Banasthali School of Neuroscience in collaboration with International Brain Research Organization IBRO APRC Inauguration

IBRO is the global federation of neuroscience organizations that aims to promote and support neuroscience training, teaching, collaborative research and advocacy around the world.

Neurological and psychiatric disorders affect a growing number of individuals which is nearly one in five Americans in a given year and more than two billion people worldwide. With changing health patterns among Indians, mental, behavioral and substance use disorders are coming to the fore in health care delivery systems. The National Mental Health Survey NMHS 2015-16 reveals that nearly 15% of Indian adults (those above 18 years) are in need of active interventions for one or more mental health issues.

Furthermore, the scope of neuroscience is vast—ranging from the most basic cellular-level research to translational medicine—and many unanswered questions remain. Interesting niche areas have emerged in neuroscience research such as neuroeconomics, neuromarketing, and neural networks. Together, these factors make neuroscience one of the more exciting and opportunity loaded fields in which to pursue a scientific career.

According to Dr Thomas Insel, Director of the US National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Psychiatric disorders are in fact brain disorders that involve abnormal activity in brain circuits, so having researchers who understand the brain in a deep and integrated way is going to be critical for the future. Prof Lars Olsen, past chair of the Department of Neuroscience, at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden opines that evidence keeps coming that there are genetic causes or risk factors for most if not all neurological diseases.

The first session for Banasthali School of Neuroscience is spread over 6 days Monday 21 Aug 2017 to Saturday 26 Aug 2017 with focus on Neurodegeneration and Neuroinflammation – Molecular Basis to Pathogenesis and Management. The session brings a galaxy of experts in the area from different parts of India but also from various countries across the world which include USA, UK, Srilanka, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

In a colourful function held at Gyan Mandir Auditorium on 21 Aug 2017, the Banasthali School of Neuroscience took off with lamp lighting by dignitaries and Saraswati Vandana by students of Banasthali Music School. The Chief Guest for the inauguration was Dr Christopher R McCurdy Professor of Medicinal Chemistry University of Florida USA who is also President Elect American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS), Director, UF Translational Drug Development Core and Member, United States Pharmacopiea (USP). Prof Sarvesh Paliwal Head, Department of Pharmacy at Banasthali in his welcome address gave a brief about the university, department and got a thunderous applause when he mentioned that the 2008 established pharmacy department is already among top 20 in 2017 NIRF - National Institutional Ranking Framework.

Prof Aditya Shastri Vice Chancellor Banasthali in his speech said that knowledge cannot be compartmentalized and cognitive science and neuroscience which have evolved over the years have recently started to overlap bringing in interdisciplinary focus. To another round of thunderous applause Prof Aditya Shastri said that Banasthali already has diversified over the years into Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Earth Sciences etc and time indeed has come to step into challenging and unusual areas like Neurosciences.

In the keynote address by Prof Christopher R McCurdy University of Florida USA expressed that he was highly impressed by the infrastructure and dynamism of Banasthali University and presented details of research on Sigma receptor ligands from discovery to clinical translation. It was interesting indeed to know that chaperone protein Sigma1 receptors have a pathological association with Alzheimer, Parkinson, depression, drug addiction, Schizophrenia, Stroke, multiple sclerosis, cancer etc.

Dr Monika Jain from Home Science Department anchored the proceedings. Prof. Vinay Sharma Dean, Faculty of Science & Technology Banasthali proposed the vote of thanks.

For more details see http://www.banasthali.org

About Banasthali: The Institution which is also the largest fully residential women’s university in the world has played a big role in revolutionizing women’s education in the country for the last eight decades with a belief that there is a tremendous role of higher education in empowering the women. Banasthali has scripted numerous success stories in a wide range of fields, and stands tall among the citadels of learning in India today. Team Banasthali with Vice Chancellor J C Bose Memorial Award for eminent scientist recipient Prof Aditya Shastri a highly acclaimed alumnus of BITS Pilani, SUNY State University of New York Stony Brook and MIT USA is indeed racing forward to be the very best among global women universities. Proud to be Banasthali alumni who call themselves as Banasthalites can be found in all latitudes, longitudes and altitudes in all walks of life across the globe.

Banasthali University
P.O. Banasthali Vidyapith
Rajasthan – 304022
Phone 91 1438 228456 / 228341
Email: info@banasthali.ac.in
Website: http://www.banasthali.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Banasthali.org

This release was published on openPR.