# Ajayan |
Kochi is all set to become a city of minds, as more than 60 neuroscientists from across India and abroad descend from September 14 for its first-ever International Conference on Translational Neuroscience (ICTN). The three-day confluence is being hosted by CUSAT’s Centre for Neuroscience of the Department of Biotechnology and the Centre of Excellence in Neurodegeneration and Brain Health (CENABH).
“It is about translating the mysteries of the brain into meaningful community impact through science, innovation and collaboration,” CENABH head Dr Baby Chakrapani told Metro Vaartha. ICTN will bring together a distinguished galaxy of national and international neuroscientists, spanning the full spectrum of modern brain research.
Among the galaxy of national speakers, Dr Shubha Tole of TIFR, Mumbai, and President of IBRO, will deliver the keynote, “How to Build a Hippocampus.” Dr Vidita Vaidya, also of TIFR, will explore “The Hidden Imprints of Early Adversity and How to Reverse Them.” Dr B.S. Shankaranarayana Rao of NIMHANS, Bengaluru, will unveil novel treatment strategies for temporal lobe epilepsy, while Dr Beena Pillai of RGCB, Thiruvananthapuram, will delve into the mysterious world of inherited non-coding RNAs and their role in shaping the journey from neurodevelopment to behaviour.
Other leading Indian voices include Dr John P John of NIMHANS on precision psychiatry, Dr Deepak Nair of IISc on synaptic plasticity and Dr Ravi Muddashetty of IISc on protein-synthesis defects in dementia.
The international galaxy features Dr Barry Halliwell of the National University of Singapore on longevity and neuroprotection; Dr Venu Raman of Johns Hopkins University on emerging technologies in translational neuroscience; Dr Min Jihong of NUS on ingestible electronics for gut profiling; Dr Ong Sek Tong Derrick of NUS on neural stem-cell dysfunction in ageing and brain disorders; Dr Carlos Ibanez of the Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, on neural resilience and ageing; and Dr Dan Ohtan Wang of New York University Abu Dhabi on the mechanisms of neurodegeneration and synaptic function.
Together, the talks, along with spotlight presentations by young faculty, will further the frontiers of brain science; from development and plasticity to neurodegeneration, mental health, brain–body connections and translational neuroscience, according to Dr Chakrapani.
Incidentally, the conference also marks the Silver Jubilee of the Centre for Neuroscience, which has, since 2018, taken brain science beyond the molecular research realm, steadily bringing its discoveries closer to the people and their everyday lives.
The Centre’s outreach found a wider canvas with Pragnya, a platform connecting science and society through social-intervention projects. Through initiatives such as Udbodhana and Udbodh, neuroscience moved from laboratories into the community, with Kochi becoming the country’s first dementia-friendly city in 2021. Health interventions, caregiver training and awareness programmes empowered families, while the much-loved ‘Memory Cafés’ offered people with dementia and their families a space to meet, share and belong.
With the Kochi Corporation’s support, the Centre helped establish the city’s first day-care centre for people with dementia, offering neuro-cognitive training. It also provides technical assistance to the palliative-care project ‘Arike’ and conducts awareness programmes for school and college students. By 2023, Udbodh expanded across Ernakulam district, Dr Chakrapani said.
Buoyed by the success, the Kerala Government now plans to take the model across the State through ‘Ormathoni’, a wider dementia-care initiative whose rollout is already under process.
The challenge with dementia is that once symptoms emerge, therapeutic options remain limited. The real window lies much earlier: neurodegenerative changes can begin 10 to 15 years before symptoms appear, making early intervention crucial. The Centre’s projects therefore focus on prevention and timely intervention, an approach that also runs through the international conference, Dr Chakrapani said.
Beyond the scientific deliberations, the conference will open its doors to the public through three dedicated sessions. The first will explore neurodevelopmental conditions such as cerebral palsy and autism, their possible causes and the importance of maternal health and lifestyle. The second will turn to mental health, addressing addiction, suicidal tendencies and related challenges, with a focus on rehabilitation and recovery.
The final public session will turn to the ageing brain and neurodegeneration, challenging the myth that growing older inevitably means losing memory. With the right stimulation and training, the brain can remain active and resilient, supporting a healthy mental life well into the twilight of life, Dr Chakrapani said.
The brain exhibition, featuring specimens from the NIMHANS Brain Bank, is set to be a star attraction, offering a rare glimpse into the evolution and intricate architecture of the human brain, and the profound changes made by conditions like addiction.
Another feather is the International Brain Research Organisation’s (IBRO) choice of the neuroscience centre to host a week-long workshop and school for 25 promising young minds selected from across the Asia-Pacific region. The programme aims to nurture them into the neuroscientists of tomorrow, giving the next generation of brain researchers a headstart on the global stage.
It is a recognition of the Centre’s growing stature, but more importantly, the conference could open a wider window to society, helping carry its vision beyond the laboratory and into everyday lives. At its heart is an ambitious mission: a healthy brain for a healthy society, Dr Chakrapani said.
