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{{Use British English|date=October 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
The '''World Federation of Neurology''' (WFN) is an international organization that represents and supports the global community of neurologists. It aims to foster quality neurology and brain health worldwide by promoting education, research, and patient care in the field of [[neurology]].
{{Infobox organization
|name=World Federation of Neurology
|formation=July 1957
|type=Non-profit Organization ([[Non-profit organization|NPO]])
|headquarters=Chester House, Fulham Green, 81-83 Fulham High Street, London, SW6 3JA, United Kingdom
|membership=120
|leader_title=President
|leader_name=Prof. William (Bill) M. Carroll, MB BS, MD, FRACP, FRCP(E)
|num_volunteers=
|budget=
|website=[https://www.wfneurology.org/ www.wfneurology.org]|logo=World federation of Neurology (WFN) logo.png}}


'''World Federation of Neurology''' (WFN) was formed in [[Brussels]] and [[Belgium]] in 1957, as an association of national [[neurology|neurological]] societies. It is a UK registered charity.<ref>[[Charity Commission for England and Wales]], Charity no. [http://beta.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?subid=0&regid=1068673 1068673],  Company no. [https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/03502244 3502244]</ref> with a mission<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wfneurology.org/about-us|title=WFN website – About Us|last=|first=|date=|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=October 3, 2017}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.wfneurology.org/wfn-memorandum-and-articles-of-association|title=WFN Memorandum and Articles of Association|last=|first=|date=|website=www.wfneurology.org|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=2017-10-05}}</ref> to foster quality [[neurology]] and brain health worldwide through promoting global neurological education and training, with the emphasis on under-resourced parts of the world.
==History==
The World Federation of Neurology was established in 1957. It was founded to provide a platform for neurologists around the world to collaborate and share knowledge. The WFN has grown significantly since its inception, now comprising over 120 member societies from different countries.


== History ==
==Mission and Objectives==
The mission of the WFN is to improve human health by promoting prevention and care of neurological disorders. The organization seeks to achieve this through:


WFN was founded during the Sixth World Congress of Neurosciences, and at the First International Congress of Neurological Sciences, held in Brussels in July, 1957.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=The history of the World Federation of Neurology : the first 50 years|last=A.|first=Aarli, J.|date=2014|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-871306-7|edition=1st|location=Oxford|oclc=880034552}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last=Kertesz|first=Andrew|last2=Gainotti|first2=Guido|title=Historical notes on the World Federation of Neurology Research Group on Aphasia and Cognitive Disorders (RGACD)|journal=Journal of the Neurological Sciences|volume=298|issue=1–2|pages=132–135|doi=10.1016/j.jns.2010.08.020|pmid=20850794|year=2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Tower|first=Donald B.|date=1987-01-01|title=The American Society for Neurochemistry (ASN): Antecedents, Founding, and Early Years|journal=Journal of Neurochemistry|language=en|volume=48|issue=1|pages=313–326|doi=10.1111/j.1471-4159.1987.tb13164.x|pmid=3540213|issn=1471-4159}}</ref>
* Promoting global neurological education and training.
* Supporting research in neurology and related fields.
* Facilitating communication and collaboration among neurologists worldwide.
* Advocating for the importance of neurology in public health.


The original idea of the WFN arose during a dinner in Antwerp in 1955.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite journal|last=Poser|first=Charles M.|title=The world federation of neurology: The formative period 1955–1961|journal=Journal of the Neurological Sciences|volume=120|issue=2|pages=218–227|doi=10.1016/0022-510x(93)90277-6|pmid=8138813|year=1993}}</ref> [[:pl:Ludo van Bogaert|Ludo van Bogaert]] (Belgium, 1897–1989), Armand Lowenthal (The Netherlands, 1919–2001) and [[Charles Poser]] (Belgium, 1923–2010) discussed the formation of a club consisting mainly of neuropathologists (named were Erna Christensen, [[:pl:Aagot Christie Löken|Aagot Christie Löken]], [[:de:Willibald Scholz|Willibald Scholz]], [[Julius Hallervorden]], [[Hugo Spatz]], [[Georg Schaltenbrand|Georges Schaltenbrand]], [[:fr:Ivan Bertrand|Ivan Bertrand]], Jean-Emmanuel Grüner) and some neurologists<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Poser|first=Charles M.|last2=Lowenthal|first2=Armand|title=Ludo van Bogaert (1897–1989)|journal=Journal of the Neurological Sciences|volume=95|issue=1|pages=1–2|doi=10.1016/0022-510x(90)90112-z|year=1990}}</ref> ([[MacDonald Critchley]], [[:fr:Raymond Garcin|Raymond Garcin]], [[Georg Herman Monrad-Krohn]]). The purpose was primarily to collect reprints and unpublished doctoral theses in a central location (e.g. the Institute Bunge).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bornbunge.be/History/vanBogaert.shtml|title=Institute Born-Bunge: Ludo van Bogaert (1897–1989)|last=|first=|date=|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=October 3, 2017}}</ref> As the discussion progressed, they thought that the group should be expanded and that other specialists should also form such "clubs".<ref name=":0" />
==Activities==
The WFN engages in a variety of activities to fulfill its mission:


