In 2008, Israel celebrated its 60th independence anniversary. To mark this important occasion, an interacademic symposium “Neurobiology of Neuro-Psychiatric Diseases” has been organized by the German Academy of Sciences, Leopoldina and the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Jerusalem, 2–5 November 2008. Most recent basic and clinical aspects of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, as well as psychiatric disorders, e.g. anxiety, depression syndrome and schizophrenia have been reported and intensively discussed. 12 lecturers came from Germany, 31 from Israel and another 11 from other countries. Prof. Dr. V. ter Meulen, President of the German Academy of Sciences, Leopoldina and Prof. Dr. Ruth Arnon, Vice President of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities in their inaugural lectures pointed out that the symposium should result in (1) intensifying existing cooperation and initiating new ones, (2) leading to synergisms and networking and (3) facilitating new friendships. Intensifying the scientific collaboration on brain research in general and neurosciences are principal targets of both academies and the scientists from both countries.

Invitations between both academies raised very good possibilities for exchange not only on scientific issues but also personal opinions on mutual interests of the participants. It was a splendid opportunity to develop new contacts directed to future cooperations and friendships. It was “an unisono agreement” that such symposium should continue between the two academis and, the “second interacademic symposium” should be organized in Germany in due time.

We are grateful to both academies for the support they gave us for organizing this very important meeting and we hope that they continue their support for the future meeting on different topics related to neurosciences.

We would like to thank the sponsors of this important conference, the German Research Foundation (DFG), the “Verein zur Durchführung Neurowissenschaftlicher Tagungen e.V.”, the “Verein zur Erforschung von Neurodegeneration, Neuroprotektion, Neuroregeneration und Therapie e.V.” (VENT), the “German Society for Experimental and Clinical Neurotherapeutics” (GESENT), the “Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach-Stiftung”, the Rappaport-Faculty of Medicine-Technion, the Eve Topf Center, Faculty of Medicine-Technion, the Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH and the TEVA Pharmaceuticals, Israel, the organizational and secretarial expertise of Dr. Silvia Mandel, Priv. Doz. Dr. Edna Grünblatt, Mrs. Ella Rais, and Miss Gerlinde Kerscher.

V. ter Meulen, R. Arnon, M.B.H. Youdim, P. Riederer

Halle, Jerusalem, Haifa, Wützburg

autumn 2009