Leadership in Brain Health and Neuroscience? Yes, please!

The brain is at the core of who we are. It controls our thoughts; it controls our actions; it controls our behaviour. Yet, there's so much about the brain that remains unknown. So many mysteries to unveil. When it's in pain, it often suffers in silence; when it's unhealthy, its diseases are often invisible to the others. At a time when all eyes are on cross-border healthcare threats and pandemic resolution, what is the type of leadership that the brain health and the neuroscience community need?

Collaborative leadership: one that is willing to break the silos between disciplines and work beyond specific disease areas. The brain health community shares many of the same challenges: stigma, barriers to access to care... and the pure fact we don't know enough about the brain. By working together on formulating joint solutions targeted at investors and policy-makers, the brain health community has more to gain than to lose!

Inquisitive leadership: one that is humble enough to "ask questions to listen" instead of "asking questions to respond". Ask questions to people with lived experience, to advocacy groups, researchers, healthcare professionals and policy-makers. Ask about their priorities, challenges and what they wish to see changed. Integrate the answers in your decision-making process and try to co-create solutions that will impact positively the lives of people with lived experience.

A united leadership: we all have an expertise to bring to the table. But speaking with one voice calling for a prioritization of brain health and neuroscience will make it easier for policy-makers and budget holders to listen.

A leadership that can talk to the hearts and the minds of decision-makers: this entails a narrative that balances both emotion and evidence; a narrative that can put a human face to brain disease while making a business case on the importance of investing in brain health and neuroscience.

In the last couple of days Lundbeck held the #1VoiceSummit, which gathered nearly 80 advocacy groups who are passionate about brain health. It was inspiring and humbling. After two days spent together, I am confident that by 2030 the brain health community will succeed in leading the prioritization of brain health and neuroscience! #1Voice4BrainHealth #BrainLeadership