After many talks, invitations were sent for a founding meeting to take place on 22 and 26 July 1957. A draft WFN constitution was prepared by [[:pl:Ludo van Bogaert|Ludo van Bogaert]], [[H. Houston Merritt|Houston Merritt]], [[MacDonald Critchley]], Auguste Tournay, [[Georg Schaltenbrand]] and [[Pearce Bailey]], with [[Charles Poser]] as Secretary.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319142208/http://rsm-wallofhonour.com/dr-charles-m-poser-frcpe.aspx|title=The Royal Society of Medicine Wall of Honour|date=2016-03-19|access-date=2017-10-04}}</ref>
===Education===
The WFN organizes educational programs, workshops, and conferences to enhance the knowledge and skills of neurologists. It also provides online resources and supports the development of neurology curricula in medical schools.


The meetings were attended by 38 national delegates representing 29 national societies from Europe, Latin American (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Peru, Uruguay), USA, Africa (South Africa) and Asia (Iran and India):
===Research===
The federation supports research initiatives by providing grants and fellowships to researchers in the field of neurology. It also collaborates with other organizations to promote research on neurological diseases.


{{col-begin}}{{col-break}}
===Advocacy===
* ''Roman Arana-Iniguez (Uruguay)''
The WFN advocates for the recognition of neurological disorders as a public health priority. It works with governments and health organizations to improve access to neurological care and to raise awareness about the impact of neurological diseases.
* ''Alfonso Asenjo (Chile)''
* ''[[Pearce Bailey]] (USA)''
* ''Juan José Barcia Goyanes (Spain)''
* ''G. Belloni (Italy)''
* ''Sam Berman (South Africa)''
* ''S. Bojinov (Bulgaria)''
* ''C. Castell-Diaz (Uruguay)''
* ''Deolindo Couto (Brazil)''
* ''[[MacDonald Critchley|Macdonald Critchley]] (UK)''
* ''C. de Rojas (Cuba)''
* ''J. Espadaler-Medina (Spain)''
* ''R. Frauchiger (Switzerland)''{{col-break}}
* ''Nikolai Graschenkov (USSR)''
* ''Leo Halpern (Israel)''
* ''Kamil Henner (Czechoslovakia)''
* ''E. Herman (Poland)''
* ''Knud Krabbe (Denmark)''
* ''S. Kornyev (Hungary)''
* ''A. Kreindler (Romania)''
* ''Erik Kugelberg (Sweden)''
* ''J. Lopez-Ibor (Spain)''
* ''[[H. Houston Merritt|Houston Merritt]] (USA)''
* ''[[G.H. Monrad-Krohn|Georg H. Monrad-Krohn]] (Norway)''
* ''S. Nachev (Bulgaria)''
* ''J. Pereyra-Kafer (Argentina)''{{col-break}}
* ''[[Balasubramaniam Ramamurthi|B. Ramamurthi]] (India)''
* ''Sigvald Refsum (Norway)''
* ''[[Georg Schaltenbrand]] (W. Germany)''
* ''M. Sercl  (Czechoslovakia)''
* ''C. Sillevis-Smitt (the Netherlands)''
* ''Ihsan Sükrü Aksel (Turkey)''
* ''E. Tchehrazi (Iran)''
* ''Auguste Tournay (France)''
* ''Oscar Montes Trelles (Peru)''
* ''Knud Winther (Denmark)''
* ''Gunnar Wohlfart (Sweden)''
* ''N. Zec (Yugoslavia)''{{col-end}}


[[:pl:Ludo van Bogaert|Ludo van Bogaert]] was unanimously elected President of the new organisation. [[Pearce Bailey]] became Secretary-Treasurer General. There were four Vice-Presidents: [[H. Houston Merritt|Houston Merritt]], [[:fr:Raymond Garcin|Raymond Garcin]], [[:cs:Kamil Henner (lékař)|Kamil Henner]] and [[jp:冲中重雄|Shigeo Okinaka]].
===World Congress of Neurology===
The WFN organizes the biennial [[World Congress of Neurology]], which is a major event that brings together neurologists from around the world to discuss the latest advancements in the field.


