Message from the WFN President
Prof. Dr Wolfgang Grisold
August 2025
Dear Visitors of the WFN Website,
Dear Member Societies,
Welcome to the WFN website, our main communication hub for news, updates, and an overview of WFN activities. The WFN Essentials page offers a clear summary of our work. We also share updates through social media, World Neurology, and the WFN Service page in the JNS.
Council of Delegates Meeting and Elections
This is an exciting time for the WFN. The upcoming COD meeting in Seoul will be especially important as we will elect a new President, First Vice President, and Elected Trustee. Seven candidates from five regions—three of them women—have been approved by the Nominations Committee. Interestingly, none of the candidate statements include their age—perhaps a sign that our leadership is ageless. This may be relevant to future discussions on rejuvenating the WFN.
The new Board takes office at the beginning of 2026, assuming responsibility for ongoing projects as well as long-term commitments and plans. I extend my thanks to all committees and subcommittees whose members have completed one or two terms of service. The new administration will appoint the next committee chairs and members for the 2026 term onwards. This administration, we have reached nearly a 50% gender balance within committees, and we hope this trend continues.
The COD meeting will also mark the end of term for our co-opted trustees: Prof. Imen Kacem (Africa and the Arab region) and Prof. Briseida Feliciano (Latin America). We sincerely thank them for their contributions, though we regret that neither has sought election as a trustee.
Another key decision at the COD will be selecting the WCN 2028 European host city, following WCN 2027 in Cape Town. From seven expressions of interest, Budapest, Copenhagen, and Istanbul remain in contention. All will present materials to support their bids, and a detailed site analysis will be provided. We thank all countries that expressed interest.
World Brain Day
The 12th World Brain Day (WBD) was a great success. For the fourth consecutive year, “Brain Health” was the overarching theme, this time focusing on Brain Health for All Ages across health groups and regions. The topic was actively discussed and presented during the WFN-WBD webinar, which is available online. We are delighted that many countries around the world celebrated WBD, which can be found on the WFN website and in Worlkd Neurology. Brain health is becoming a powerful global initiative, strengthened by collaboration with the WHO’s Brain Health programme and IGAP.
A&E: Advocacy and Education – the WFN’s core pillars
Advocacy at the macro level includes our collaboration with the WHO and the UN ECOSOC.
At the WCN 2025 in Seoul, several high-profile sessions will address WHO initiatives on brain health, mental health, IGAP, and the essential medicines list. The WHO is also contributing to the “White Book of Neurology,” a valuable resource for global neurology practice, and will strengthen IGAP implementation worldwide, particularly in Africa with WFN support.
For this year’s 75th WHO Regional Committee for Africa Meeting, the WFN delegation will participate alongside AFAN. This will also mark the first presentation by the WHO at this African regional level.
We are honoured that the UN ECOSOC President, Ambassador Rae, delivered a video message for the WBD. In July, the WFN addressed the ECOSOC High-Level Meeting ⧉ in New York and was able to make 2 interventions.
We plan to attend the September UN meeting on NCDs ⧉.
I thank the WFN office, past trustee Prof. Alla Guekht, and WFN intern Dr Ksenia Pochigaeva for their outstanding contributions. Prof. Guekht will also become the next ILAE President (see announcement).
Teaching advocacy and leadership is an increasingly important WFN mission. Together with the AAN, we created the Global Advocacy and Leadership Program (GALP), for low-middle and low income countries, which will conclude with its first graduation at WCN Seoul. We look forward to the newly created advocates.
Education at all levels is an equally important task of the WFN. Our flagship the WFN Training Centres continue to prove their importance and value. We are pleased to say, revenues from the ICNMD in Perth will fund two additional fellowships in neuromuscular disease in Africa. Work on the core curriculum is also progressing.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic is now a few years behind us, many questions and analyses remain. The WFN has integrated the former WHO COVID Working Group as a subgroup of the WFN International Committee and will support the future work.
XXVII World Congress of Neurology
We look forward to the and hope that the interesting program will attact your attention. The link provides a list oif our plenary lectures https://wcn-neurology.com/plenary-speakers/.upcoming WCN in Seoul ⧉ and thank our co-hosts, the Korean Neurological Association, for their input. My appreciation also goes to the Programme Committee, all other committees ⧉, and our PCO, Kenes, for their dedicated work. We look forward to meeting many of you in person in Seoul and hope that the interesting program will attract your attention. The following link provides a list of our plenary lectures: https://wcn-neurology.com/plenary-speakers/ ⧉.
As always, I close with the hope that all violence and armed conflict will end and express our sympathy to all affected.
Professor Dr Wolfgang Grisold
WFN President
