Eight-Day Advanced School Trains Young Scientists in Stroke, Brain Health and Neurological Disorders
Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), in collaboration with the International Society for Neurochemistry (ISN), has launched a major initiative to strengthen neuroscience research capacity and train the next generation of young scientists across Africa.
The initiative, implemented through the ISN-ABUAD Advanced School on Stroke Neurochemistry and Cerebrovascular Resilience, brings together global experts and early-career researchers for an eight-day programme focused on emerging developments in stroke mechanisms, brain health and neurological disorders.
Director of the ISN–ABUAD Advanced School 2026 and Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Dr Edem E. Edem, disclosed this on Thursday in Ado Ekiti, saying the programme was designed to equip young neuroscientists with advanced knowledge, research skills and international exposure.
According to Edem, the school, supported through a competitive educational grant from ISN, has brought together 30 early-career neuroscientists, including senior doctoral researchers and postdoctoral candidates from Nigeria and other African countries.
The participants are receiving training from experts drawn from Africa, Europe, North America and South America, giving them access to international expertise and contemporary approaches to neuroscience research.
Edem said strengthening neuroscience capacity was essential to addressing the growing burden of neurological disorders across Africa and ensuring that young scientists could contribute meaningfully to global brain research.
He explained that the initiative was created to provide sustainable opportunities for emerging African neuroscientists through mentorship, international collaboration and exposure to modern research approaches.
The scientific sessions have focused on cerebrovascular neurochemistry, stroke mechanisms, glial biology, neurotransmitter regulation and neuroimmune signalling.
Under the theme, “Cerebrovascular Neurochemistry and Stroke Mechanisms,” participants examined the molecular and cellular processes involved in the development, progression and recovery of stroke.
Subsequent sessions explored neurochemical pathways, vascular biology, inflammation, oxidative stress and mechanisms associated with cerebrovascular injury.
Activities also featured discussions under the theme, “Glial, Neurotransmitter Neurochemistry and Neuroimmune Signalling,” providing participants with deeper insight into the biological processes affecting brain health and neurological disorders.
Edem said faculty members had shared research findings and emerging approaches in stroke science, exposing the participants to contemporary neuroscience practices and strengthening their capacity to undertake research that responds to Africa’s specific health challenges.
Among the experts engaging the researchers are Prof. Maria Chitolina Schetinger of the Federal University of Santa Maria, Brazil, and Prof. Amadi Ihunwo of the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.
Ihunwo, in his presentation titled “Africa’s brain data is missing and that is a scientific emergency: The BRIDGE initiative and what it means for cerebrovascular research,” highlighted the need for stronger African participation in global neuroscience research.
He stressed the importance of generating more African brain data to improve understanding of cerebrovascular diseases and ensure that research findings better reflect the realities of populations on the continent.
Dr Bernard Fongang of the Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, UT Health San Antonio, United States, also exposed participants to emerging areas of neuroscience through his presentation on the genetics of vascular cognitive impairment and dementia and their implications for Africa.
The programme further addressed practical challenges facing African researchers, including conducting scientific research in low-resource environments, securing research grants and building sustainable scientific capacity.
For the young researchers taking part, the programme offers more than classroom training. It provides access to international mentors, research networks and scientific collaborations that could help shape their careers and strengthen Africa’s contribution to global neuroscience.
The organisers said the initiative further strengthens ABUAD’s position as an emerging centre for neuroscience training and international scientific collaboration, while creating opportunities for young African researchers to contribute to advances in brain health.
The partnership between ABUAD and ISN therefore represents a strategic investment in Africa’s scientific future, with the potential to equip a new generation of researchers with the knowledge and networks needed to confront the continent’s growing burden of stroke and other neurological disorders.