An informal WFN Policy Committee was formed to consider the future policy of the new organisation. It consisted of WFN members from different countries. Among them were [[MacDonald Critchley|Macdonald Critchley]], Eddie P. Bharucha (Bombay, India), [[:pl:Russell N. DeJong|Russell N. DeJong]] (Ann Arbor, USA), [[Georg Schaltenbrand]] (West Germany), Francois Thiébaut (Strasbourg, France), [[:es:Julio Óscar Trelles Montes|Oscar Montes Trelles]] (Lima, Peru), and Semen Aleksandrovich Sarkisov (Moscow, [[Soviet Union|USSR]]). Because the term policy had different meanings in different countries, the Policy Committee was re-named the Steering Committee in 1969.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=|first=|title=Minutes of the Executive Committee of the World Federation of Neurology, 21 September 1969|journal=Journal of the Neurological Sciences|volume=10|issue=5|pages=504–516|doi=10.1016/0022-510x(70)90029-8|year=1970}}</ref>
==Structure==
The WFN is governed by an elected [[Council of Delegates]] and an [[Executive Committee]]. The Council of Delegates consists of representatives from each member society, while the Executive Committee is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the federation.


=== WFN Presidents ===
==Membership==
According to the constitution and bye-laws, the president and the secretary-treasurer general should each serve for four years.<ref name=":4" />  Re-election is not allowed.
Membership in the WFN is open to national neurological societies. The federation currently has over 120 member societies, representing neurologists from all regions of the world.
{| class="wikitable"
|2018–2021
|William M Carroll (Australia)
|-
|2014–2017
|Raad Shakir (UK)
|-
|2010–2013
|[[Vladimir Hachinski]] (Canada)
|-
|2006–2009
|Johan Aarli (Norway)
|-
|2002–2005
|Jun Kimura (Japan/USA)
|-
|1998–2001
|James Toole (USA)
|-
|1990–1997
|[[John Walton, Baron Walton of Detchant|John Walton]] (UK)
|-
|1982–1989
|Richard Masland (USA)
|-
|1974–1981
|Sigvald Refsum (Norway)
|-
|1966–1973
|[[MacDonald Critchley]] (UK)
|-
|1957–1965
|[[:pl:Ludo van Bogaert|Ludo van Bogaert]] (Belgium)
|}


== WFN Research Groups ==
==Related pages==
Van Bogaert and the leadership of the WFN realised the importance of creating groups of international leaders in various fields of neurology. These groups were called ''Problem Commissions''.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />
* [[Neurology]]
 
* [[Neurological disorder]]
During the first years of its existence, the WFN economy of the WFN had been based upon generous support from the [[National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness|NINDB]],<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite journal|last=Godwin-Austen|first=Richard|date=2015-06-01|title=The achievements of the World Federation of Neurology|journal=Brain|volume=138|issue=6|pages=1756–1758|doi=10.1093/brain/awv062|issn=0006-8950|pmc=4614148}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=D.|first=Louis, Elan|date=2013-01-01|title=The early struggles of the fledgling American Academy of Neurology: resistance from the old guard of American neurology|journal=Brain|language=en|volume=136|issue=1|pages=343–354|doi=10.1093/brain/aws278|pmid=23288329|issn=0006-8950}}</ref> a part of the U.S. [[National Institutes of Health]] (NIH). From 1965, it was clear that no further funding for WFN activities would come from the US Government sources.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=|first=|title=Minutes of the meeting of the secretaries of the WFN problem commissions (Institut Bunge, Berchem-Antwerp, December 12, 1964)|journal=Journal of the Neurological Sciences|volume=2|issue=6|pages=575–588|doi=10.1016/0022-510x(65)90004-3|year=1965}}</ref> The hope was that WFN now should be able to generate it own income.
* [[World Congress of Neurology]]
 
* [[Public health]]
At a meeting of the WFN Executive Committee (later re-named the Council of Delegates), past and present officers of the WFN with Chairmen and Secretaries of the Problem Commissions met in Geneva in July 1966.<ref name=":2" /> The Problem Commissions were re-named "Research Groups" and organised in the new Research Committee.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> The Secretaries of these Research Groups would now form the Research Committee.
 
