Euro-CNS Training Courses (CME and Basic Courses)

Content of this page:
1. Goal
2. Accreditation
3. List of courses
4. Background
5. Foundation ‘Friends of Euro-CNS’
6. Registration policy and refunds

1. Goal
The goal of the CME neuropathology training courses is to enhance training and raise standards in neuropathology throughout Europe. The CME training courses are of interest to junior neuropathologists or general clinical pathologists, as well as neuroscientists interested in diagnostic problems in neuropathology. The courses are tutored by senior consultants and academic staff from various European countries.

2. Accreditation
Since November 2004, the courses have been accredited by the UEMS EACCME (European Accreditation Council for Continued Medical Education).

Below you will find an overview of upcoming and past courses. Upcoming events are hyperlinked and will take you to a separate page with details of the event in question. Please scroll down for more background information on the courses in general.

3.1 Future Courses 

2024
Muscle and Peripheral Nerve Pathology, 14-16 March 2024, Berlin (registration is still open)
European Basic Course in Neuropathology, 24-27 September 2024, Aachen

A number of other courses are also being considered at the moment. Information about additional courses will be released in due time. You can join our mailing list to keep informed about our educational events.

3.2 Past CME courses 2001-2023

Forensic Neuropathology (in-person course), 2-4 May 2023, Edinburgh, Scotland, UKSave
European Basic course in Neuropathology (virtual), 20-22 April 2022

Muscle and Peripheral Nerve Pathology, 25-27 Sept. 2019, Berlin.
Leukoencephalopathies, 26-28 June 2019, Amsterdam
Forensic Neuropathology, 3-5 April 2019, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Tumours of the Central Nervous System and its Coverings, 3-5 October 2018, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Developmental Neuropathology, 27-29 June 2018, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Basic Course in Neuropathology, 13-16 March 2018, Aachen, Germany
Neurodegenerative Diseases, 25-27 October 2017, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Muscle and Peripheral Nerve Pathology, 22-24 March 2017, Aachen, Germany
Tumors of the Central Nervous System, 12-14 October 2016, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Forensic Neuropathology, 1-3 June 2016, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
European Basic Course in Neuropathology, 15-18 March 2016, Aachen, Germany
Developmental Neuropathology , 21-23 October 2015, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Tumors of the Central Nervous System,  8-10 June 2015, Odense , Denmark
Leukoencephalopathies, 25-27 March 2015, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Forensic Neuropathology, 29-31 October 2014, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Muscle and Nerve Pathology, 3-5 September 2014, Berlin, Germany
Neurodegenerative Diseases, 28-30 May 2014, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
European Basic Course in Neuropathology, 11-14 March 2014, RWTH Aachen, Germany
Forensic Neuropathology, 16-18 October 2013, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Developmental Neuropathology, 20-22 March 2013, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Tumours of the Central Nervous System, 19-21 September 2012, Zagreb, Croatia
Leukoencephalopathies, 4-6 June 2012, Edinburgh, Scotland (pre-congress course)
Basic Course in Neuropathology, 27-30 March 2012, Aachen, Germany
Neurodegenerative Diseases, 19-21 October 2011, Turin, Italy
Muscle and Peripheral Nerve Pathology, 1-3 June 2011, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Developmental Neuropathology, 23-25 March 2011, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Tumours of the Central Nervous System, 2-4 June 2010, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
European Basic Course in Neuropathology, 22-26 March 2010, Aachen, Germany
Leukoencephalopathies,  21-23 October 2009, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Muscle and Peripheral Nerve Pathology, 19-20 March 2009, Rostock, Germany
Tumours of the CNS, 06-08 May 2008, Athens, Greece (pre-congress course)
European Basic Course in Neuropathology, 10-14 March 2008, Aachen, Germany
Leucoencephalopathies, 27-29 November 2007, Turin, Italy
Neurodegenerative Diseases, 28-30 March 2007, Paris, France
Developmental Neuropathology, 29-31 March 2006, Oxford, United Kingdom
Tumours of the CNS, 22-25 June 2005, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Tumours of the CNS, 24-26 November 2004, Graz, Austria
Leukoencephalopathies, 14-16 April 2004, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Muscle and Peripheral Nerve Pathology, 19-21 November 2003, Vienna, Austria
Muscle and Peripheral Nerve Pathology, 23-25 April 2003, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Tumours of the CNS, 09-13 July 2002, Helsinki, Finland (pre-congress course)
Neurodegenerative diseases, 10-12 October 2001, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

4. Background
Continuing Medical Education (CME) is an integral component of diagnostic and therapeutic medicine. Like other medical specialties, CME in neuropathology may fall into two categories:

“core” CME concerning neuropathological topics for neuropathologists and “peripheral” CME in neurosciences and other neuropathology-related specialties.
In large medical specialties, such as internal medicine and surgery, major CME activities encompass “core” CME. However, the smaller the medical specialty, the smaller the spectrum of “core”CME and the larger the field of “peripheral” CME, i.e. when neuropathologists attend CME meetings of neurologists, pathologists, neurosurgeons, and neuroradiologists to extract from such meetings what may be useful for their professional activities. Usually, CME takes place at the national level and in the national language, organised and administered locally, regionally, and nationally by respectively various societies or institutions. For neuropathologists, “core” CME in neuropathology at a national level largely depends on the existence of a national Society of Neuropathology yet not present in each country and even if a national Society of Neuropathology does exist, “core” CME for neuropathologists is chiefly confined to annual meetings of the society and an occasional CME meeting addressing parts of neuropathology, such as brain tumours or myopathology. Thus, compared to larger and clinicomedical specialties, “core” CME opportunities for neuropathologists are rather scant. Over the years, Euro-CNS attempted to reduce these shortcomings of neuropathological CME. Courses on the main topics were organized, up to 2x per year. The topics were:

  • Neurodegenerative Diseases
  • Tumours of the Central Nervous System and its Coverings
  • Muscle and Peripheral Nerve Pathology
  • Leukoencephalopathies
  • Developmental Neuropathology
  • Muscle and Peripheral Nerve PathologyAfter the first time, most courses were repeated with updates in respective topics, consisting of alternating oral presentations and microscope studies, in conjunction with written hand-outs and course books, one of the microscopic cases studied with ample illustrations and one with publications for supplementary reading. The number of participants reflects the necessity for such courses in CME in Neuropathology throughout Europe, but also trainees and neuropathologists from the US, Australia and Asia have attended.

(excerpt from a report by Prof. Hans Goebel, Mainz, Germany)

5. Foundation ‘ Friends of Euro-CNS’ 

The CME courses are organized under the umbrella of the Foundation ‘Friends of Euro-CNS’, Chamber of Commerce #34173405, business address: Wilfred den Dunnen, Simonsstraat 7, 9746 BG Groningen, the Netherlands, phone +31-505414270. For our mailing address click here.

6. Course registration and refunds: A registration is only confirmed once payment of the registration fee has been received. We will confirm receipt by e-mail. Full refunds are possible until 3 weeks prior to start of the course. An administrative fee of 50 Euro per registration will be deducted. To ask for a refund, please send a request to the Euro-CNS office.

Terms and Conditions are outlined in the online registration form per course. The next course is the CME Course in Forensic Neuropathology (2-4 May 2023, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK). Registration is open.