The European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) is a pan-European,

non-profit A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

scientific association that serves as a platform to exchange and promote research in the field of

neuropsychopharmacology Neuropsychopharmacology, an interdisciplinary science related to psychopharmacology (study of effects of drugs on the mind) and fundamental neuroscience, is the study of the neural mechanisms that drugs act upon to influence behavior. It entails ...

. The ECNP “is committed to ensuring that advances in the understanding of brain function and human behaviour are translated into better treatments and enhanced public health”. The ECNP organises a number of activities to achieve this aim, such as a yearly congress, workshops, seminars, New Frontiers Meetings, publications, awards, supported talks and much more.

History

In 1984 representatives of neuropsychopharmacological societies from across Europe suggested there might be room for a European structure. A meeting to discuss this plan further was held in Copenhagen in May 1985. It was decided that a European College of Neuropsychopharmacology would be founded. A Working Group was formed to plan of the association’s inaugural scientific congress. This congress was held in Brussels in 1987. Around 500 people attended. The Working Group consisted of:
*Carlos Ballús, Spain *Per Bech, Denmark *Giovanni Cassano, Italy *Alexandra Delini-Stula, Switzerland *Markus Gastpar, Switzerland *Carl-Gerhard Gottfries, Sweden *Lars F. Gram, Denmark *

Max Hamilton Max Hamilton (12 April 1912 – 9 September 1988) was born at Offenbach am Main, Germany. He migrated to England with his family (named Himmelschein) in 1914, aged years. He was educated at the Central Foundation Boys' School in Cowper Street a ...

, United Kingdom * Paul Kielholz, Switzerland *Julien Mendlewicz, Belgium *Giorgio Racagni, Italy *Eckart Ruther, Germany *Michael Trimble, United Kingdom *Willem Verhoeven, Netherlands *Jennifer Wakelin, Netherlands * Édouard Zarifian, France In 1993 the College established a permanent secretariat in

Utrecht Utrecht ( , , ) is the fourth-largest city and a municipality of the Netherlands, capital and most populous city of the province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, in the very centre of mainland Net ...

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Organization

The ECNP’s executive organ is the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee consists of six officers (the president, vice- president, president-elect, past-president, secretary and treasurer) and a maximum of six councillors. The Executive Committee has a three year term. The 2019-2022 Executive Committee consists of:

Martien Kas Martien J.H. Kas (born 27 November 1966, Uithoorn) is associate professor in the Department of Neuroscience, Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, at the University Medical Center Utrecht, where he leads a work group entitled "Tr ...

The Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

, President
Gitte Moos Knudsen,

Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of Denmark , establish ...

, Past-President
Andreas Reif,

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

, President-Elect
Elisabeth Binder,

, Vice-President
Catherine Harmer,

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

, treasurer Suzanne Dickson, Sweden, Secretary Councillors
David Baldwin,

Paolo Brambilla,

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

Iria Grande , stylized as ''I・Я・I・A ZЁIЯAM THE ANIMATION'', is a six-episode original video animation (OVA) anime series produced by Ashi Productions and directed by Tetsurō Amino. The series serves as a prequel to the original live-action film ' ...

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

Iiris Hovatta Iiris Vesik (born 16 July 1991), better known as simply Iiris, is an Estonian singer, songwriter, and stage actress. Her debut album ''The Magic Gift Box'' was released in March 2012 under EMI Music Finland. She's also the singer of the group Nigh ...

Finland Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of B ...

Marin Jukic Marin (French) or Marín (Spanish "sailor") may refer to: People * Marin (name), including a list of persons with the given name or surname * MaRin, in-game name of professional South Korean ''League of Legends'' player Jang Gyeong-hwan (born 199 ...

, Sweden

Marion Leboyer Marion Leboyer (born 1957) is a French psychiatrist, university professor and hospital practitioner at the Paris-Est Créteil University (UPEC). Biography After completing her medical studies at Paris Descartes University, a master's degree ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

Chair Scientific Programme Committee

John Cryan John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

Editor-in-chief ''European Neuropsychopharmacology'' ''ENP''

Eduard Vieta Eduard Vieta Pascual is a Spanish psychiatrist and a leading scientific authority on the neurobiology and treatment of bipolar disorder. Education Eduard Vieta was born in Barcelona, Spain. He studied medicine at the Autonomous University of ...

Editor-in-chief ''Neuroscience Applied''
Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg, Germany Executive Director
Alexander Schubert,

Past presidents are: Gitte Moos Knudsen, Denmak (2019-2022)
Celso Arango,

(2016-2019)

Guy Goodwin Guy Goodwin is a senior research fellow and until recently was the W.A. Handley Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Oxford (2014). A fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, Goodwin has served as principal investigator in many clinic ...

(2013-2016)
Joseph Zohar,

Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...

(2010-2013)

David Nutt David John Nutt (born 16 April 1951) is an English neuropsychopharmacologist specialising in the research of drugs that affect the brain and conditions such as addiction, anxiety, and sleep. He is the chairman of Drug Science, a non-profit w ...