The hope was that each Research Group should bring money to the organisation.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.neurochemistry.org/about/history/chapter-3-relations-between-i-s-n-and-other-societies.html|title=Chapter 3 – Relations between I.S.N. and other Societies – International Society for Neurochemistry (ISN) – International Society for Neurochemistry (ISN)|last=|first=|date=|website=www.neurochemistry.org|language=en-gb|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=2017-10-04}}</ref> A few did, but many Research Groups were unable to support WFN financially.  John Walton's idea was that some Problem Commissions – now Research Groups – might develop into international societies that could become corporate members of the Research Committee with the payment of an annual subscription that might improve the economy of the organisation.<ref name=":6" /> This proved to be a great step forward. But it took several years until it worked. In the meantime, the economic situation remained critical.
 
By 1969, the income of the Research Committee was only sufficient to support the secretarial and administrative expenses of the Committee. No grants were available to the Research Groups to support their activities.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Critchley|first=M|title=WFN-news: Meeting of the Research Committee (formerly World Association of Neurological Commissions) Geneva, 1-2 July 1966|journal=Journal of the Neurological Sciences|volume=4|issue=2|pages=365–368|doi=10.1016/0022-510x(67)90116-5|year=1967}}</ref>
 
By 2010<ref>https://worldneurologyonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/WFN-October-2010-Issue.pdf#page=3</ref> the groups were known as “Applied Research Groups” and in 2019 renamed to Specialty Groups.
 
== World Neurology ==
 
=== World Neurology Journal ===
WFN was not in a position to sponsor meetings of the Problem Commissions, who usually met during international congresses.<ref name=":0" /> In order to communicate with neurologists worldwide, an international journal was needed. The Problem Commissions published reports from their meetings in World Neurology, later in the ''Journal of Neurological Sciences''. This formed a backbone of an international network of neurologists.
 
[[Charles Poser]] had suggested to [[:pl:Ludo van Bogaert|Ludo van Bogaert]] in March 1959 that WFN needed its own journal, both as a newsletter, for publication of research news, but also as a forum for the Problem Commissions, announcements of their meetings and reports from national and international meetings in neurology.<ref name=":5" /> Poser became the Editor-in-Chief, with van Bogaert and [[Pearce Bailey]] as Associate Editors.  The first issue of [http://www.worldneurologyonline.com/ World Neurology] was published in July 1960.
 
The new journal had an ambitious program. As the Editor-in-Chief wrote in his first editorial: "''Right from the beginning we are emphasising the international and multilingual nature of this publication as well as the variety of the aspects of neurology which we hope to cover''."
 
"''World Neurology…requests review papers on current concepts and recent advances in their field of endeavour from authorities in clinical and basic'' ''neurology and the allied disciplines. These are then translated into English, French, German, or Spanish, in each case, a language different from the one most often used by the author.  An article in any language is followed by comprehensive abstracts in the other three.''"<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Morgan|first=Greg|date=1999-04-01|title=Neurology Was There—1960|journal=Archives of Neurology|volume=56|issue=4|pages=488–490|doi=10.1001/archneur.56.4.488|pmid=10199341|issn=0003-9942}}</ref>
 
Seen in retrospect, publishing articles in 4 different languages was too ambitious and time-consuming. The Editor-in-Chief realised that standards for reviewing manuscripts varied considerably over the world. The traditions of the referee systems varied. There were considerable differences in traditions for the presentation of data, and spelling, usage, style and grammar varied. The number of subscriptions was very slow to increase. Conflicts appeared. Charles Poser was replaced with Gilbert Glaser as Editor-in-Chief in September 1961 and World Neurology stopped publication in December 1962. It later reappeared in a different form as the WFN newsletter, while a new international ''[[Journal of the Neurological Sciences]]'' was founded in 1964.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Critchley|first=Macdonald|title=Editorial|journal=Journal of the Neurological Sciences|volume=1|issue=1|pages=1|doi=10.1016/0022-510x(64)90049-8|year=1964}}</ref>
 
=== World Neurology Newsletter ===
Until Richard Masland's Presidency, the WFN newsletter was found in the ''Journal of the Neurological Sciences.'' Masland realised the importance of a separate newsletter with information of the development of the WFN, news from the Research Groups and communication about activities in the neurosciences worldwide. The first Newsletter of the World Federation of Neurology appeared as ''Highlights of the Meeting of the Council of Delegates and Research Committee WFN Hamburg, November 15, 1983''. It contained information not only about the coming World Congress, but it also gave information about the WFN Research Groups and the development of the organisation. It then appeared in June 1984 (second announcement), November 1984 (third announcement) and as the Pre-Congress issue July 15, 1985.<ref name=":0" />
 
The cost of the four issues, which were circulated to over 18,000 neurologists was underwritten by the Congress Management and the German Organising Committee. Several pharmaceutical companies, Eisai, Hoechst Marion Roussel, Schering Healthcare, Lilly, and Smith Kline Beecham, gave substantial grants to help with the costs of publishing World Neurology in its new format, first with Eldred Smith-Gordon and subsequently with Cambridge Medical Publications.
 
In January 2013, World Neurology ceased printing in hard-copy and made available only as a new digital edition<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://worldneurologyonline.com/|title=World Neurology – The Official Newsletter of the World Federation of Neurology|website=worldneurologyonline.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-10-05}}</ref> through Ascend Integrated Media.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wfneurology.org/2013-01-14-wfn-world-neurology|title=World Neurology is going digital|website=www.wfneurology.org|language=en|access-date=2017-10-05}}</ref>
 
== Scientific Journals ==
The WFN scientific journals provides a medium for the publication of original articles in neurology and neuroscience from around the world.  The journals places special emphasis on articles that:
# provide guidance to clinicians around the world (Best Practices, Global Neurology);
# report cutting-edge science related to neurology (Basic and Translational Sciences);
# educate readers about relevant and practical clinical outcomes in neurology (Outcomes Research); and
# summarise or editorialise the current state of the literature (Reviews, Commentaries, and Editorials).
 
=== Journal of the Neurological Sciences ===
The [[Journal of the Neurological Sciences]] (JNS) comprised topics from neurology-related fields that are considered to be of interest to practicing physicians around the world.  Examples include neuromuscular diseases, demyelination, atrophies, dementia, neoplasms, infections, epilepsies, disturbances of consciousness, stroke and cerebral circulation, growth and development, plasticity and intermediary metabolism.
 
The fields covered include:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jns-journal.com/content/aims|title=Journal of the Neurological Sciences|website=www.jns-journal.com|language=en|access-date=2017-10-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ens-journal.com/content/aims|title=eNeurologicalSci|website=www.ens-journal.com|language=en|access-date=2017-10-05}}</ref>
{{col-begin}}{{col-break}}
* [[neuroanatomy]]
* [[neurochemistry]]
* [[neuroendocrinology]]
* [[neuroepidemiology]]
* [[neurogenetics]]
* [[neuroimmunology]]
* [[Neuro-ophthalmology|neuroophthalmology]]
* [[neuropathology]]
* [[neuropharmacology]]
{{col-break}}
* [[neurophysiology]]
* [[neuropsychology]]
* [[neuroradiology]]
* [[neurosurgery]]
* [[neurooncology]]
* [[Neurotoxin|neurotoxicology]]
* [[restorative neurology]]
* tropical neurology
{{col-end}}
 
==== Origins ====
In 1964, [[:pl:Ludo van Bogaert|Ludo van Bogaert]] and Armand Lowenthal negotiated a contract with [[Elsevier]] for a new journal, ''[[Journal of the Neurological Sciences]]'', as the official bulletin of the WFN, with 6 issues a year.  Each issue contained information from the WFN with reports from committee meetings. There were also reports from meetings of national and regional neurological societies. The scientific articles had summaries in English, French and German. Most papers were in English, but manuscripts in French or German were also accepted for publication.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=|first=|title=Report of the WFN President Ludo van Bogaert|journal=Journal of the Neurological Sciences|volume=3|issue=1|pages=90–105|doi=10.1016/0022-510x(66)90041-4|year=1966}}</ref>
 
In 1964, Nikolai Graschenko (1901–1965) urged that the journal should also accept Russian as an official language. He pointed out that there were 5-6000 neurologists in the [[Soviet Union|USSR]]. Van Bogaert was positive to having Russian as an official language, but pointed out that the printing costs would be too high because of the Cyrillian alphabet.<ref name=":1" />
 
[[MacDonald Critchley|Macdonald Critchley]] was the first Editor-in-Chief. In 1965, he was elected President of the WFN, and [[John Walton, Baron Walton of Detchant|John Walton]] became the editor. The only financial support the editorial office was an annual grant of US$500 from the funds of the WFN, with no contribution from the publisher.
 
