ESVCE Newsletter - Spring 2026

Dear ESVCE members and friends,

Welcome to the Spring 2026 edition of the ESVCE Newsletter. As we begin a new year together, we are looking ahead and sharing what we have planned for our community in the months to come.

8th EVCBMAW Congress — Ljubljana 2026

The 8th EVCBMAW Congress is taking shape! We are excited to confirm Ljubljana, Slovenia as the venue (September 30 – October 2, 2026). Following the successful 7th congress in Helsinki (2025), we continue the theme of “An interdisciplinary approach to behavioural medicine, animal welfare, ethics and law.” The scientific programme will feature keynote lectures, workshops, poster sessions, and a pre-congress day on psychopharmacology.

RDM Grant

The deadline for the 2026 Rudy De Meester Grant was February 28. Applications are now being reviewed by the grant committee. The winner will be announced at the EVCBMAW Congress in Ljubljana.

Masterclass 2025 Recap

Our November 2025 Masterclass on “The Body-Mind Connection” was a great success, featuring presentations by Dr. Carlo Siracusa (The gut-behavior connection), Dr. Xavier Levy (Reproductive system and behavior), and Prof. Holger Volk (Neurology meets behavior). Recordings are available for members in the member area.

Working Groups

The CBD Working Group has published their position statement on cannabidiol use in veterinary behavioural medicine. The Shelter Group Programme continues work on European shelter assessment standards.

National Group News

We welcome continued collaboration with our national groups across Europe. The ESVCE now has member groups in Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

We wish you all a productive spring!

The ESVCE Board