PERGAMON © IBRO VOLUME 30 2002

Elsevier Science,The Boulevard, Langford Lane,

Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1GB, UK
www.ibro.org International Brain Research Organization

INSIDE: FUNDING NEWS … TOP RESEARCH FELLOWS ANNOUNCED … NEUROSCIENCE

SCHOOLS … GRANTS TO RETURN HOME … TRAINING AND EDUCATION

Neuroscientists Awarded New Levi Montalcini Fellowships

WELCOME TO
PRAGUE 2003!
The Congress Committee hopes that as
members of IBRO you are already making your
plans to attend the Sixth IBRO World Congress
of Neuroscience, which will be held in Prague,
capital of the Czech Republic and one of the
most beautiful cities in Europe, 10-15 July 2003.
By the 15 December 2001 deadline, we were
pleased to receive a total of 199 symposium
proposals, over 70 plenary lecture proposals, and
a number of proposals for workshops and
satellite symposia.The range of topics
represented in the proposals and the scientific
quality and geographical distribution of the
proposed speakers and lecturers ensured that
the Congress will feature an exciting and timely
scientific program, focusing on the most
important topics and ideas in contemporary
neuroscience, discussed by
leaders in the field from the international
neuroscience community.The 29-
member Scientific Program
Committee had a very
difficult job of
evaluation and
selection, as the
constraints of the
Congress schedule
allow for 67
symposia and 9
plenary lectures to
be included in the
final Congress
program,Thus only
one-third of the
symposium proposals and
one-sixth of the
were made at a meeting of the Program
Committee held in Prague in March 2002.
Full details of the scientific program can be found
at the Congress website www.IBRO2003.cz.
Although space precludes a complete listing of
the 67 accepted symposia here, we are pleased to
report that the Congress plenary lectures will be
given by:Yehezkel Ben-Ari (France), Linda Buck
(USA), Elena Cattaneo (Italy), Pietro De Camilli
(USA), Uta Frith (UK), Ann Graybiel (USA), Michel
Lazdunski (France), Freda Miller (Canada) and
Yasushi Miyashita (Japan).The Presidential Lecture
will be given by Jan Bures (Czech Rep.).There will
be two pre-Congress satellite symposia: Central
Auditory Processing and Plasticity, organized by
J. Syka (Czech Rep.) and M. Merzenich (USA), and
Neural Stem Cells and Brain Repair, organized by
F. Gage (USA), A. Bjorklund (Sweden) and E.
Sykova (Czech Rep.).There will be a
post-Congress satellite symposium Brain
Communication, organized by E. Sykova
(Czech Rep.), K. Fuxe (Sweden), C.
Nicholson (USA) and E. S.Vizi
(Hungary), as well as a
post-Congress meeting held
in Warsaw, Poland,
Integrative Activity of the Thabelo Khoboko (Lesotho) (top) and Amina El Ayadi (Morocco) (bottom right). Report p. 3
Brain: Jerzy Konorski submission, registration and accommodation
Memorial Symposium, reservations are available online at the Congress
organized by L.
Kaczmarek (Poland), K.
website, www.IBRO2003.cz. which gives
complete details of the Congress program and
IBRO'S AFFILIATED
Zielinski (Poland) and B. the satellite events, and to submit your abstract SOCIETIES
Zernicki (Poland). and registration prior to the 31 January 2003
deadline. At the time of going to press, IBRO was
Distribution of the Final welcoming the Kenya Neurosciences Society
We welcome you to Prague in 2003 for a
Congress Announcement and as its 62nd Member Society. One of IBRO's
memorable scientific and cultural experience.
Call for Abstracts has begun.The priorities is to expand its collaboration with
V

plenary lecture deadline for abstract submission and Jan Bures, Congress Honorary President its Affiliated Societies so that they may
proposals could be early registration is 31 January 2003. Josef Syka, Congress President benefit from the many programmes and
selected for the Congress.The final decisions Complete information and forms for abstract Eva Syková, Congress Secretary General services IBRO has to offer. IBRO aims to
increase its interactions with them through
better communication, the ongoing

IBRO'S SERVICE TO NEUROSCIENCE EXPANDS expansion of its programmes and the sharing
of didactic and scientific material that it is
With the development of many new programmes and projects over the last 12 months, and with the number of its Member Societies at 61, IBRO is being generated around the world.
able to see its role in world neuroscience, to enhance the skills and resources of neuroscientists around the world, come closer to fruition.
The division of IBRO into 6 semi-autonomous Regions in 1999 (Africa, Asian-Pacific, Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America,Western Europe, IBRO is pleased to announce the
US/Canada) has brought about a more balanced setting in which neuroscientists can identify their own needs and priorities. Federations of European Neuroscience
The Regional Committees are responsible for their own regional activities and thus are aware of local aspirations. IBRO can help meet these needs Societies' (FENS) decision on 16 July to
reaffirm its membership in IBRO and to
through its funding and education and training programmes.
IBRO's funding programmes have multiplied, among them a major point out that 7 neuroscience societies
acquired IBRO membership between
resource section, Neuro-grants Info, the Levi Montalcini fellowships
November 2001 and July 2002.
specifically for young African women scientists, Grants to Return Home.
The expansion of IBRO's training and education programmes will help All Affiliated Societies automatically become
develop and reinforce the skills of young neuroscientists by guiding them members of the IBRO Governing Council
along the paths to acquiring the skills necessary to achieve a successful and thus have direct input into IBRO's
career in neuroscience research. 'Map & Compass' on the IBRO web activities. Over the past year there has been
an interchange of press releases between the
offers a variety of skills; 'IBRO-Edu', an educational resource project,
IBRO web site and the societies' web sites,
identifies organized access to educational material in neuroscience yet another way of disseminating the world's
already available on the web. Go to www.ibro.org for all information neuroscience news and events.
about IBRO's programmes.
Secretary-General Albert Aguayo, the force behind many of the new Check www.ibro.org for a full list of
programmes, has always recognized the extensive gap between Associated Societies.
neuroscience resources in privileged and less privileged countries.
Through IBRO he continues to attempt to bridge that gap.

Albert Aguayo, Nouria Lakhdar-Ghazal, Raj Kalaria at the IBRO Neuroscience School, Rabat, April 2002. Report p. 5

1
 FUNDING AND RESOURCES
IBRO talks to help those unfamiliar with the material,
as well as accounts of current research. IBRO'S COMMITTEES AND CHAIRS
Workshops are more technical and practical
SYMPOSIA & Animals in Research Membership and Partnerships
FUNDING AND RESOURCES
in orientation. A major portion of the Sharon Juliano (USA) Sten Grillner (Sweden)
programme should involve discussion, practical sjuliano@usuhs.mil sten.grillner@neuro.ki.se

WORKSHOPS teaching of techniques, and the presentation of

FUNDING
PROGRAMME
IBRO invites requests for partial funding of
Symposia and Workshops on important topics
in neuroscience with the aim of encouraging
neuroscience research and scholarship in
regions of the world with limited funds for
science. Participants should represent the
international neuroscience community as well
as regional interests. Meetings should have a
clear focus on a particular topic. Preference
will be given to activities that include younger
scientists and offer training for scientists from
less privileged countries.
Applicants are encouraged to include a
component available publicly on the web that
could involve participant discussion either
before or after a symposium or workshop.
Such discussions might, for example, include
opportunities for students and others to ask
questions, make suggestions and provide
relevant information.
Symposia should deal with topics of key
interest, specialized or broad, with background
concepts and controls necessary for
Board of Neuroscience Schools
John G. Hildebrand (USA)
Neuro-Grants
A Bulloch (Canada)
jgh@neurobio.arizona.edu bulloch@acs.ucalgary.ca
experimental work.Workshops that bring
useful techniques and donate permanent
Bylaws and Procedures
Keir Pearson (Canada)
Neuroscience Libraries
Roger Butterworth (Canada)
equipment to poorly funded countries are kpearson@gpv.srv.ualberta.ca butterwr@medclin.umontreal.ca
encouraged. Fellowships and Travel Grants
Kwok-Fai So (Hong Kong)
Nominating Committee
Annica Dahlström (Sweden)
Deadlines: Proposals will be reviewed twice a
hrmaskf@hkucc.hku.hk annica.dahlstrom@anatcell.gu.se
year. Deadlines for receiving proposals are
Finance Publications
1 February and 1 September. Piergorgio Strata (Italy) Jennifer S. Lund (USA)
Proposals will be reviewed by the Funding piergiorgio.strata@unito.it jennifer.lund@hsc.utah.edu
Programme Committee, which will make Neuroscience History Symposia and Workshops
funding recommendations to IBRO's Executive Charles G. Gross (USA) Kenneth J. Muller (USA)
cggross@phoenix.princeton.edu kmuller@miami.edu
Committee. A decision on funding will be made
in April for applications submitted for the 1 IBRO-Edu World Congress
Ante L. Padjen (Canada) Eva Sykova (Czechoslovakia)
February deadline and in November for ante.padjen@mcgill.ca sykova@biomed.cas.cz
applications submitted for the 1 September IBRO on the Web
deadline. Andree Blakemore (UK) (Senior Editor)
Guidelines for Applicants: There is no andree.blakemore@physiol.ox.ac.uk
official form for proposals. For application
details, go to the IBRO web site
http://ibro.org/secondary/about/p/symposia.htm
TRAVEL GRANTS 2004
Proposals should be sent by email to OCTOBER 2003-MARCH 2004 Application forms and more information about
ibro@wanadoo.fr to expedite processing. travel grants can be found on the IBRO web site
IBRO offers Travel Grants to high-quality
Include "SWFP Application" in the neuroscientists from less developed and less www.ibro.org.Application forms should be
Subject heading and use attachments in well-funded countries to participate at submitted, preferably electronically, to
.pdf or .rtf format. international neuroscience meetings. Priority will ibro@wanadoo.fr by 1 April 2003. Hard copies
For information about the Symposia & be given to those who have not obtained an to be sent by regular mail or courier (no fax) to
Workshop Programme and awards go to: IBRO Travel Grant in the last 3 years.The awards the IBRO Secretariat, 51 Bd de Montmorency,
ibro.org/secondary/about/p/symposia.htm will be announced by the end of June 2003. 75016 Paris, France by 1 April 2003.

IBRO RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS 2004

INTERNATIONAL
IBRO Research Fellowships for neuroscientists from developing countries under the age of 45 to work for one month to one year abroad.
BRAIN RESEARCH INSERM/IBRO Research Fellowship for a neuroscientist under the age of 45 to work for one year in France in an INSERM-sponsored laboratory.
ORGANIZATION Application forms and attachments for both fellowships should preferably be submitted electronically to the IBRO Secretariat at ibro@wanadoo.fr by
1 April 2003. Application forms and more information can be found on the IBRO web site www.ibro.org. Hard copy of the following are required
and to be sent by regular mail or courier (no fax) to the IBRO Secretariat, 51 Bd de Montmorency, 75016 Paris, France by 1 April 2003: a) Acceptance
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
from host scientist b) Reference from present supervisor c) If available, evidence or offer that you will have a position to return to in your home
President country after the fellowship.The awards will be announced by the end of June 2003.
Torsten Wiesel (USA)
Secretary-General
Nine IBRO Research Fellows were chosen
Albert Aguayo (Canada)
Treasurer for the year 2003.They are from 7 countries
Piergiorgio Strata (Italy) - Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, China, Nigeria,
By Invitation Russia and Ukraine.The Fellows are all of
Jennifer Lund (USA)
high calibre and are prepared to return to
Steve Redman (Australia)
Chairs of the IBRO Regional their home countries to continue
Committees neuroscience research there.
R. N. Kalaria (African)
Y.S. Chan (Asian-Pacific)
'Outstanding Fellows' Announced
T. F. Freund (Central and Eastern Europe)
O. Macadar (Latin America) Two of the awardees were nominated
D. Choi (US/Canada) 'Outstanding Fellows': Dr Francisco Capani
G. Di Chiara (Western Europe)
from Argentina and Dr Yong Li from China.
This is the first time this category of
IBRO SECRETARIAT fellowship has been introduced in recognition
of scientists with extraordinary potential and
Executive Director
Olga Popoff capability for further development in the area
Assistant Executive Director of neuroscience research.They are selected
Francisco Capani (Argentina) Yong Li (China)
Stephanie de La Rochefoucauld from amongst all the top-ranking Fellows
51, Bd. de Montmorency,
from all regions.
75016 Paris, France
Phone: +33-1-46-47-92-92
Fax: +33-1-45-20-60-06 Francisco Capani, 33, is at present working at the Instituto de Biologia Celular y Neurosciencias Profesor E. De Robertis, School of Medicine,
E-mail:ibro@wanadoo.fr University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, studying the ultrastructural, biochemical plastic changes in rat brain synapses following injury.With his IBRO
Website: www.ibro.org
Fellowship he hopes to work at the Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden with Professor Oleg Shupliakov, and study the
coupling between the endocytosis and actin-based transport of vesicles.
IBRO NEWS
Yong Li, a 34-year-old neuroscientist from China, is currently a Ph.D. student at the Department of Neurobiology & Biophysics, University of Science
Editor
Andrée Blakemore and Technology of China in Anhui Province, is expecting to graduate in early 2003. His research foci are in the cellular and molecular mechanisms of
Office of IBRO News cross-inhibition between GABAA and glycine receptors, of ischemic insult and its prevention and cure, and of tyrosine phosphorylation of NMDA
University Laboratory receptor after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. He hopes that his Fellowship will support his training at Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France
of Physiology
Parks Road, where he will work with Dr P. Legendre to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the interaction between glycine and GABAA
Oxford OX1 3PT, UK receptors using a combination of electrophysiological and molecular biological approaches.
Fax: +44-1865-430982
E-mail: andree.blakemore@physiol.ox.ac.uk
Kwok-Fai So
Chair, IBRO Fellowships and Travel Grants Committee

Send your news and events announcements for the IBRO web site to andree.blakemore@physiol.ox.ac.uk

2
 FUNDING AND RESOURCES
LEVI MONTALCINI FOUNDATION
DONATES FUNDS TO CREATE

FUNDING AND RESOURCES

FELLOWSHIPS FOR WOMEN
SCIENTISTS IN AFRICA
Towards the end of 2001, the Levi Montalcini Foundation, established by Rita Levi Montalcini (1986 Nobel Laureate in Medicine
for her work on growth factors) and her sister Paola, made IBRO a generous donation for the purpose of financing scholarships
for two young African women for two years.The Foundation is committed to the education of African girls and young women,
based on the strong belief that women can play a key role in the future of the African continent.The Foundation supports
schooling for young girls, professional education for young women (for example, to become nurses) and is, above all, committed
to the cultural and professional improvement of African women.
The Foundation will award two fellowships: 1) to a researcher for a two-year training period at a university abroad; 2) to a
researcher to spend two years at an African university, not in their own country. Professor Levi Montalcini's gesture will have an
important impact in both the African and the world community of IBRO neuroscientists. She says: 'It is imperative to
help the young, especially women, working in places where there is little support for science.'
IBRO President, Nobel Laureate Torsten Wiesel, is Chair of the Awards Committee for the Levi Montalcini fellowships.
The African fellowship for 2002-2003 has been awarded to Thabelo Khoboko, 26, from Lesotho, to pursue a higher degree at the
Dept. of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa. She is currently developing a research
Rita Levi Montalcini
protocol for her studies to investigate the physiology of neural networks of the subthalmic nucleus as an effective therapy in
relieving Parkinsonian symptoms, e.g. akinesia and bradykinesia.
Amina El Ayadi, 32, of the Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Abdelmalek Essaadi University,Tetouan, Morocco has been awarded the overseas H.H. JASPER AND J.-P.
fellowship 2002-2003. She works on the pharmacology of voltage-dependent calcium channel antagonists that are used in the treatment of CORDEAU POSTDOCTORAL
neurological and cardiovascular diseases. She is also interested in the effects of metabotropic glutamate receptor agonists on locomotor and
FELLOWSHIPS
rearing activities, neurotransmitter release and activation of early gene expression (cfos) in the nucleus accumbens of the hyperammonemic
The H. H. Jasper Postdoctoral Research
rat model. She is to take up the fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh, USA. Fellowship in Neuroscience and the J.-P. Cordeau
Postdoctoral Fellowship (funded in part by Servier
Canada Inc.) are now available.These fellowships
GRANTS THE IBRO LIBRARIES are intended for recent doctoral graduates who
want to continue their training in neuroscience

TO RETURN INITIATIVE research. Each position provides one year of

HOME
A large proportion of postdoctoral trainees
are not returning to their native lands after
studying in the US and other countries where
career opportunities and science support
provide them with a strong incentive to stay.
Conversely, IBRO President Torsten Wiesel
indicated that 'newly minted US PhDs have
become more and more reluctant to do their
postdoc training abroad, despite the presence
of many excellent laboratories in other parts
of the world . . . thus weakening research
efforts in both developed and developing
nations' ('Balancing Biomedicine's Postdoc
Exchange Rate', Science, vol. 298, p. 867).
Changing this growing imbalance will depend
largely on how strongly committed public and
private agencies and governments are to
creating an environment in which young
scientists will be attracted back to their home
countries so that they can contribute to
economic progress, knowledge and the
improvement of human health. IBRO hopes to
work with Member Societies to raise
awareness of the impact of this imbalance on
neuroscience worldwide. Its multinational
membership is an invaluable source of guidance
and communication, critical to IBRO's efforts
to help build neuroscience worldwide by
means of programmes that support education
and scientific exchange. IBRO has started to
post on its web site, in the section
'Neuro-grants Info', a list of funding sources for
research and travel available in the different
continents.
A new page has been added to the web site's
section 'Funding Options' entitled 'Support for
Trainees Wanting to Return Home'.The section
contains news, comments, programmes and a
database of grants of interest to trainees
wishing to return to their home countries.
financial support ($CAD30,000) plus moving
costs, and offers the use of the exceptional
One of the major impediments to the advancement of teaching and research in the neurosciences
in developing countries is the inaccessibility of specialist journals and textbooks. The mission of
research facilities of the Center for Research in
Neurological Sciences of the Université de
the IBRO Libraries Committee is to assist neuroscientists and the institutions to which they are Montréal.The recipients work closely with the
investigator of choice within a large active group
affiliated to improve this situation.The last twelve months have seen many exciting new
of neuroscientists, who are examining a wide
developments in this area.
range of topics in vertebrate neuroanatomy,
neurochemistry, neuropharmacology,
In what was described by the Director–General of the World Health Organizaiton as 'the biggest neurophysiology and neuropsychology. Application
step ever taken towards reducing the health information gap between rich and poor countries', forms (please do not send cv) may be obtained
WHO, together with the Health Internetwork: Access to Research Initiative (HINARI), have put from the Fellowship Committee, Centre de
together a proposal to provide access to biomedical information in developing countries. recherche en sciences neurologiques, Faculté de
Accredited universities, medical schools and hospital-based research centres in developing médecine, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succ.
Centre-ville, Montréal (Québec) Canada H3C 3J7.
countries will be awarded free or 'substantially reduced-cost' access to hundreds of biomedical
Deadline for receipt of completed applications: 31
journals including a large number in the neurosciences. Further information can be found on the
December 2002.
WHO Health Initiative website www.healthinternetwork.net. A list of qualifying countries can Fellowship awards to be announced in early spring
be found at www.who.int/library/reference/temp/Eligible_countries.pdf. 2003. Phone: +1-514-343-6366. Fax: +1-514-343-
6113.E-mail: CRSN@ physio.umontreal.ca Web:
In addition, the IBRO Libraries Committee, working in collaboration with the Society of www.crsn.umontreal.ca/bourses_JC.html
Neuroscientists of Africa (SONA) and the International Society for Neurochemistry (ISN), has
initiated a pilot programme 'Libraries for Africa'. Goals of the programme are to respond to the
HSFP OFFERS NEW
needs of neuroscientists in African countries where specialist (neuroscience) journals and PARADIGM FOR RESEARCH
textbooks are unavailable due to lack of resources.The programme will identify institutions with a TRAINING
In view of reports indicating that the science pipeline is
critical mass of individuals whose teaching and/or research is curtailed by inadequate library
drying up, the Human Frontier Science Program and
facilities. Subsequently, guided by scientists in these institutions and, in consultation with SONA, the European Science Foundation brought heads of
efforts will be made to provide the necessary resources via donations from partner institutions in research funding organizations to Strasbourg in
developed countries as well as from professional organizations and publishers. Designated African November 2001 to develop strategies to make science
and science careers more attractive.
libraries have agreed to act as coordination and dissemination centres for their region and to The traditional view of a narrow impermeable pipeline
make neuroscience journal articles and books available to other institutions and individuals via whose goal is the replication of the research professor
their inter-library loans programmes. Institutional libraries so far nominated include the Medical no longer reflects the needs of the scientific endeavor
of our increasingly technologically based societies.The
Library, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Main Library, Imo State University,
new, more organic paradigm developed at the meeting
Owerri-Imo State, Nigeria; College of Biological and Physical Sciences, University of Nairobi, is visualized as a tree with a highly permeable
Nairobi, Kenya; Dept. Library of Biology, Mohammed V-Agdal University, Rabat, Morocco, network of roots and branches that reflect the broad
Bibliothèque Centrale, l'Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, Dakar-Fann, Senegal. Donations of range of inputs into the science pipeline and the wide
range of opportunities for those who receive training
textbooks to this programme have already been promised by several organizations, including ISN in science (HFSP,The Pipeline and the Tree:Towards a
and the Human Frontier Science Program. Building upon the experience gained from this 'Libraries New Paradigm for Education,Training, and Career
for Africa' pilot project, it is the intention of the IBRO Libraries Committee to extend the Paths in the Natural Sciences).The model emphasizes a
wider range of valued career outcomes, some of which
programme to institutions in other developing countries.
are directly involved in scientific research while others
may be associated with science in varying degrees. It
As this issue was going to press, the Committee were pleased to announce that the first set of also stresses the importance of integrating scientific
books and a free subscription to the electronic version of Science had been delivered to the five knowledge in society as a whole.The most talented
young investigators should have opportunities to
above-mentioned libraries selected by the African Regional Committee and SONA.The develop independent research programs early in their
Committee also announced that the Libraries project would be extended to Eastern Europe. careers and institutions are encouraged to develop
family-friendly infrastructures in order to attract,
retain, and support their best talent, especially women.
Roger F. Butterworth
New HFSP programs support young scientists at
Chair, IBRO Committee on Libraries different stages in their career development promoting
innovation and independence.The meeting report and
information about HFSP are on the IBRO
(www.ibro.org) and HFSP (www.hfsp.org) web sites.