During the first years of its existence, the journal in addition served as a newsletter for the WFN. Reports from Council of Delegates, of Committee meetings and of WFN administrative affairs were published, often occupying several pages, but not always read as thoroughly as hoped. Around 1993, when World Neurology had become the established WFN newsletter and published in more than 20 000 issues, the journal could focus upon its main function, being a scientific journal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jns-journal.com/content/aims|title=Aims of the Journal of Neurological Sciences|last=|first=|date=|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=October 2, 2017}}</ref>
 
=== eNeurologicalSci (eNS) Journal ===
Launched in March 2015,<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Ovbiagele|first=Bruce|title=Welcome to eNeurologicalSci (eNS)!|journal=ENeurologicalSci|volume=1|issue=1|pages=10–11|doi=10.1016/j.ensci.2015.08.003|pmid=26366441|pmc=4563994|year=2015}}</ref> ''eNeurologicalSci'' is the WFN [[Open access|Open Access]] scientific journal.<ref>{{cite web |title=eNeurologicalSci |url=http://www.ens-journal.com/ |website=www.sciencedirect.com}}</ref>
 
== World Congresses ==
Before WFN, there was no world organisation of neurology. The idea of an international neurology meeting was born in 1927, when two neurologists, [[Bernard Sachs]] (1858–1944) and [[Otto Marburg]] (1874–1948) met to discuss the needs for neurologists to come together to discuss neurosciences and progress in neurology.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Riley M.D.|first=Henry Alsop|date=|title=Bernard Sachs – The Founder of the International Neurological Congresses|url=|journal=Journal of the Mount Sinai Hospital|volume=9 |issue=4|pages=249–255|via=}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/journalofmountsi9194moun|title=Journal of The Mount Sinai Hospital|last=Mount Sinai Hospital (New York|first=N. Y. )|date=1942-1943|publisher=Mount Sinai Hospital|others=Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai}}</ref> The following year, [[Bernard Sachs]] wrote to key figures in international neurology.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal|last=Louis|first=Elan D.|date=2010-07-01|title=The conceptualization and organization of the first International Neurological Congress (1931): the coming of age of neurology|journal=Brain|volume=133|issue=7|pages=2160–2166|doi=10.1093/brain/awq124|pmid=20488888|issn=0006-8950}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sachs|first=B.|date=1931-12-01|title=First International Neurological Congress: Presidential Address|journal=Archives of Neurology & Psychiatry|volume=26|issue=6|pages=1119–1121|doi=10.1001/archneurpsyc.1931.02230120002001|issn=0096-6754}}</ref>
 
The first international neuroscience meeting took place in Berne, Switzerland, in September 1931. [[Bernard Sachs]] was the Congress President, [[Charles Scott Sherrington|Sir Charles Sherrington]] (1857–1952) Vice-President and [[:pl:Henry Alsop Riley|Henry Alsop Riley]] (1887–1966) the Secretary-General. The Congress, which was a result of a generous initiative by the [[American Neurological Association]], brought together individuals from 42 countries of several continents.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Casper|first=S.|title=Making neurology global: the first international neurological congress in Berne, Switzerland 1931|journal=Journal of the Neurological Sciences|volume=357|pages=e506|doi=10.1016/j.jns.2015.09.322|year=2015}}</ref>
 
The Berne congress was important because it was the first occasion for neurologists to meet, learn from each other, and exchange views.<ref name=":3" /> But the idea of organising a world-wide club of neurological societies was still 25 years forward in time.<ref name=":3" /> Before the World War II, a usual journey by sea across the Atlantic took about five days.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://people.hofstra.edu/geotrans/eng/ch3en/conc3en/linertransatlantic.html|title=Liner Transatlantic Crossing Times, 1833–1952 (in days)|website=people.hofstra.edu|access-date=2017-10-04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gjenvick.com/OceanTravel/TransatlanticShipsAndVoyages/OceanPassengerTravel/1891/04-SpeedOf1890Steamships.html|title=Speed of the 1890 Steamships {{!}} GG Archives|last=Gjenvick|first=Paul K.|website=www.gjenvick.com|language=en|access-date=2017-10-04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.edwardianpromenade.com/travel/a-truly-transatlantic-society/|title=A Truly Transatlantic Society|date=2011-05-23|work=Edwardian Promenade|access-date=2017-10-04|language=en-US}}</ref> Scheduled trans-atlantic flights between the US and London/Europe did not begin until after 1947.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.centennialofflight.net/essay/Commercial_Aviation/atlantic_route/Tran4.htm|title=Air Transportation: The Beginnings of Commercial Transatlantic Service|last=|first=|date=|website=www.centennialofflight.net|publisher=U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=2017-10-04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/tedreed/2013/08/10/first-trans-atlantic-commercial-flight-landed-75-years-ago-sunday/|title=First Trans-Atlantic Commercial Flight Landed 75 Years Ago Sunday|last=Reed|first=Ted|date=August 10, 2013|website=[[Forbes]]|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=October 4, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.wired.com/2010/10/1004first-transatlantic-jet-service-boac/|title=Oct. 4, 1958: 'Comets' Debut Trans-Atlantic Jet Age|last=Paur|first=Jason|date=October 4, 2010|journal=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=October 4, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/3146988/Transatlantic-jet-flight-celebrates-50-years.html|title=Transatlantic jet flight celebrates 50 years|last=Tweedie|first=Neil|date=2008-10-06|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|access-date=2017-10-04|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}</ref> Progress in communication would be necessary for the future development of international neurology.
 
