One Voice for Neurology

Four years into the WHO’s Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders (IGAP), what progress has been made — and what needs to happen next?

Sam Pauly speaks to Dr Neerja Chowdhary from the World Health Organization about global neurology, brain health, and the implementation of IGAP. They discuss progress in countries around the world, inequalities in access to neurological care, the role of primary care and technology, and the priorities for the years ahead: moving from planning to action, strengthening health systems, and improving data.

The One Voice for Neurology podcast with Sam Pauly is produced on behalf of OneNeurology, a global partnership bringing together neurological organisations, clinicians, researchers, patient advocates and industry suppporters to make neurology a global health priority. 

To explore OneNeurology's work and find out more, visit https://oneneurology.net/

Patient voices have the power to shape research, healthcare, policy and the future of neurology — but how can those voices be heard?

In this episode of One Voice for Neurology, Sam Pauly is joined by Joe Lindahl, CEO of Mission MSA, and Naomi Fukuda, parent and patient advocate at Dravet Syndrome Japan, to explore the power of patient advocacy and lived experience. They discuss the barriers that can prevent patients and families from finding their voice, the importance of engagement, empowerment and collaboration, and how working together can amplify impact.

From influencing policy and drug development to supporting families and building hope for the future, this conversation highlights why every patient voice matters — and why lasting change happens when we use those voices together.

The One Voice for Neurology podcast with Sam Pauly is produced on behalf of OneNeurology, a global partnership bringing together neurological organisations, clinicians, researchers, patient advocates and industry suppporters to make neurology a global health priority. 

To explore OneNeurology's work and find out more, visit https://oneneurology.net/

As the European Federation of Neurological Associations (EFNA) celebrates 25 years of advocacy, Sam Pauly is joined by Dr. Orla Galvin, Executive Director of EFNA, which serves as the Secretariat for the OneNeurology partnership. Together, they explore how advocacy for neurological conditions has evolved, why collaboration is essential to making neurology a global health priority, and how early and meaningful patient involvement is helping shape better research, policy and care. The episode also features Astri Arnesen, who shares how persistence, partnership and lived experience—including her own family's experience of Huntington's disease—have helped transform advocacy for people living with neurological conditions.

The One Voice for Neurology podcast with Sam Pauly is produced on behalf of OneNeurology, a global partnership bringing together neurological organisations, clinicians, researchers, patient advocates and industry suppporters to make neurology a global health priority. 

To explore OneNeurology's work and find out more, visit https://oneneurology.net/

Neurological conditions are one of the biggest health challenges facing the world today — yet access to neurological care remains deeply unequal.

In this episode of One Voice for Neurology, Professor Riadh Gouider, First Vice President of the World Federation of Neurology, Head of Neurology at Razi Hospital in Tunis, and Ambassador for the One Neurology Partnership, shares his perspective on the future of global neurology.

This honest and thought-provoking conversation explores the global shortage of neurologists, inequalities in access to care, the growing burden of stroke and neurological conditions, and why collaboration is essential to improving brain health worldwide.

Professor Gouider discusses:

• Why brain health must become a global public health priority
• The impact of workforce shortages and the challenge of brain drain
• Why improving working conditions, access to equipment and professional opportunities is essential to retaining neurological expertise
• Building networks of care that connect specialists, primary care teams and communities
• How collaboration, teleneurology and shared expertise can expand access to neurological care
• The role of advocacy in changing policy and health priorities

A powerful conversation about building sustainable neurological care systems and creating a future where everyone has access to brain health — because there is no health without brain health.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

 WFN–AAN Global Advocacy Leadership Program (GALP)
WFN website: https://wfneurology.org/education/galp
AAN website: https://www.aan.com/education/global-advocacy-leadership-program

UNESCO report on neurotechnology, ethics and equity:
https://www.unesco.org/en/ethics-neurotech?hub=83294 

Keywords

Global neurology, brain health, neurological disorders, neurology workforce, brain drain, access to care, stroke care, telestroke, teleneurology, health equity, healthcare innovation, neurology advocacy, One Neurology, World Federation of Neurology, global health

The One Voice for Neurology podcast with Sam Pauly is produced on behalf of OneNeurology, a global partnership bringing together neurological organisations, clinicians, researchers, patient advocates and industry suppporters to make neurology a global health priority. 