3
 IBRO’S EDUCATION PROGRAMMES
With the Neuroscience Schools and Visiting Lecture Team Programmes firmly established, IBRO is reviewing
and maximizing its efforts towards the advancement of neuroscience worldwide by expanding its training
and education programmes.
VLTP…SCHOOLS … 'IBRO-EDU' … INTERNATIONAL REGISTRY FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING … 'MAP & COMPASS'
EDUCATION & TRAINING
IBRO's Visiting Lecture Team Programme organizes
lecture tours in less privileged countries,
in collaboration with local neuroscience
associations. Excerpts from reports filed by VLTP
Chair John Nicholls show what can be achieved.
HANOI,VIETNAM: VLTP members Denis
Baylor, Hugo Arechiga, Ken Muller, Jack
McMahan and I set off for Hanoi in
mid-December 2001.The VLTP course took
place at the Hanoi University of Science, 5-13
December 2001 and was run by Professor
Trinh Huu Hang, who arranged everything from
accommodation, well-equipped lecture
theatres, to lecture notes and timetables.
Each day there were five lectures on topics
ranging from the molecular biology of
development, biophysics and transduction to
higher functions, perception and circadian
rhythms. As usual in VLTP courses, all lecturers
went to all lectures and gave daily conferences,
where students could raise questions about
the lectures, aspects of neuroscience not
covered in the lectures, and any matters of
concern, such as how to find a position abroad.
Volunteer students were taught how to
prepare a 10-minute talk for presentation on
the last day.Time was also spent in open
discussion with students and faculty about how
to select an adviser abroad, the advantages of
doing a PhD in the USA, Mexico or Europe,
funding and chances of being accepted.
Denis Baylor (Stanford, USA) talked about how
single photons are trapped by rods, Hugo
Arechiga (UNAM, Mexico) about molecular
mechanisms underlying circadian rhythms, Ken
Muller (University of Miami, USA), I spoke
about regeneration at the cellular level, and
Jack McMahan (Stanford, USA) revealed the
molecular structure of the active zone at
synapses. In each case, the emphasis was on
experiments and how they are carried out.
Each of the instructors pointed out clinical
applications and indicated the types of
experiments that could be carried out with a
very limited supply of money and equipment.
Professor Trinh Huu Hang selected a
marvellous group of students from many
different disciplines and from many different
universities.What impressed all of us was their
tremendous interest in neuroscience, their
hunger for information and their keen desire
to do research in spite of all the difficulties.
In most VLTP courses we aim to show the
students how interesting the nervous system
is by spanning the range from fundamental
concepts to advanced research.
TEHRAN, IRAN: There were five in the
team that gave the Tehran course: Hugo
Arechiga from Mexico, Susanna Blackshaw from
Oxford, Alasdair Gibb from London, Jack
McMahan from Stanford and John Nicholls
from Italy. Each day there were five lectures, a
small group conference and a tutorial devoted
to teaching students how to give a 10-minute
presentation at an international meeting.
Dr Fereshteh Motamedi, a leading
neurobiologist at the Neuroscience Research
Center, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical
Sciences,Tehran, was the local organizer of the
course. More than 50 students attended, with
the numbers actually increasing during the
4
VLTP TRAVELS THE GLOBE
course.The enthusiasm of the students, their
eager participation, their love of neuroscience
and their warmth towards us were far more
rewarding than we could ever have expected.
Moreover, the level of sophistication of the
students, the faculty and research being done
was exceptional as judged by standards found
in Europe or the United States.
On the last day of the course a number of
students gave 10-minute presentations.The
topics included: How does the spatio-temporal
visual illusion known as 'flash-lag' arise? (Mehdi
Sanaye, Isfahan Medical School); Reversal of
long-term potentiation in hippocampal
slices(Azar Omrani,Tarbiat Modarres
University); Simple and complex circuits
governing locomotor performance (Shamila
Eslambolchi,Tarbiat Modarres University);
Determining the level in the visual pathway at
which 'motion induced blindness' occurs (Amin
Zandvakili, Iran Institute of Physics and Math);
Effect of LTP induction on gamma band
frequency train-evoked field potentials in
hippocampus and cortex of freely moving rats
(Babak Tahvildari,Tarbiat Modarres University).
During the course we formed the impression
that Iran constitutes a country in which
first-rate and innovative experiments are being
carried out with up-to-date equipment.The
main problems Iranians have concern visas and
travel. Nevertheless the professors and
students we spoke to publish their papers in
high-quality US and European journals.
One can hope that IBRO may help in the
future development of neuroscience in such a
promising environment with such first-rate
universities and foster interchanges of faculty
and students.
MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY: The format of
these short IBRO courses differed from the
normal style of those given previously in other
countries.Thus, during one day, 15 April 2002,
in Montevideo, Jack McMahan and John
Nicholls gave two research lectures each and a
conference to students and faculty of the
Estable Institute headed by Omar Macadar.
About 40 scientists, graduate students and
undergraduates took part.We had originally
planned to take part in the IBRO course that is
given in February each year, but since the dates
conflicted with other commitments, we took
advantage of the Argentina trip to make a
detour. A fringe benefit of this visit was the
opportunity to discuss further collaboration
between SISSA, Mexico and the Estable
Institute. In addition, during the informal
discussions about neurobiology and about
career planning, we were able to help students
and postdoctoral fellows to make useful plans
for the future.
CORDOBA, ARGENTINA: The course in
Cordoba lasted for two days, 16-17 April 2002,
with lectures and conferences by Larry Cohen
(Yale), Jack McMahan (Stanford) and John
Nicholls (SISSA).The students in Cordoba,
more than 60, were far more advanced in their
knowledge of neurobiology than those
encountered in many other courses that we
have given. In part this is due to the excellent
infrastructure for neuroscience provided by
outstanding and energetic research workers
like Osvaldo Uchitel and Diego Golombek who
organized the course, as well as first-rate
people like Lidia Sczcupak and Pancho
Barrantes who have been responsible for
training numerous students. In part the
sophistication of students we met in Cordoba
was due to the selection procedure: they had
been picked to present papers at a National
Congress being held immediately after our
course. As a result of their high interest and
broad knowledge, our talks and discussions
attained a professional level in which searching
questions were posed during and after the
lectures. It goes without saying that students in
Argentina now face a ghastly situation with
regard to the funding of science and indeed to
the funding of the needs for their very
existence. In the face of those awful problems
the enthusiasm and joy that we saw was
inspiring. Particularly nice for me was to see
people such as Lidia Sczcupak whom I had first
taught years ago when they were just beginning
as graduate students who have now developed
into leading research workers and teachers.
WROCLAW, POLAND: 56 students
participated in the VLTP course held in
Wroclaw, 10-18 July 2002. Most of the students
were from a variety of universities in Poland,
but some came from Slovenia,Yugoslavia, Czech
Republic, Serbia, Lithuania and Ukraine.The
organization of the course by our colleague
Jurek Mozrzymas was efficient and perfect in
every respect. He understood full well the
need for coffee breaks, meals together with
students, time for informal discussion and
get-togethers in the evenings.We all felt at the
end that we had got to know the students and
that they had become our friends.
Jack McMahan spoke about the structure of
synapses, the way in which they form and the
micro-structures associated with release sites
in the pre-synaptic terminal. Hugo Arechiga
gave a series of lectures on biological and
circadian rhythms, which he illustrated with
examples ranging from Drosophila and the
crayfish up to human beings, with techniques
ranging from molecular to animal behaviour
and clinical conditions. Enrico Cherubini dealt
with mechanisms of synaptic transmission and
plasticity, including essential new work on
long-term potentiation and silent synapses.
Mathew Diamond described principles of
sensory physiology, cortical mechanisms and
their relations to perception. I gave
introductory lectures on signalling and then
concentrated on the development of the
nervous system and regeneration.
During conferences the students were alert,
interested, intelligent and highly motivated.
They came from very different backgrounds
ranging from plant physiology through
biophysics and animal physiology to clinical
neurology. Local organizer Jurek Mozrzymas
added a new dimension to this course. In
addition to splitting the students up into
groups for informal discussions with the visiting
lecturers, he arranged that one group each day
should see a live demonstration of patch clamp
in his laboratory.
As is the custom in our VLTP courses, on the
last day students presented talks that they had
rehearsed with the lecturers intensively during
the previous week day by day. In the afternoon
of the last day local faculty at Wroclaw
University School of Medicine gave talks
about their research.The lecture by Jurek
Mozrzymas on his research was outstanding in
the quality of work and in the elegance of the
presentation.
In my opinion the success of the VLTP courses
depends on the structure and the hard work
done by students, teachers and organizers:
lectures are systematic, but not arranged
thematically; they tell stories that run from the
beginning to the end of the course with every
lecturer attending every talk.Thus, the students
see that the lecturers have come to work hard
for them, and the lecturers are humbled by the
devotion and passion of the
students for neurobiology.
John Nicholls (SISSA,Trieste, Italy) retired in
September 2002 from the VLTP, which he chaired
and ran with enormous success since 1994. Jack
McMahan (Stanford, USA) succeeds him
INTERNATIONAL
REGISTRY OF
NEUROSCIENCE
TRAINING
PROGRAMMES
IBRO recognizes the need for a worldwide
registry of neuroscience training pro-
grammes and invites all neuroscience soci-
eties to help create such a registry.The reg-
istry's availability on the Internet would help
students choose where to train and provide
information about existing programmes. It is
clear that if the imbalance in the flow of
trainees is going to be changed at all, we
must generate more information on training
opportunities worldwide.
Initially the focus would be on identifying
available links to Internet-posted national
and regional programmes at PhD level or
equivalent.To optimize coordination of this
effort IBRO asks all interested organizations
to contact IBRO directly or via the
appropriate IBRO Regional Committee.
'IBRO-EDU'
PROVIDES
EDUCATION
RESOURCES
'IBRO-Edu' (see www.ibro.org) provides
resources in neuroscience education.The
project’s short-term goal is to provide
organized access to neuroscience
educational material already available on the
Internet. In a later phase, Editor Ante Padjen
(McGill University, Canada) aims to expand
this resource by inviting authors of
educational material to send their web site
URLs for inclusion in 'IBRO-Edu'.
 IBRO’S EDUCATION PROGRAMMES
THE NEUROSCIENCE
SCHOOLS, 2001-2002
Developed by IBRO and its Regional Committees,
and run in conjunction with national and
international organizations, the Neuroscience
Schools aim to provide neuroscience training
around the world. Former Secretary-General Carlos
Belmonte recently retired as Chair of the IBRO
Schools Board, where he has played a significant
role in the successful running of the Schools over
the past few years. John G. Hildebrand is the new
Schools Board Chair, with Sigismund Huck
remaining as Board Secretary. Over the last year
the Schools have continued around the world, from
Sulejow and Queretaro, to Rabat and Hong Kong.
The following reports filed by the organizers
demonstrate the wide-ranging scope of the
Schools programme.
IBRO/FENS Summer School, Sulejow,
Poland, July 2001: Receptor Activation
and Beyond. The major goal of the school
was to show fundamental similarities and
specific differences among various receptors
and receptor-related signal transduction
pathways, including second messengers, kinases,
transcription factors, etc., in brain physiology
and pathology.The topics selected as most
exemplary were: glutamate receptors -
characterization, role in neural plasticity and
neurodegeneration; G-protein-coupled
receptors (control of intracellular signalling
pathways and importance in psychopharmacology);
opioid receptors (characterization, role in
complexity of addition processes); involvement
of signalling via mitogen-activated protein
kinases in processing of sensoral information,
learning, and in processes underlying cell death
and survival; the importance of estrogens and
their ERa and ERb receptors in neuronal
plasticity and neuroprotection
L. Kaczmarek
Trieste, Italy, July-August 2001:
EU Advanced Course in Computational
Neuroscience. The EU Advanced Course in
Computational Neuroscience was established
in 1996 as a European counterpart to the
highly successful Woods Hole course 'Methods
in Computational Neuroscience'. Its goal is to
train experimental neurobiologists and medical
doctors together with researchers from
mathematics and from the engineering fields in
an interdisciplinary area, which has become
increasingly important for the understanding of
brain functions.
Today, experimental neurobiologists - in
particular from the area of systems
neurobiology - also need a broad knowledge
in statistical data analysis, mathematical
techniques and computational modelling in
order to design experiments and to
interpret their results fully. At the same time,
researchers from the engineering fields - in
particular computer science - have become
interested in aspects of information processing
in the brain in order to learn more efficient
ways of computing from nature, and need
training in neurobiology.
The course combines lectures and computer
classes with supervised research on a topic
chosen by the student. Each week has a
thematic focus, but all modelling techniques are
covered to some extent in order to provide a
solid methodological basis for all of the student
projects in time. Lectures are given by faculty
whose work covers the state of the art in
computational neuroscience, and students have
hands-on experience with the computational
techniques and the mathematical models in the
specifically designed PC-laboratory.
K. Obermayer
Tihany, Hungary, August 2001: IBRO
Summer School 'Neuronal Transmission:
Microphysiology of Synaptic Currents
and Receptor Function'. In the second year
of the Tihany Schools, a total of 40 hours of
lectures were given on the electrophysiological
aspects of neuronal transmission, including
different transmitter systems, receptors,
regulation of ionic homeostasis, glial functions,
second messenger systems at the level of single
channels, single cells and basic networks.
Practical afternoon demonstrations included
extracellular field and intracellular recordings
from mammalian and invertebrate neurons,
channel physiology and biophysics, data analysis,
intracellular labelling techniques, mRNA
expression in oocytes followed by recording,
pharmacology and biochemistry of second
messenger systems.
Queretaro, Mexico, October 2001:
Latin American School of Neuroscience.
The Neuroscience School in Queretaro
included the seventh symposium on
Hormones, Growth Factors and Brain
Development, followed by a two-week practical
course Cellular and Molecular Biology of
Neural Development. Jorge Hernandez
coordinated the two-day symposium, in which
early embryogenesis, gene expression, neurite
outgrowth, synapse formation, axonal
pathfinding, development of electrical activity,
glial development, neuronal plasticity and cell
death were addressed.The symposium was
attended by 200 students and faculty.
The two-week practical course was organized
by Alfredo Varela and Francisco F. de Miguel.
Eight Mexican students, each from a different
Institution, two more from Cuba, one from
Latin American School of Neuroscience, Queretaro
Brazil and one from Peru, received hands-on
training in a selected range of methodologies
using invertebrate and vertebrate nervous
systems. A series of already proven
experiments in diverse preparations were
selected and a laboratory was fully set-up for
the course. All of the students performed each
experiment and obtained individual results.
Every day the course started with a discussion
of the results from the day before followed by
an explanation of the experiments to be done
during the day. In the afternoon there was a
research talk related to the experiments of
the day.
F. F. De-Miguel, A.Varela
Hong Kong, PRC, December 2001:
IBRO School of Neuroscience. The
two-week School covered lectures, seminars
and a variety of laboratory projects and was
centred on five technique-oriented areas:
imaging techniques for the study of neurons
and glia and localization of neurochemicals and
receptors, electrophysiological analysis of
central neurons, functional genomics, axon
growth and pathfinding during development,
modulation of peripheral neurotransmission.
Students chose one of the five areas and
attended hands-on workshops in the
universities involved: University of Hong Kong,
Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
University of Science & Technology. Different
laboratories were used for each area so that
students could benefit from the range of
research facilities provided. Mini-projects were
introduced in each of the five areas to link the
practical session in different laboratories. At
the end of the School there was a half-day
presentation session when students presented
their results of the projects. During the first
week of the course the participants attended
the 21st Scientific Meeting of the Hong Kong
Society of Neurosciences.
Y. S. Chan
In the lab, Rabat
Montevideo, Uruguay, March 2002:
VII Latin-American School of Neuroscience
The Clemente Estable Institute hosted, for the
seventh consecutive year, the
School of Neuroscience.
This year 14 foreign scientists
and 31 Uruguayan researchers
participated in the course. Forty
students (twenty from abroad)
attended the conferences and
worked (in groups of 6) in the
experimental seminars.The main
topics were: synaptic plasticity;
central pattern generators:
developmental models,
biological/artificial circuits; Prion
diseases; Memory: cortical
networks, molecular aspects,
brain anatomy.
F. R. Morales, F. Dajas
Rabat, Morocco, April 2002:
Second IBRO African Regional Neuroscience
School IBRO's Africa Regional Committee
(ARC) oversaw the second Neuroscience
School to be held in Africa.The 28 students
came from 11 different African countries,
including Morocco,Tunisia, Egypt, Ethiopia,
Nigeria, Kenya,Tanzania, Malawi, Congo,
Zimbabwe and South Africa. A total of 17
instructors, including 9 African and 4 local
faculty from Morocco, shared in the teaching
programme.The experienced faculty included a
SONA international advisory group, ARC
members, a special lecturer from the French
Neuroscience Society (A. Calas, Paris) and
IBRO's Secretary-General (A. Aguayo).The
course was co-ordinated by the Rabat school
committee comprising Roger Butterworth
(Montreal), Marina Bentivoglio (Verona) and
Nouria Lakhdar-Ghazal. Beth Fisher and
Michael Zigmond (Pittsburgh) organized the
well-received professional skills sessions.
EDUCATION & TRAINING
Based on the previous 'Pietersburg' model,
this second course covered basic and clinical
neuroscience topics as well as highly interactive
sessions on communication skills. Didactic
lectures were also given on the origins of
neuroscience, CNS development, basic
neuroanatomy, transmitters, receptors, cell
signalling mechanisms and brain plasticity.
The disease-oriented curriculum with
appropriate African flavour covered learning
and memory, brain ageing, dementia,
Parkinsonism, thiamine deficiency and ataxias.
The scientific programme was interspersed
with journal clubs and sessions on
communication skills involving lectures on how
to communicate, and prepare abstracts and
manuscripts. In addition, small groups were
held for students to exhibit their skills in oral
communication and poster presentation.
As previously this was deemed one of the best
learning activities of the week.Time was also
set aside for one-to-one instruction between
students and instructors.The afternoon
laboratory sessions provided opportunity
to gain hands-on experience in
immunohistochemical and in situ PCR and
hybridization methods.
R. Kalaria
'MAP & COMPASS'
A SURVIVAL
PROGRAMME FOR
YOUNG
NEUROSCIENTISTS
'Map & Compass' was established by IBRO
as a source of survival skills for young
neuroscientists. It guides them along the
paths to acquire the skills necessary to
achieve a successful career in neuroscience
research. It covers essential areas like how
to give a 10-minute talk, grant-writing,
poster-making, tips for teachers.
The first of the individual series entitled
Map & Compass has, over 16 instalments,
dealt with writing a scientific paper.
All information can be found on the IBRO
web site www.ibro.org
5
 IBRO’S REGIONS REPORT
IBRO's six Regions continue to generate regional and inter-regional activities through courses, conferences and
workshops. Here are just some of the indications of a flourishing network of these regional activities.
AFRICA: The ARC has had a rewarding year
with several exciting developments.Through
the help of organizations like UNESCO and
ICSU, and private donors, IBRO has increased
its operating budget particularly to help young
men and women scientists in developing
countries to embrace a career in neuroscience.
In Africa, these profound efforts have enabled
us to expand our Neuroscience Schools
programme and open up new fellowship
schemes for African women. Members of the
ARC oversaw several activities this year.
One of the highlights was the Second IBRO
African Neuroscience School held in Rabat,
20-27 April 2002.Twenty-nine students from 11
African countries were selected for the 8-day
course instructed by an international team.The
First SONA Neuroscience workshop was held
in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, 4–7 April 2002 and organized
by SONA chairman Polycarp Nwoha.The
workshop was a great success and attended by
122 faculty and students.
The ARC has also guided a project to bring
neuroscience journals and books to 5 African
Libraries.The IBRO Committee on Libraries
was formed in May 2001. Led by Roger
Butterworth (Canada, chair), its general
mandate is to support the development of
neuroscience resources in libraries around the
world.The 5 African centres to benefit initially
are Imo State University and Federal Medical
Centre Owerri, Nigeria; University of Cape
Town, South Africa; Mohammed V University,
Rabat, Morocco; Chrome Campus Library,
University of Nairobi; and University of Dakar,
Senegal. Agreements are being secured from
Neuroscion (Elsevier Journals), Journal of
Neurochemistry, Science and the Human
Frontier Science Program.
In September this year the ARC organized the
Third IBRO Neuroscience School in Africa.
It was the second school to be held in
sub-Saharan Africa and was held in Nairobi,
Kenya, 1–8 September. Once again the
professional skills were a feature of the
curriculum along with general neuroscience
and current hot topics.The school coincided
with other science activities at the University
of Nairobi.The ARC also co-ordinated a 3-day
regional neuroscience meeting in Congo in late
September, opening up a new region in Africa.
The meeting was organized by ARC member
Pierre Luabeya.
ARC members have also been instrumental in
guiding young African women to apply for the
recently established Levi Montalcini Fellowship
awards for study abroad or within the
continent of Africa.The scheme was established
through generous donations made by Professor
Rita Levi Montalcini to IBRO and will help
eligible African women to embark on a career
in neuroscience and actively contribute to
African neuroscience.
The ARC has also established plans to involve
clinician groups in IBRO activities and win their
co-operation through joint activities.
The regular regional IBRO conferences would
involve clinical neuroscientists including
neurologists, neurosurgeons and pathologists.
In Africa this type of interaction and exchange
between basic and clinical neuroscientists has
great potential and would be very beneficial
and would boost neuroscience awareness
sufficiently in Africa to develop a pan-African
organization of neuroscience.
Through the regional committee elections
6
co-ordinated by IBRO in late 2001 the ARC
has been able to increase its manpower and
oversee various neuroscience activities that
will help young neuroscientists from Africa..
Three entirely new members were elected to
the ARC.The current membership of the
committee comprises: Raj Kalaria (Chair),
Willie Daniels (SA), Nouria Lakhdar-Ghazal
(Morocco), Nilesh Patel (Kenya),Vivienne
Russell (SA),Wail Benjelloun (Morocco), Miladi
(Tunisia),Yezekiel Ben-Ari (France/Egypt).
In view of their past service and experience
Pierre Luabeya (Congo) and Gallo Diop
(Senegal) have been retained on the committee
for a temporary period as non-voting
members.This was ratified at the last meeting
of the committee in Rabat, Morocco in April
2002.The ARC also works with SONA
members on various tasks in IBRO
committees:Wail Benjelloun (Morocco;
Membership); Jama Mhlanga (Zimbabwe; foreign
correspondent); Pierre Luabeya (Congo;
Fellowships); Santy Daya (SA; Schools).
In addition the ARC continues to co-operate
with the SONA International advisory group
consisting of Marina Bentivoglio (Italy), Roger
Butterworth (Canada), Howard Cooper
(France), Beth Fisher (USA), André Nieoullon
(France), Des Raidoo (South Africa),Terje
Sagvolden (Norway), Michael Zigmond (USA).
The ARC looks forward to a busy time as it
also plans to help SONA members to organize
the Sixth SONA International Conference in
Abuja, Nigeria, 25-30 April 2003.The traditional
neuroscience meeting for all Africa will be held
for the first time in Nigeria, which boasts the
largest number of neuroscientists in one
country. Details of all ARC activities are
available on the IBRO web site www.ibro.org.
Raj Kalaria
Chair, African Regional Committee
ASIA-PACIFIC:The APRC's role is to make
recommendations to IBRO about activities in
the region and to determine the distribution of
IBRO support.The great majority of IBRO
funding is used to support the annual IBRO
School of Neuroscience held in Hong Kong.
The purpose of the School is to provide a
platform for senior PhD students and junior
postdoctoral fellows in the region to meet in
an environment where they can acquire
knowledge of both theoretical and
technological advances in key areas of
neuroscience research.Twenty Fellowships are
awarded to cover airfares and accommodation
for the two-week course.The 2001 School was
held 4-25 December.The participants also
attended the 21st Annual Scientific Meeting of
the Hong Kong Society of Neurosciences,
where they presented their own research
work. Applications for 2002 have recently
closed and are being evaluated.
Each year support is reserved for the scientific
meetings of the Federation of Asian-Oceanian
Neuroscience Societies (FAONS), particularly
the Congresses held every four years. FAONS
has 14 member societies, from Japan to New
Zealand and Iran to Vietnam.The purpose of
the Federation is to promote the advancement
of neuroscience research and education in the
region.The 3rd FAONS Congress was held in
Seoul, 28 September-1 October 2002, hosted
by the Korean Society for Brain and Neural
Science.The APRC awarded travel fellowships
to young neuroscientists who presented their
work at the Congress. A reunion of Alumni
from IBRO Schools (APRC) was held during
the Seoul Congress.
Support is provided for international symposia
within the region, e.g. Symposium on Spinal
Cord Injury held in Australia.Travel grants are
also earmarked for young neuroscientists from
the region to work in other laboratories or to
attend important international neuroscience
meetings. Seven awards were given in 2001.
Some support is set aside for young
neuroscientists with good credentials to attend
the Summer Program of the RIKEN Brain
Science Institute.The APRC also has plans to
organize Associate (Travelling) Schools in
disadvantaged countries of the region.
Y. S. Chan
Chair, Asia-Pacific Regional Committee
Informal gathering after the group presentation at the end of the 2001 Hong Kong School
CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE:
The Second IBRO Summer School in Tihany
(Balaton Limnological Research Institute of the
Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Lake Balaton)
in August 2001 was very successful. A total of
27 students from 12 countries in the Central
and Eastern Europe Region were selected from
108 applicants on a competitive basis, and
highly qualified lecturers were invited from all
over the world. Each year the programme
consists of lectures in the mornings, and
practicals and student demonstrations in the
afternoons.This year's subject, 'Neuronal
transmission: microphysiology of synaptic
currents and receptor function', was
organized by Oleg Krishtal, Michail Ostrovsky,
Károly Elekes and Tamás F. Freund.
In August 2002 the regional Summer School
moved to Prague.Twenty-five (from 68)
participants were selected for the third year.
The topic was 'Contemporary approaches to
the study of CNS function using
electrophysiological, behavioral and
imaging techniques'.
The following additional conferences, schools
and courses were organized in the region, and
were supported in part by the CEERC:
Workshop 'Experimental Methods for Brain
Studies in Health and Disease' organized by the
Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of
Sciences of the Czech Republic and the
Physiological Society (Great Britain) in Prague
(23-27 October 2001) for young physiologists,
with CEERC support.
FENS/IBRO School 'Receptor activation and
beyond' organized by Jola Zawilska and Leszek
Kaczmarek, Sulejow, Poland. More than 40
students worldwide (mostly from Central and
Eastern Europe) participated.The lectures,
given by leading scientists. covered functional
and pathological roles of transmission by
glutamate, opioids, estrogen and other
ligands and their receptors.
International IBRO Workshop ('Signaling
mechanisms in the central and peripheral
nervous system') organized by the Hungarian
National IBRO Committee in Debrecen
(January 2002), supported by CEERC, including
the travel costs of an invited IBRO lecturer
(Prof.Timothy Bliss).
Two centres of excellence in the region, the
Bogomoletz Institute in Kiev, and the Nencki
Institute in Warsaw, organized a joint meeting
in Kiev in September 2002. A total of 3
short-term (2-6 months) fellowships have been
awarded by the CEERC on a competitive basis
to scientists from the Central and Eastern
Europe Region visiting another laboratory
within the region.The Croatian Neuroscience
Society has been accepted as corporate
member of IBRO this year.
The next IBRO World Congress will be in
Prague, 10-15 July 2003.The Program
Committee met in Prague in March 2002, and
formulated the final program.
The IBRO Scholarship Against Brain-Drain was
established in 2000, and up to the end of 2001
a total of 100 scholarships were awarded.
The goal of this initiative was to keep young
talented researchers in their home countries,
yet still preserving mobility after (or before)
obtaining their PhDs.The Executive Committee
of IBRO decided to terminate this programme
and to formulate a new initiative in the future
with similar goals, which will include other
developing regions and the effectiveness of
which can be better monitored.
The CEERC had its last meeting in Prague
on the 4-5 May 2002, when the budget was
distributed among the programmes, and
winners were selected for the IBRO 2002
Summer School, short-term fellowships and
IBRO fellowships and travel grants.
A programme has been prepared, and
application for additional funding submitted
with the title 'Networking of centres of
excellence in the CEERC region: joint meetings
and cooperation in the training of young
investigators'.The programme aims to bring
together local expertise in the region to
facilitate joint research initiatives, as well
as PhD programmes and the training of
young scientists.
Tamas Freund
Chair, Central and Eastern Europe Regional
Committee
 NEW VENTURES
IBRO ALUMNI PROGRAMME
PUTS STUDENTS IN NEUROSCIENCE HISTORY ON
CENTRAL ROLE THE WEB
'Neuroscience History' Editor Javier DeFelipe discusses the importance of the history of neuroscience to
IBRO has set up the IBRO Alumni Programme with the aim of creating a community of those the development of modern neuroscience.
young scientists who have participated in any of IBRO's educational programmes and enabling
them to remain in contact with each other and with IBRO. It is hoped that the Alumni themselves The idea to create History of Neuroscience
will form the nucleus of the programme, with IBRO assisting them with guidance on scientific on the IBRO web arose from a conversation
issues and careers.The programme will be based on semi-autonomous groups originating from the that Albert Aguayo and I had last year
Regional Schools and courses that will be linked regionally via the IBRO Regional Committees and during the 5th Conference of the Society of
Member Societies, and centrally via the Schools Board and the VLTP. Space on the IBRO web site African Neuroscientists held in Nairobi in
and those of the regional and national Affiliated Organizations will be available to the Alumni for 2001.We were commenting on the
communication so that their role becomes a central part of the programme. importance of the history of neuroscience
A reunion of Alumni took place in Paris at the FENS Forum in Paris on 13 July 2002. Some 120 and about how little is known, particularly
IBRO and FENS Alumni gathered at the Musée de L'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris. Students, by young neuroscientists, about the roots
faculty, and organizers of previous Schools, mostly from Europe but some from elsewhere, were and definitions of words currently used in
able to renew their friendship.The gathering received a great deal of support and attention: IBRO neuroscience, for example neuron, synapse
Secretary-General Albert Aguayo, IBRO Neuroscience Schools Secretary Sigismund Huck and or schizophrenia. How many of us have
FENS President Gaetano di Chiara delivered welcome addresses. Former IBRO Secretary-General asked ourselves who was the first to use the
Carlos Belmonte, former FENS President Willem Gispen, FENS Secretary-General Monica di Luca, word dendrite, or when was the
FENS Treasurer Helmuth Kettenmann, National Society Presidents Herbert Zimmermann concept of inhibition in the cerebral cortex
(Germany), Karoly Elekes (Hungary), Menahem Segal (Israel), Deolinda Lima (Portugal), Luis Miguel first introduced? One of the causes of this
García Segura (Spain), Jean-Marc Fritschy (Switzerland) and many more supporters of the Alumni lack of knowledge is the difficulty in finding
concept were also there. the appropriate sources of this information.

One of the Alumni, Dr Bence Racz, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent Istvan University, Budapest,
Alumni under cover: Bence Racz and Rita Rado (Hungary) and
IBRO Board of Schools Secretary/FENS Schools Chairman
Sigismund Huck (Austria)
the FAONS Congress in Seoul in September. More reunions are planned at the Society for
Neuroscience Meeting, Orlando, 4 November 2002, 18:30-21:30, and at the IBRO World Congress
in Prague, July 2003.
Information about the Alumni Programme can be found at www.ibro.org
The Regions ... continued
LATIN AMERICA: The Neuroscience
Schools were the focus of the LARC activities:
Queretaro Neuroscience School, Queretaro,
Mexico, 27 September-12 October 2001.
The School was divided into a.2-day
symposium 'Hormones, Growth Factors and
Brain Development', with an attendance of
over 200 students and professors - both local
and foreign scientists spoke about modern
topics on developmental biology - and a course
'Cellular and Molecular Biology of Neural
Development'.Twelve students (8 Mexicans
and 4 from abroad) were selected and
received hands-on training in a range of
methodologies using invertebrate and
vertebrate nervous systems.
VII Latin-American School of Neuroscience
Montevideo, Uruguay, 4-22 March 2002,
hosted by the Clemente Estable Institute
hosted for the seventh consecutive year.
Fourteen foreign scientists and 31 Uruguayan
researchers participated in the course.
Forty students (20 from abroad) attended
the lectures and worked (in groups of 6) in
the experimental seminars.The main topics
were: synaptic plasticity; central pattern
generators: developmental models,
Hungary, had attended the
FENS/IBRO International
School in Sulejow, Poland (21-
28 July 2001). He said about
the reunion: 'I hope that this
Reunion will be a really good
occasion to evoke the old
friendships we obtained during
those perfect weeks.
Moreover, I was offered a post-
doc position in the US, after
the School in Poland, by M.
Sheng, so these schools really
changed my life and prospects.
I am really grateful to the
school committee for this.'
A second reunion was held at
biological/artificial circuits; prion diseases;
memory: cortical networks, molecular aspects,
brain anatomy.
ISBRA First IBRO School in Brazil, Ribeirao
Preto, Brazil, 19 August-6 September 2002.
This school offered activities in basic
neuroscience and the neurobiology of
emotions. In the second week, all students
attended the XVII Annual meeting of the
Federation of Experimental Biological Societies.
International training courses: 'Transport of
ions across cell membranes: structure &
function', Marine Station, IVIC, Mochima,
Venezuela, 5-13 November 2001.The course
focused on theoretical and practical aspects of
the physiology and pathophysiology of ion
channels, transporters and ATPases. Activities
included lectures in the mornings and
afternoons; informal seminars given by the
students in the evenings.
'Chemical and electrical synapses: recent
progress', 15-23 October 2001, Pontificia
Universidad Católica de Chile (PUCC).
Twenty-seven international speakers and 40
graduate students from Latin American
countries participated.There were five days of
seminars and 2 full days of laboratory work.
'Cooperative cortical dynamics: recording
techniques, data analysis and modeling', 1-5
Articles about the scientific biography of
famous investigators are relatively easy to Santiago Ramon y Cajal at his bench
find, but these reports are often so extensive that
many neuroscientists do not have the time or patience to read them.We also ended up
considering those less well-known neuroscientists who have also made important contributions
in the field but who are practically ignored by the neuroscience community. It is clear that in
many countries 'hidden local heroes' must exist about whom interesting stories can be told.
Thus, as part of the continuous effort on the part of IBRO to provide its members with quality
educational resources relating to all areas of neuroscience, over the last year we embarked on a
project to set up a section on the history of neuroscience on the IBRO web.The aim is to
present, in a concise but clear manner, relevant aspects of the history and origins of the
neurosciences throughout the world.We include articles on neuroscientists who have made
important contributions in the field and others on the roots and definitions of words used.
We have invited neurosicentists to write for this section and have had an enthusiastic response:
24 articles are either on the web or in preparation.To consult these articles and obtain
information about how to contribute go to http://www.ibro.org/secondary/sciissues/index.htm.
We believe that one of the strengths of this IBRO web site, over and above the fact that it is
freely accessible, is that the figures can be seen as high-quality colour images, making the articles
much more attractive. Once the articles appear on the web site, readers are encouraged to
make comments and add pertinent material (figures, documents, etc.). Some of these may even
appear as links associated to the corresponding articles.With this in mind, we hope that
the publication of these articles will attract the participation of many new members of the
international community.This site is and will remain under permanent construction.
Your comments, suggestions and requests are welcome.
Javier DeFelipe
Committee Member/Editor, Neuroscience History on the Web
Instituto Cajal, Madrid, Spain
April 2002, Pucón, Chile.This international sponsored three symposia: 'Cell
conference, on the theoretical and communication in the nervous system: function
experimental foundations of cooperative and dysfunction', Río de Janeiro, Brazil, 22-24
cortical dynamics, discussed advancements in August 2001; 'Directions in sphingolipid
the study, characterization and modelling of research for the new millennium', Puerto
neuronal activity in different structures of the Iguazú, Argentina, 23-25 August 2001; 'First
Basic Neurochemistry School:
nervous system.
Neurotransmitters, trophic factors and their
'Experimental approaches in neuroethology',
receptors', Córdoba, Argentina,
Santiago and Valparaíso, Chile, 7-18 January
1-3 September 2001.
2002.This course offered an overview of
'2001 Sleep Odyssey': IBRO has financed a
current research on the neural basis of animal
course (intended for young scientists) prior
behaviour.The study of diverse behaviours and
to the World Federation of Sleep Research
the underlying neural systems in vertebrates Societies Congress and Conference
and invertebrates were presented from 'Physiological Basis for Sleep Medicine',
physiological and evolutionary viewpoints in 21-25 October 2002, Uruguay.
conferences, seminars and practical activities.
The LARC has approved support for regional
The LARC also approved and gave partial exchange (training stays, courses and
support to the following symposia organized congresses) for 8 young scientists, this year
as satellites of international congresses: organized in 2 semesters (instead of one
annual one) and special attention was given
International Society for Neurochemistry
to financing training stays within the region.
Congress, Argentina, 26-31 August 2001:
Omar Macadar
the LARC held its third annual meeting and
Chair, Latin American Regional Committee

7

CARLOS BELMONTE ELECTED TO
THE SPANISH ROYAL ACADEMY
On 23 January 2002, Carlos Belmonte, former
Secretary-General of IBRO, was appointed
member of the Spanish Royal Academy of
Sciences (La Real Academia de Ciencias
Exactas, Fisicas y Naturales).The election of
Carlos Belmonte to the Royal Academy is
timely. He has had an outstanding scientific
career devoted to the electrophysiological
study of sensory receptors, particularly in the
eye, after noxious, mechanical, chemical or
thermal stimulation. He has authored more
than 20 important publications on corneal
nociceptors, describing the ionic conductances
and the receptors involved in the transduction
of painful signals. But Belmonte is not only an
outstanding and respected scientist. In his
position as Professor in the University in
Alicante and through his national
responsibilities, he has facilitated access to
research activities for students and he has
created new centres of excellence for the
study of neuroscience (an example is his
current place of work, the Institute of
Neurosciences at the University Miguel
Hernandez).Thus, he has played an outstanding
role in what we might call the 'Renaissance' of
Spanish neuroscience.
Swept on by his interest in and worldwide
support of brain sciences, Belmonte was also
instrumental in the further development of
IBRO. He became its Secretary-General in
1998, succeeding Professor David Ottoson, and
during the three years of his mandate he did a
NEWS FROM NEUROSCIENCE
IBRO's journal Neuroscience continues its
process of renewal with the appointment of
Professor Ole Petter Ottersen as Associate
Editor in January 2002. At the same time, David
Amaral moved to the position of Chief Editor
as David Smith stepped down from that
position. David Smith is owed an immense debt
of gratitude for his skilled management of the
journal over many years, which has maintained
its excellence as one of the leading
neuroscience journals.We now have 10
Section Editors, John Paul Bolam (UK), Gyorgy
Buzaki (USA), Ray Dolan (UK), David
Fitzpatrick (USA), David Lewis (USA), Stephen
Redman (Australia), John Rubenstein (USA),
Constantino Sotelo (France),Werner Siegert
(Austria) and Keiji Tanaka (Japan), to help us
with submission reviews.We have recently
added John Morrison as an additional Section
Editor, responsible for special issues and
commentaries.The first of the special issues,
'Dynamical aspects of cortical structure and
function', Editor Edward Jones, appeared in
issue 111:4.
Papers in all areas of neuroscience are
encouraged from the world community of
neuroscientists. Submissions directly assist
IBRO’s worldwide programmes financially
through journal sales, so every paper is
important to us and especially appreciated as
your contribution to sustaining neuroscience
worldwide, particularly in less-developed
regions.
In July 2002 the processing of papers was
streamlined and speeded up via a new central
receiving office in San Diego.The Editor’s
offices will, however, continue to maintain
direct communications as needed with
NEWS AND EVENTS
great deal to open up the Organization and
develop its regional basis worldwide.The
election of Carlos Belmonte to the Spanish
Royal Academy of Sciences is a deserved
distinction that honours one of Spain’s most
brilliant representatives and reinforces an
important tradition in modern neuroscience.
Santiago Ramon y Cajal was also a
distinguished member of the Academy, as
was his closest pupil and collaborator,
Francisco Tello.
Constantino Sotelo
Hopital Salpetrière
Paris, France
Carlos Belmonte
authors, Section Editors and reviewers, as well
as developing new initiatives for the journal.
For instructions to authors visit the
Neuroscience web site at
www.neuroscience-ibro.com
or look in the current issue of the journal.
Neuroscience will undergo a stylistic facelift in
2003.The cover design will be changed and the
format will be modernized.The journal will use
a heavier gloss paper, and illustration
reproduction will be improved by using a
higher-density halftone screen. Papers will be
grouped under section headings. All of these
changes will be in place by January 2003 and
examples of the new journal format will be
DAVID OTTOSON,
FORMER IBRO
SECRETARY-GENERAL, DIES
It is with regret that IBRO announces the
death of David Ottoson, IBRO
Secretary-General between 1983 and 1997,
on 27 December 2001. David Ottoson was a
true ambassador for world neuroscience.
During the 14 years of his appointment as
Secretary-General, IBRO experienced
tremendous growth and development, due
largely to his perception, enthusiasm and
personal commitment.
It was transformed from a small body of
2000 members into an international scientific
organization of more than 50,000 members.
David Ottoson saw IBRO's principal role as
the promotion of brain research in
developing countries; he oversaw IBRO's
encouragement and creation of regional
federations such as CARIBRO, EAC/IBRO,
FAONS, SABRO and SONA. In a letter to the
membership on the eve of his retirement as
Secretary-General, David Ottoson described
IBRO as a 'success story'.This success was in
no small way due to his dedication and
determination in the role he played for IBRO.
For this legacy the members are truly grateful.
www.ibro.org
For updates on IBRO’s
programmes, news and events
available at the Elsevier Science exhibit at the
2002 Society for Neuroscience meeting in
Orlando, USA.
IBRO also plans to offer a service that
provides non-English-speaking neuroscientists
with editorial help with the English in their
manuscripts at the pre-submission stage.This
service should also be available by January
2003 or earlier. Please keep an eye on
www.ibro.org, publications section, for
updates on the journal and information on this
service to authors.
Jennifer S. Lund
Chair, IBRO Publications Committee
David Ottoson
CONFERENCE
CALENDAR
26-28 February 2003, Moscow, Russia
7th Multidisciplinary Regional Conference of
Biological Psychiatry: Stress and Behavior
(IBRO funded)
nem-physiol@mail.ru
brain.bio.msu.ru/cpbr7
25-27 April 2003, La Serena, Chile
Second Neurotoxicity Meeting: Mechanisms for
Neurodegenerative Disorders: Alzheimer, ALS
and Parkinson´s Disease
jsegura@machi.med.uchile.cl
www.med.uchile.cl/oqclub/serena
1-4 June 2003, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
26th Annual Meeting of the Canadian College
of Neuropsychopharmacology (CCNP)
lalit.srivastava@mcgill.ca
5-7 July 2003,Vienna, Austria
Synaptogenesis
Sigismund.huck@univie.ac.at
www.univie.ac.at/brainresearch/Neurophysiolog
y/Synaptogenesis/
10-15 July 2003, Prague, Czech Republic
6th IBRO World Congress of Neuroscience
Sykova@biomed.cas.cz
www.IBRO2003.cz
16-19 July 2003,Warsaw, Poland
Post-Prague Congress Jerzy Konorski Memorial
Symposium: Integrative Activity of the Brain
Contact Prof. L. Kaczmarek
leszek@nencki.gov.pl
www.nencki.gov.pl/konorski
17-20 September 2003, Barcelona, Spain
35th Annual Meeting European Brain and
Behaviour Society (EBBS) Caixa Forum
www.uab.es/ebbs-2003
20-24 September 2003, Prague,
Czech Republic
16th European College of
Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) Congress
secretariat@ecnp.nl
www.ecnp.nl
4-9 September 2004, Paris, France
European Federation of Neurological Societies
(EFNS) Congress 2004
efns-head@magnet.at
9-13 October 2004, Stockholm, Sweden
17th European College of
Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) Congress
secretariat@ecnp.nl
www.ecnp.nl