The first international congress of neurosciences in which WFN was involved, took place in Rome in September 1961.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite journal|title=History of the Swiss Neurological Society in the context of the national and international development of neurology|journal=Schweizer Archiv für Neurologie und Psychiatrie|language=en|volume=160|issue=2|pages=52–65|doi=10.4414/sanp.2009.02042|year=2009}}</ref> The six first congresses have since been included in the sequence of World Congresses of Neurology (WCN), although they took place before WFN had been founded.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wfneurology.org/wcn|title=Archived Meetings|website=www.wfneurology.org|language=en|access-date=2017-10-04}}</ref>
 
{| class="wikitable" style="width: 100%;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="8"
! colspan="4" align="left" |
 
=== International Congress of Neurosciences ===
|-
|<strong>1st</strong>
|1931
|Berne, Switzerland
|President: [[Bernard Sachs|Dr Bernard Sachs]]; Vice President: [[Charles Scott Sherrington|Sir Charles Sherrington]]; Secretary-General: [[:pl:Henry Alsop Riley|Dr Henry Alsop Riley]]
|-
|<strong>2nd</strong>
|1935
|London, U.K.
|President: Dr (later Sir) [[Gordon Morgan Holmes|Gordon Holmes]]; Honorary President: [[Bernard Sachs|Dr Bernard Sachs]]; Secretary-General: Dr [[Samuel Alexander Kinnier Wilson]]
|-
|<strong>3rd&nbsp;</strong>
|1939
|Copenhagen, Denmark
|President: Professor Viggo Christiansen; Honorary President: [[Bernard Sachs|Dr Bernard Sachs]]; 2nd Honorary President: [[Charles Scott Sherrington|Sir Charles Sherrington]]; 3rd Honorary President: Dr (later Sir) Gordon Holmes); 11 Vice-Presidents (incl. [[:pl:Ludo van Bogaert|Dr Ludo van Bogaert]])
|-
|<strong>4th&nbsp;</strong>
|1949
|Paris, France
|&nbsp;
|-
|<strong>5th&nbsp;</strong>
|1953
|Lisbon, Portugal
|President: Dr António Flores; Secretary-General: Dr Almeida Lima); Honorary Presidents: [[Gordon Morgan Holmes|Sir Gordon Holmes]], Dr Georges Charles Guillain, Dr André-Thomas, Dr [[Théophile Alajouanine]], Dr [[António Egas Moniz|Egas Moniz]]
|-
|<strong>6th</strong>
|1957
|Brussels, Belgium
|&nbsp;
|-
|<strong>7th</strong>
|1961
|Rome, Italy
|President: Mario Gozzano; Vice President: [[H. Houston Merritt]]; Secretary: Giovanni Alema
|-
|<strong>8th</strong>
|1965
|Vienna, Austria
|President: [[Hans Hoff (psychiatrist)|Hans Hoff]]; Vice-President: Franz Seitelberger; Secretary: Helmuth Tschabitscher
|-
|<strong>9th</strong>
|1969
|New York, USA&nbsp;
|President:&nbsp; [[H. Houston Merritt]]; Secretary-General: Melvin D. Yahr.&nbsp; Treasurer: [[Morris Bender|Morris B. Bender]]
|-
|<strong>10th</strong>
|1973
|Barcelona, Spain
|President: A. Subirana; Vice-President: I. Barraquer Bordas; Secretary: J.M. Espadaler
|-
! colspan="4" align="left" |
 
