Advancing African Neuroscience Report

The purpose of the Showcasing African Neuroscience meeting was to facilitate a dynamic and interactive stakeholder engagement process that would: highlight the best examples of research in basic and clinical African neuroscience, explore potential for enhancing the interface between them in the African research-context, and provide a platform to highlight the significant potential for new discovery from within the continent. Wellcome Trust supports a wide range of research, looking for potential areas of growth and opportunity, globally. Potential in the African neuroscience research-landscape was identified as one such area. Through conversations, a survey with African neuroscientists, and assistance from other groups already embedded in this landscape, the concept for a strategic meeting was born, with the aim of showcasing exciting neuroscience in African ecosystems, articulating prevailing challenges, and discussing ways to overcome them. The African neuroscience community led the engagement process, with support from Wellcome. A subsequent series of workshops drilled further into issues raised, starting discussions on how best to address them. This report builds on these discussions. In it, we highlight early advances in neuroscience research in Africa, and outline a framework for further development of African neuroscience to explore the unique challenges facing brain health and development.