Background
The EPNS has been organising training courses in paediatric neurology since 2003. These courses are designed primarily for trainees and residents, but are also suitable for qualified paediatric neurologists who wish to refresh or deepen their knowledge in specific areas. One key initiative is the three-year cycle of training courses, which aims to cover the majority of core topics within the EPNS syllabus over a structured three-year period. In addition to delivering comprehensive educational content, the programme also promotes networking and professional interaction among colleagues across different parts of Europe.
Typically, the training consists of two courses, each lasting two days, delivered over a consecutive four-day period. The courses are highly interactive in nature, and participants are actively encouraged to present and discuss clinical cases. Attendance is limited to ensure an effective learning environment.
The teaching format combines didactic lectures with interactive, case-based sessions to support both knowledge acquisition and practical clinical application.
The Nine Series
2003–2008 — Various locations across Europe, often combined with international meetings such as the EPNS or EACD Congress.
2009–2011 — Cheile Grădiștei, Romania. Local organiser: Dana Craiu. Two separate courses held back to back in one week.
2012–2014 — Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Local organiser: Smail Zubčević.
2015–2017 — Budapest, Hungary. Local organiser: Katalin Hollódy.
2018–2020 — Alicante, Spain. Local organiser: Francisco Carratalá. The 2020 course was cancelled at short notice due to the global pandemic.
2021–2023 — Due to the pandemic, 2021 and 2022 were fully virtual events. 2023 was held in Riga, Latvia. Local organiser: Jurģis Straumanis.
2024–2026 — Ferrara, Italy. Local organiser: Agnese Suppiej.
2027–2029 — Thessaloniki, Greece. Local organiser: Argirios Dinopoulos.
2030–2032 — Sibiu, Romania. Local organiser: Dana Craiu.
Bursaries
The EPNS will offer a limited number of bursaries. Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be a member of the EPNS
- Have paid their current year EPNS membership fee
- Be a resident in paediatric neurology, neurology or paediatrics, or a young paediatric neurologist
- NOT be a member of the WB4A category (email info@epns.info if unsure)
The bursary will fully cover both training course fees, which usually includes accommodation. It will not cover any other costs, including travel.
Click Here to View Full Training Course History
| Year | Topic | Location | Organiser |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Epilepsy, paroxysmal disorders | Sicily | Neville |
| 2004 | Behavioural neurology | Gothenburg | Gillberg |
| 2005 | Inflammatory disorders, infections and metabolic disease | Leeds | Surtees, Tardieu, Newton |
| 2006 | Neonatal and developmental neurology | Groningen | Hadders-Algra, de Vries, Brouwer |
| 2007 | Neuromuscular disease | Izmir | Topaloglu, Darin |
| 2008 | Acute and surgical neurology, cerebrovascular disease | Warsaw | Jóźwiak, Curatolo |
| 2009 | Neuroimaging | Cheile Grădiștei | Meiners |
| 2009 | Neurogenetics | Cheile Grădiștei | Hennekam |
| 2010 | Central motor function disorder | Cheile Grădiștei | Heinen, Papavassiliou |
| 2010 | Cognition and childhood epilepsies | Cheile Grădiștei | Arzimanoglou, Lagae |
| 2011 | Neuromuscular disorders | Cheile Grădiștei | Hughes |
| 2011 | Perinatal neurology | Cheile Grădiștei | Marlow |
| 2012 | Acute neurology and neuro-oncology | Sarajevo | Newton, Jóźwiak, Walker, Kennedy, Özek |
| 2012 | Immune-mediated and infective central nervous system disease | Sarajevo | Tardieu, Catsman, Lim, Kneen |
| 2013 | Paroxysmal episodes: seizures, involuntary movement and primary headache disorders; the child with illness behaviour (including psychogenic seizures) | Sarajevo | Gunning, Hennekam, Lagae, Lloyd, Newton, Schmitt, Wolf, Zuberi |
| 2013 | The child with developmental impairment: language disorders, autism, epilepsy, sleep disorders and developmental impairment; behaviour disorders; ADHD; the child who is losing skills | Sarajevo | Gunning, Hennekam, Lagae, Lloyd, Newton, Schmitt, Wolf, Zuberi |
| 2014 | Fetal and neonatal imaging, normal appearances and congenital malformations; neonatal encephalopathy; neonatal seizures and encephalopathy: ethical considerations, brain death | Sarajevo | Zubčević, Newton |
| 2014 | Neuromuscular disorders | Sarajevo | Zubčević, Newton |
| 2015 | Infections and immune-mediated diseases | Budapest | Anlar, Hollódy, Catsman-Berrevoets |
| 2015 | Acute neurology and neuro-oncology | Budapest | Steinlin, Hollódy, Catsman-Berrevoets |
| 2016 | Epilepsy and other paroxysmal disorders | Budapest | Hollódy, Catsman-Berrevoets |
| 2016 | Behavioural, psychological and psychiatric aspects of neurology, including autism and learning difficulties | Budapest | Baxter, Hollódy, Catsman-Berrevoets |
| 2017 | Infantile metabolic encephalopathies (IME) and neonatal neurology | Budapest | Plecko, Hollódy, Catsman-Berrevoets |
| 2017 | Neuromuscular disorders | Budapest | Sejersen, Hollódy, Catsman-Berrevoets |
| 2018 | Immune-mediated diseases and infections | Alicante | Catsman-Berrevoets, Carratalá |
| 2018 | Acute paediatric neurology and emergency | Alicante | Steinlin, Carratalá |
| 2019 | Neurometabolic diseases | Alicante | Plecko, Willemsen, Catsman-Berrevoets, Carratalá |
| 2019 | Epilepsy | Alicante | Lagae, Carratalá |
| 2020 | Cancelled due to coronavirus outbreak (planned: Neuromuscular Diseases — Sejersen) | Alicante | — |
| 2020 | Cancelled due to coronavirus outbreak (planned: Neonatal Neurology — Haataja) | Alicante | — |
| 2021 | Neuromuscular diseases | Full virtual (Jūrmala) | Sejersen |
| 2021 | Neonatal neurology | Full virtual (Jūrmala) | Haataja |
| 2022 | Acute neurological diseases | Full virtual (Jūrmala) | Steinlin |
| 2022 | Immune-mediated disease and infections | Full virtual (Jūrmala) | Anlar and Rostásy |
| 2023 | Neurometabolics | Riga | Plecko and Willemsen |
| 2023 | Epilepsy | Riga | Craiu and Lagae |
| 2024 | Acute neurology | Ferrara | Bakker and Gorman |
| 2024 | Neurophysiological investigations | Ferrara | Craiu and Suppiej |
| 2025 | Movement disorders | Ferrara | Willemsen and Lin |
| 2025 | Neuroimaging | Ferrara | Rostásy and Craiu |
| 2026 | Neonatal neurology | Ferrara | Pressler, Lerman-Sagie and Suppiej |
| 2026 | Genetics for paediatric neurologists | Ferrara | Craiu and Nemeth |