family! The AGM also voted to give the mandate to the EANS Board to move forward with the very significant project to create a Code of Conduct that will act as the drive and guideline for the protection of the EANS Community Members from any kind of misbehavior or mistreatment.
Wilco Peul, the Chief-Editor of Brain & Spine, the official journal of EUROSPINE and EANS, presented some intriguing data regarding the recent milestones of the journal. Having achieved

an impressive Impact factor of 1,9 just three years after its launch, the journal’s success reflects the collaborative efforts and the new possibilities that have opened up for even more growth! In addition, he highlighted the fact that submissions to the Brain & Spine's Special Topic Issue on Spinal Cord Injury Management are open. This is the time to dive into the latest research and explore cutting-edge developments in Machine Learning, Advanced Imaging, Regenerative Medicine, and Biomarkers—curated by leading experts Michael G. Fehlings, Narihito Nagoshi, and Peter Vajkoczy.
Pablo González-López was elected as the new Training Course Chair-Elect, to work alongside
Martin Lehecka and continue the excellent development of the EANS Training Courses for the years 2026 and 2027.
We left the best for last... The EANS2024 Annual General Meeting voted for the 2029 and 2030 destinations of the Annual EANS Congress:

EANS2029 in Istanbul EANS2030 in Copenhagen

Looking Ahead
EANS will always strive to open doors (and minds) and build bridges. We are working hard to create opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and growth. In unity, we advance, driven by the spirit of excellence and collegiality that defines EANS. Together, we have become a force that transcends borders, embracing emerging technologies and evolving practices, yet remaining steadfast in our values of honesty, integrity, empathy and patient-centered care.
We have already begun intensive preparations for the EANS2025 Congress, to be held in Vienna,
Austria, on 5-9 October 2025, hosted by Prof. Dr. Claudius Thomé. Stay tuned for announcements on abstract submission and registration!

See photos of EANS2024 with the following links: