WELCOME: GLOBAL BHP BRAINTRUST
A Message from Andrea Pfeifer, Chair of the Global BHP BrainTrust
October was marked by eventful moments for the Global BHP BrainTrust. Following our exclusive October 9th event with Citi Private Bank on “Shaping the Future of Women’s Health and Wellness,” we convened two weeks later for Lausanne XII, the annual convocation dedicated to stopping Alzheimer’s disease.
As Chair, I emphasized that while advances in biomarkers and immunotherapy are accelerating, our systems still focus too heavily on treatment after symptoms appear. Establishing a common framework for preclinical Alzheimer’s trials that is safe, accessible, and patient-centered presents a remarkable opportunity to reshape the future of prevention.
At our evening reception, Dr. Stephanie Blum spotlighted progress on the FINGERS Plus for Women initiative, focused on microbiome modulation and women-specific risk factors. Since October 2024, the study team has completed the clinical protocol, manufactured the probiotic strain (Probi SA), and secured funding to enable ethical submission, with study start planned for early 2026. LUMEUS Co-Founder and CEO Verena Herzog-Pohl also presented their digital music app supporting cognitive and mental well-being.
The evening concluded with a video message from Susan Magsamen, Executive Director of the Johns Hopkins International Arts + Mind Lab Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics, announcing a forthcoming collaboration between the Global BHP BrainTrust, the NeuroArts Academic Network, and Johns Hopkins. This partnership will explore how the arts can enhance brain health and well-being worldwide and has the potential to translate research into practical programs that strengthen cognitive and emotional resilience across diverse sectors.
Looking ahead, these events reinforced the BrainTrust’s role as a catalyst, transforming emerging science into actionable strategies that shape global policy, guide investment, and drive meaningful improvements in women’s brain health. We remain committed to expanding our collaborations and translating insights into tangible impact worldwide.