RTN-LAB ran as an Marie Curie Research Training Network funded by the European Union from 2005 to 2008. The network was spread across 12 universities and research centres in 6 different European countries. Fifteen senior scientists supervised the research, which was concerned with aspects of language processing. Topics ranged from word recognition and dyslexia to bilingualism and the comprehension of poetic metaphor. The techniques employed also varied widely from laboratory studies of reaction times to imaging of brain processes using functional MRI, magnetoencephalography (MEG), electroencephalography (EEG) and voxel-based morphometry. The training component of the network was central to its mission. Nineteen young researchers were employed within the network at PhD level (‘early stage researchers') and at post-doctoral level (‘experienced researchers'). The network held annual Scientific Meetings at which research was discussed, and also Training Meetings at which the young researchers were taught about different methods for studying brain and language.