=== World Congress of Neurology ===
|-
|<strong>11th</strong>
|1977
|Amsterdam, the Netherlands&nbsp;
|President: W.A. den Hartog Jager; Secretary: George Bruyn; Treasurer-General: A.P.J.Heijstee.
|-
|<strong>12th</strong>
|1981
|Kyoto, Japan
|<span style="line-height: 1.4em;">President: S. Katsuki; Secretary-General: Tadao Tsubaki</span>
|-
|<strong>13th</strong>
|1985
|Hamburg, Germany
|President: Klaus Poeck; Vice President: H. Gänshirt.; General Secretary: H-G. Mertens
|-
|<strong>14th</strong>
|1989
|New Delhi, India&nbsp;
|President: Eddie P. Bharucha; Secretary-General: Jagjit Chopra
|-
|<strong>15th</strong>
|1993
|Vancouver, Canada&nbsp;
|President: Henry Barnett; Secretary-General: Donald W. Paty
|-
|<strong>16th</strong>
|1997
|Buenos Aires, Argentina&nbsp;
|President: Salomon Muchnik; Secretary: Leonor Gold; Treasurer: Lorenzo Bauso Toselli; Chairman of the Scientific Programme Committee: Roberto Sicca
|-
|<strong>17th</strong>
|2001
|London, UK&nbsp;
|President: Ian MacDonald; Secretary: Christopher Kennard
|-
|<strong>18th</strong>
|2005
|Sydney, Australia
|President: William Carroll; Secretary-General:&nbsp;Geoffrey Donnan;&nbsp;Chairman of the Scientific Program Committee: Sam Berkovic
|-
|<strong>19th</strong>
|2009
|Bangkok, Thailand
|President: Niphon Poungvarin; Chairman: Kammant Phanthumchinda; Secretary-General: Somsak Laptikultham; Treasurer: Somchai Towanabut
|-
|<strong>20th</strong>
|2011
|Marrakesh, Morocco&nbsp;
|
<span style="line-height: 1.4em;">President:&nbsp;Mostafa El Alaoui Faris; 1st Vice-President:&nbsp;Chafiq Hicham; 2nd Vice-President: Mohamed Yahyaoui;&nbsp;Secretary:&nbsp;Maria Benabdeljil</span>
|-
|<strong>21st</strong>
|2013
|Vienna, Austria&nbsp;
|President: Prof Eduard Auff
|-
|'''22nd'''
|2015
|Santiago, Chile
|President: Renato Verdugo
|-
|'''23rd'''
|2017
|Kyoto, Japan
|President: Hidehiro Mizusawa
|-
|'''24th'''
|2019
|Dubai, UAE
|President: Suhail Abdulla Al-Rukn
|}
 
== References ==
{{reflist}}
 
== External links ==
* [http://www.wfneurology.org/ Official website]
* [http://www.worldneurologyonline.com/ World Neurology]
* [http://www.jns-journal.com/ Journal of the Neurological Sciences (JNS)]
* [http://www.ens-journal.com/ eNeurologicalSci (eNS)]
 
[[Category:Neurology organizations]]
[[Category:Neurology journals]]
[[Category:Neurology]]
[[Category:Neurology]]
{{stb}}
[[Category:International medical and health organizations]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1957]]
{{org-stub}}

Latest revision as of 04:26, 23 March 2025

The World Federation of Neurology (WFN) is an international organization that represents and supports the global community of neurologists. It aims to foster quality neurology and brain health worldwide by promoting education, research, and patient care in the field of neurology.

History[edit]

The World Federation of Neurology was established in 1957. It was founded to provide a platform for neurologists around the world to collaborate and share knowledge. The WFN has grown significantly since its inception, now comprising over 120 member societies from different countries.

Mission and Objectives[edit]

The mission of the WFN is to improve human health by promoting prevention and care of neurological disorders. The organization seeks to achieve this through:

  • Promoting global neurological education and training.
  • Supporting research in neurology and related fields.
  • Facilitating communication and collaboration among neurologists worldwide.
  • Advocating for the importance of neurology in public health.

Activities[edit]

The WFN engages in a variety of activities to fulfill its mission:

Education[edit]

The WFN organizes educational programs, workshops, and conferences to enhance the knowledge and skills of neurologists. It also provides online resources and supports the development of neurology curricula in medical schools.

Research[edit]

The federation supports research initiatives by providing grants and fellowships to researchers in the field of neurology. It also collaborates with other organizations to promote research on neurological diseases.

Advocacy[edit]

The WFN advocates for the recognition of neurological disorders as a public health priority. It works with governments and health organizations to improve access to neurological care and to raise awareness about the impact of neurological diseases.

World Congress of Neurology[edit]

The WFN organizes the biennial World Congress of Neurology, which is a major event that brings together neurologists from around the world to discuss the latest advancements in the field.

Structure[edit]

The WFN is governed by an elected Council of Delegates and an Executive Committee. The Council of Delegates consists of representatives from each member society, while the Executive Committee is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the federation.

Membership[edit]

Membership in the WFN is open to national neurological societies. The federation currently has over 120 member societies, representing neurologists from all regions of the world.

Related pages[edit]

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