To explore OneNeurology's work and find out more, visit https://oneneurology.net/

In this episode of One Voice for Neurology, we explore a major new initiative set to reshape the future of brain research and collaboration across Europe — the European Partnership for Brain Health.

Sam Pauly is joined by Frédéric Destrebecq, Executive Director of the European Brain Council, to discuss how this ambitious, multi-country partnership is bringing together national funders, researchers, and stakeholders to better coordinate investment, reduce fragmentation, and accelerate progress in brain health.

With over €500 million in combined funding, the partnership represents the largest collaborative effort in brain research globally. In this conversation, we unpack what the initiative aims to achieve and how it could transform the translation of research into real-world impact for people living with neurological conditions.

We also hear perspectives from key partners across Europe, highlighting the growing momentum behind this initiative and its potential to strengthen international collaboration in brain health.

Listen to discover how the European Partnership for Brain Health could help drive innovation, improve care, and further strengthen global efforts to make brain health a priority.

The One Voice for Neurology podcast with Sam Pauly is produced on behalf of OneNeurology, a global partnership bringing together neurological organisations, clinicians, researchers, patient advocates and industry suppporters to make neurology a global health priority. 

To explore OneNeurology's work and find out more, visit https://oneneurology.net/

In this episode of One Voice for Neurology, Abdelfatah Ibrahim and Kevin Rostásy, the new Chairs of the OneNeurology Partnership, discuss progress in strengthening global collaboration across the neurology community. They reflect on key lessons from recent advocacy efforts and outline priorities for the year ahead.

From advancing policy engagement to improving care and access for people living with neurological disorders worldwide, this conversation explores what must change — and how the neurology community can continue working together to make a greater impact.

Listen to learn how the OneNeurology Partnership is helping unite organisations, experts, and advocates to drive meaningful progress for neurological health globally.

The One Voice for Neurology podcast with Sam Pauly is produced on behalf of OneNeurology, a global partnership bringing together neurological organisations, clinicians, researchers, patient advocates and industry suppporters to make neurology a global health priority. 

To explore OneNeurology's work and find out more, visit https://oneneurology.net/

In this episode of One Voice for Neurology, we explore how personalised and precision approaches in neurology can improve care for everyone by recognising individual differences in brain health, including gender, sleep, and hormonal factors. 

Our guests — Dr Antonella Santuccione Chadha, medical doctor, neuroscientist, and founder of the Women’s Brain Foundation, and Dr Thomas Penzel, President of the World Sleep Society — discuss the latest research on gender differences in neurological conditions, the role of sleep and hormonal influences in prevention, and how holistic, individualised care can enhance outcomes for patients, clinicians, and health systems worldwide. 

We also hear from Chéri Ballinger, a Women’s Brain Foundation ambassador and traumatic brain injury survivor, who shares a personal account of how a gender-informed, individualised approach transformed her care. 

Topics covered include: 

• How sex and gender impact neurological disease prevalence, symptoms, and treatment response
• The role of sleep and hormonal factors in supporting brain health and preventing disease
• Advances in technology and AI supporting personalised approaches to neurology
• The importance of investing in research, sharing data, and promoting female leadership to drive equitable, patient-centred neurological care
• Real-world implications of holistic and precision neurology for patients and healthcare systems

Whether you’re a clinician, researcher, patient, or advocate, this episode highlights how understanding differences in brain health can lead to better, more equitable care for everyone.
 
 

The One Voice for Neurology podcast with Sam Pauly is produced on behalf of OneNeurology, a global partnership bringing together neurological organisations, clinicians, researchers, patient advocates and industry suppporters to make neurology a global health priority. 

