There’s an exciting programme of Neuroscience conferences in Ireland coming up – from the baby brain, to the gut-brain axis, to the immunity-psychosis relationship. See more here.
Upcoming Neuro Conferences in Ireland
Events
IBC’s Brain Research Paper
As a member of the Irish Brain Council, Neuroscience Ireland was one of the contributors to the IBC’s Inaugural Position paper, published in March 2017. This position paper outlines the IBC’s agenda to advocate for, and promote investment in, brain research in Ireland.
SURVEY RE CLINICAL COLLABORATION AND NATIONAL BIOBANK FOR NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS
Dr. FitzGerald, a recent representative of Irish Neuroscientists on the Board of Directors of the Irish Institute of Clinical Neuroscience (IICN) and a principal investigator based at NUIG, has compiled a survey aimed at exploring the following topics:
- Scope for closer collaboration between Irish neuroscientists and neurologists or other clinicians who work with individuals who suffer from neurological disorders
- Possible barriers to working more closely with neuroscientists
- Potential for banking/sharing of body fluid and tissue samples and clinical data from Irish people suffering from all categories of neurological disorders
- Willingness on the part of neuroscientists to participate in applications to Irish/European/global calls for funding to support collaborative translational research
A similar survey was circulated to members of the Irish Institute for Clinical Neuroscience (IICN) in May this year. The president of Neuroscience Ireland has approved circulation of this survey. Answers to all questions will be considered confidential and information gathered will be reported, in the first instance, to the Council of Neuroscience Ireland. Survey information may also be passed on to members of the IICN.
There are a total of 19 questions, which are mostly multiple choice type. The survey should take no longer than 15 minutes to complete. Your views will be extremely important in gathering momentum for this initiative and we would appreciate your cooperation and input. The questions can be found by clicking on the link below:
Thank you!
Neuroanatomy Weekend Workshop_23-24th of July, King’s College London
NEUROANATOMY
‘WEEKEND WORKSHOP’
Sat 23rd – Sun 24th July 2016, London
Interactive neuroanatomy workshop with video
demonstrations of human brain dissection!
http://www.neurocourses.com/workshop.html
We are also pleased to announce the next…
LIMBIC BRAIN ANATOMY COURSE
Mon 22nd – Tue 23rd Aug 2016
http://www.neurocourses.com/psych.html
Course Director
Dr Paul Johns, BSc BM MSc FRCPath
(Consultant neuropathologist / senior lecturer in neuroanatomy)
Author of
Clinical Neuroscience: An Illustrated Colour Text
See course photos and delegate reviews on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Neurocourses
*Please note that Neurocourses UK is not affiliated to King’s College London.
Please forward to colleagues who might be interested in attending… thank you!
Brain Awareness Week Initiatives – A beautiful report from NUI Galway
My Amazing Brain Exhibition
Hosted by NUI Galway Neuroscience Centre as part of Brain Awareness Week 2016
In order to mark International Brain Awareness Week, staff and students of NUI Galway’s Neuroscience Centre held a public information exhibit entitled “My Amazing Brain” from 15-16th March in the Aula Maxima, NUI Galway.
Members of the public and schools from across the city and county including Colaiste Cholmcille (Inverin), Presentation College (Athenry), Mercy college (Woodford), Dominican College (Galway city), Salerno Secondary School (Galway city) had the opportunity to visit the exhibit to learn more about how the brain and nervous system work. The exhibit consisted of interactive displays such as puzzles and tests of hand-eye coordination, visual perception, left/right handedness and creativity, where visitors learnt more about the nervous system in a hands-on way. In addition, visitors had the chance to learn more about the brain and related disorders through a series of large information posters on various prepared by the staff and postgraduate students of NUI Galway Neuroscience Centre. The exhibit was a resounding success and featured on several local and national media sources including UTV Ireland news (http://utv.ie/playlists/default.aspx?tag=News&bcid=4807377522001)
Brain Awareness Week Initiatives – Beautiful reports from UCC
Brain Awareness Week Initiatives 2016 – Beautiful reports from UCC
Event No. 1: “Tús Maith Leath na hOibre”:
UCC Neuroscientists promote healthy brain aging in local primary schools
During Brain Awareness Week, a group of UCC neuroscientists engaged children from five local primary schools (Glounthaune, Greenmount, Glasheen Girls, Glasheen Boys and St Finbarres) in fun activities to promote the importance of brain health during childhood. With the cooperation and enthusiasm of teachers in the participating classes, children eagerly joined in the activities which focused on positive lifestyle choices for brain health. They carried out brain safety ‘egg drop’ and ‘jelly brain’ experiments, prepared healthy ‘brain food plates’, played memory games, danced and exercised to ‘activate their neurons’, enjoyed a ‘brain food’ blueberry snack and relaxed by having a ‘brain break’.
Information sessions in each of the schools were also held for parents to emphasise the importance of early intervention in order to prevent cognitive and mental health issues in later years. Lifestyle habits that affect the developing brain including diet, exercise, sleep, mental stimulation, stress resilience, social interaction and safety were discussed. The feedback from teachers and parents was overwhelmingly positive and schools have suggested that it would be extremely beneficial if more children could be targeted.
The team members of UCC’s Healthy Brain Aging initiative for children are Caitriona Long-Smith, Cara Hueston, Shane Hegarty, Aideen Sullivan and Yvonne Nolan from the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, and Janas Harrington from the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health.
Funding was provided by Federation of European Neuroscience in partnership with the DANA Foundation. Blueberry snacks were sponsored by Supervalu.
Brain Awareness Week is the global campaign to increase public awareness of the progress and benefits of brain research (http://www.dana.org/BAW/).
For further information please email brainhealth@ucc.ie
Event No.2. Brain Awareness Meeting
Our event involved a one-day seminar that provided an opportunity for members of the general public of Cork city to engage with professionals involved in neuroscience research, mental health services and charities, who together support patients and families affected by mental illness, brain tumours, brain injury and dementia. The meeting provided a platform where attendees learned about a wide range of topics discussed in a friendly atmosphere. Amongst the broad range of brain related themes discussed, were issues such as “De-stigmatising mental illness”, “Cognitive and emotional Consequences of head injury”, “Biomarkers for stress resilience”, “Support provided by charities”, “Brain health in ageing”, “Dementia care and treatments” and “Supporting brain research in Ireland”.
Dr. Barry Boland
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Room 2.48, Western Gateway Building, University College Cork, Co. Cork, Ireland