(2007-2010)
Julien Mendlewicz,

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

(2004-2007)
Yves Lecrubier,

(2002-2004)
Jan M. van Ree,

(1998-2002)
Manfred Ackenheil,

(1995-1998)
Stuart A. Montgomery,

(1992-1995)
Salomon Z. Langer,

(1989-1992)
Carl-Gerhard Gottfries, Sweden (1987-1989) The Executive Committee oversees the work of various sub-committees of the Executive Committees. These committees are staffed by scientists working in the field of

. Abstract and Poster Committee The Abstract and Poster Committee oversees the abstract and poster process of the ECNP Congress. Award Committee The Award Committee reviews applications for the ECNP Neuropsychopharmacology Award. The terms and criteria for this award, however, are set by the Executive Committee. Early Career Advisory Panel (ECAP) Six years ago ECNP founded the Early Career Advisory Panel (ECAP) to advise on the needs of future members of the College, to give input on development of Early Career Scientist activities and initiatives, to help generate activities for Early Career Scientists and clinicians, and to receive feedback on current activities. Educational Committee The Educational Committee is charged with propagating best practices in European applied neuroscience, from research methods and to clinical standards. As such, it oversees ECNP’s training activities and educational programmes, especially for early career scientists. Networks Board and Taskforce Each ECNP Network is led by a Chair and a Co-chair. Chairs and Co-chairs of Networks and thematic working groups (TWGs) form the Networks Taskforce, which reports to the Networks Board and meets twice a year. The Networks Board guides the ECNP Networks. New Frontiers Programme Committee The committee is responsible for developing the programme of the New Frontiers Meeting, held annually in Nice, France, and for guiding the ongoing discussion the meeting is designed to stimulate. Workshop Committee The Workshop Committee is charged with the organisation of the ECNP Workshop on Neuropsychopharmacology for Early Career Scientists in Europe, held annually in Nice, France.

Committees independent from the Executive committee

External Review Board of the ECNP The External Review Board of the ECNP (formerly known as the Scientific Committee) was established in 2007 with the broad aim of overseeing the quality assurance of ECNP’s governance and that of its activities. Nominating Committee The Nominating Committee nominates candidates for the future Executive Committee (EC). Scientific Advisory Panel The Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) is ECNP’s scientific sounding board, providing guidance and content advice in ECNP’s key areas of scientific focus in disorders, interventions and methods. Scientific Programme Committee (ECNP Congress) The chair of the Scientific Programme Committee (SPC) is appointed by the Executive Committee for three consecutive ECNP Congresses. For each congress, the chair SPC submits a proposal of committee members to the Executive Committee for approval, taking into account scientific standing of potential candidates, as well as the overall geographical and disciplinary balance. The independent SPC is charged with ensuring that the programme is of a uniformly high standard and balanced across the field of applied and translational neuroscience.

Activities

; ECNP Congress : The ECNP Congress is an annual meeting on applied

neuroscience Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system (the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system), its functions and disorders. It is a multidisciplinary science that combines physiology, anatomy, molecular biology, developme ...

and mental disorders. The meeting is intended for medical researchers in neuropsychopharmacology, psychiatry and neurology, clinicians and practitioners, neuroscientists, and public health professionals. ECNP Workshop :The ECNP organizes an annual three-day workshop for 100 early career scientists in Europe. ECNP Workshop on Clinical Research Methods This Workshop aims at introducing early career clinicians (psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, etc) into research methodology and to promote a critical thinking approach to the scientific literature that is particularly relevant to clinical practice. ECNP New Frontiers Meeting :This meeting is an essential platform for focused, high-level exchange at the intersection of research science and the development of psychedelics as new treatments for brain disorders. ;ECNP Seminar : The ECNP Seminars are two-day meetings, held in different European countries, focused on research training for junior psychiatrists who have limited access to international meetings.

Awards

ECNP Negative Results Prize in Clinical Neuroscience The ECNP Negative Results Prize in Clinical Neuroscience recognises those who have made exceptional contributions to CNS treatment development by publishing clinical research with negative findings. Best Negative Data Prize The Best Negative Data Prize is a collaboration between ECNP and U.S.-based non-profit research organisation Cohen Veterans Bioscience to recognise published “negative” scientific results or results of studies that do not confirm the expected outcome or original hypothesis. ECNP Citation Prize The ECNP Citation Prize recognises and encourage impactful original research in the ECNP journal, ''European Neuropsychopharmacology (ENP)''. It is awarded to the most cited research paper in the preceding two years. ECNP Neuropsychopharmacology Award The ECNP Neuropsychopharmacology Award recognises exceptional research achievements in applied and translational neuroscience. ECNP Poster Award Outstanding posters presented at the congress are awarded the ECNP Poster Award. ECNP Public Choice Poster Award The best poster presented at the congress that is chosen by the public is awarded the ECNP Public Choice Poster Award. ECNP Seminar Award ECNP confers two awards during each ECNP Seminar to help and encourage the most promising ECNP Seminar participants to visit the upcoming ECNP Congress. ECNP Excellence Award The ECNP Excellence Award was established to encourage Early Career Scientists (ECS) resident in Europe and/or residents of a European Country with a Developing Country (CDE) to present a poster during the annual ECNP Congress. ECNP Rising Star Award The ECNP Rising Star Award honours an Early Career Scientist whose research in applied and translational neuroscience has the potential to advance the science and treatment and prevention of brain disorders.

Publications

The ECNP publishes: * ''

European Neuropsychopharmacology ''European Neuropsychopharmacology'' is a monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal published by Elsevier. It is the official journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology. It was established in November 1990 and covers clinical and ...

'', which is a monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal. Eduard Vieta is the Editor-in-chief. *
Neuroscience Applied
'' a fully open-access scientific journal, targeting the intersection between neuroscience, applications and new treatment horizons. Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg is the Editor-in-chief.

Partners

Alliance for Biomedical Research in Europe
Alliance for Biomedical Research
br
European Brain Council
(EBC) (founder member)Federation of European Neuroscience Societies
(FENS) (founder member)International Society for CNS Clinical Trials and Methodology
(ISCTM)

References

External links

Official websiteEuropean Neuropsychopharmacology35th ECNP Congress 202236th ECNP Congress 202337th ECNP Congress 2024
{{authority control Psychiatric research institutes Pharmacological societies Neuroscience Brain disorders Mental health Mental disorders