To explore OneNeurology's work and find out more, visit https://oneneurology.net/

Stroke and other neurological conditions are a leading cause of death and disability worldwide—but solutions exist. In this episode of One Voice for Neurology, Sam Pauly explores the global neurology agenda just days before the 4th UN High Level Meeting on NCDs, with five years left to meet the SDG 3.4 target of reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases.

Hear from:

• Mia Grupper (Executive Director) and Prof. Jeyaraj Pandian (President) of the World Stroke Organization on the global burden of stroke, advocacy at the UN, and initiatives like the Global Stroke Action Coalition.
• Dr Lucy Sykes and colleagues from Ghana and The Gambia on real-world partnerships improving stroke care in resource-limited settings.
• Dr Matilde Leonardi on neurorehabilitation, its impact, and access challenges in global neurological care.

From high-level policy to practical solutions on the ground, this episode shows how collaboration, advocacy, and rehabilitation can make a tangible difference for people affected by neurological disorders.

The One Voice for Neurology podcast with Sam Pauly is produced on behalf of OneNeurology, a global partnership bringing together neurological organisations, clinicians, researchers, patient advocates and industry suppporters to make neurology a global health priority. 

To explore OneNeurology's work and find out more, visit https://oneneurology.net/

Released on World Brain Day

In this episode of the One Voice for Neurology podcast, we explore the lasting and often invisible impact of neurological disorders on individuals, families, and carers.

We begin with a focus on encephalitis, featuring Dr Ava Easton from Encephalitis International. She discusses the causes, long-term effects, and the importance of the new WHO Technical Brief on encephalitis—developed in partnership with the organisation—and how that aligns with the goals of the WHO’s Intersectoral Global Action Plan (IGAP) on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders, particularly around improving diagnosis, care pathways, and support systems.

We also hear from Subha, a young woman living with encephalitis, who shares a moving personal audio diary about her journey and the reality of adapting to a new normal.

Later in the episode, we turn to palliative care. Tracey, a carer for her husband Nick, reflects on their experience and how early palliative care helped them navigate uncertainty and improve the quality of life for them both.

To close, Professor Dr David Oliver from the OneNeurology Palliative Care Working Group explains how palliative care can be better integrated across neurological care—taking a holistic and multidisciplinary approach—and why it’s vital at all stages, not just at the end of life.

Together, these voices show the progress being made through better research, partnerships, and advocacy—and the ongoing need for greater awareness, education, and more person-centred support, all of which underline the profound and enduring impact of neurological disorders.

The One Voice for Neurology podcast with Sam Pauly is produced on behalf of OneNeurology, a global partnership bringing together neurological organisations, clinicians, researchers, patient advocates and industry suppporters to make neurology a global health priority. 

To explore OneNeurology's work and find out more, visit https://oneneurology.net/

In this episode, host Sam Pauly explores the role of education, health literacy, and stigma in shaping experiences of neurological conditions. Genein Letford discusses how early education can support brain development and why the arts can be an effective tool for fostering understanding of neurological health.

Abraham Ntshalintshali and Mary Secco join a roundtable discussion on epilepsy-related stigma, sharing insights from community-level initiatives, including work in Eswatini to train police officers and improve legal outcomes for people with epilepsy. They also reflect on how stigma manifests in different cultural contexts and the need to involve people with lived experience in advocacy and policy.

The episode also features two personal accounts: Ameena Aimen shares her experience of navigating diagnosis and stigma as a medical student in Pakistan, while Laura Molinari reflects on how health literacy helped her manage life with MS at work and in daily life. Finally, Abdelfatah Ibrahim from the MS International Federation explains why improving health literacy is essential to achieving better outcomes and more equitable care for people with neurological conditions.

The One Voice for Neurology podcast with Sam Pauly is produced on behalf of OneNeurology, a global partnership bringing together neurological organisations, clinicians, researchers, patient advocates and industry suppporters to make neurology a global health priority. 

To explore OneNeurology's work and find out more, visit https://oneneurology.net/