Dear Speakers and Participants of 2021 Kuala Lumpur IBRO-APRC Associate School,

 

On behalf of the organizing committee, I would like to welcome you to this 3rd Kuala Lumpur IBRO-APRC Associate School hosted by Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA and supported by International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) Paris, and IBRO Asia-Pacific Regional Committee (IBRO-APRC). The event is aimed at supporting IBRO-APRC’s effort to develop human capital in neuroscience teaching and research in the Asia-Pacific region.

 

This 2021 Kuala Lumpur Associate School is to be conducted virtually due to the reason known to everyone. Nevertheless, we promise a smashing 5-day program with eminent speakers from Australia, Canada, Thailand, United States of America and Malaysia.

 

The theme of this year’s Associate School is the gut-brain axis (GBA), and how it modulates the health of the central nervous system (CNS). The bidirectional crosstalk between gut microbiota and the CNS is now well established. An example of this is the popular phrase, ‘leaky gut, leaky brain’.

 

Hence, the main virtual workshop will focus on the physiology of GBA, in vivo models of GBA in research and how lifestyle changes, including use of psychobiotics, may affect GBA. The programme will be interspersed with sharing of experiences by accomplished neuroscientists under the ‘A day in the life of..’ slots.

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Three skills development sessions are planned, while a talk on research ethics is also on the cards. All these contents are hoped to equip participants with the necessary knowledge and know-how to continue their electrifying quest for answers in the realm of neuroscience research.

 

A one-day mini-symposium on AGELESS - TrAnsforming CoGnitivE Frailty to Later LifE Self-Sufficiency, a long-term research project funded by Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia will also be presented. This is a 5-year multi-centre initiative involving Universiti of Malaya, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Monash University Malaysia, Universiti Petronas, Universiti Sains Malaysia and Universiti Teknologi MARA.

 

On the last day, the organising committee is putting up a virtual tour of Malaysia, in order to introduce interesting areas of the host nation to the local and international speakers and participants.

 

Finally, let me take this opportunity to thank IBRO, IBRO-APRC, Dean and staff of Faculty of Pharmacy UiTM, speakers, participants and members of the organising committee for their contributions. I wish everyone a pleasant time and great experience at 2021 Kuala Lumpur IBRO-APRC Associate School.

 

Professor Dato’ Dr Abu Bakar Abdul Majeed

Director, Research Management Centre, UiTM