What is next in African neuroscience?

Abstract

Working in Africa provides neuroscientists with opportunities that are not available in other continents. Populations in this region exhibit the greatest genetic diversity; they live in ecosystems with diverse flora and fauna; and they face unique stresses to brain health, including child brain health and development, due to high levels of traumatic brain injury and diseases endemic to the region. However, the neuroscience community in Africa has yet to reach its full potential. In this article we report the outcomes from a series of meetings at which the African neuroscience community came together to identify barriers and opportunities, and to discuss ways forward. This exercise resulted in the identification of six domains of distinction in African neuroscience: the diverse DNA of African populations; diverse flora, fauna and ecosystems for comparative research; child brain health and development; the impact of climate change on mental and neurological health; access to clinical populations with important conditions less prevalent in the global North; and resourcefulness in the reuse and adaption of existing technologies and resources to answer new questions. The article also outlines plans to advance the field of neuroscience in Africa in order to unlock the potential of African neuroscientists to address regional and global mental health and neurological problems.

Keywords: Africa; Child development; impact of climate change; mental and neurological health; neuroscience; none; research capacity; research strategy; scientific communities.

Figure 1.. Showcasing African Neuroscience.

Six African countries were represented at the two day virtual Showcasing African Neuroscience meeting in November 2021: Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Tunisia. An additional three half-day workshops were held in December 2021 and January 2022 to explore key themes identified at the initial meeting and to develop the strategy outlined in this article.

Figure 2.. A route map for advancing African neuroscience.

The overall goal of the Showcasing African Neuroscience initiative is to strengthen the neuroscience research community in Africa towards an ultimate vision of optimised neurological and mental health. There are four key priorities (left-most column), and indicators will be used to assess progress against these key priorities over three phases. The hub-and-spoke network model is a key driver of the inititiative. The project is also relevant to 10 of the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations.