Prof Ishwar Parhar (left) and Prof Dato' Dr Anuar Zaini Md Zain at the opening of the two-week program. 

The Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences seeks to form a network of neuroscientists to find answers and cures to the brain’s mysteries.

Head of School Professor Dato’ Dr Anuar Zaini Md Zain said the School had identified neuroscience as a priority area with the establishment of the Brain Research Institute of Monash Sunway (BRIMS) and was now eager to form collaborations with neuroscientists regionally.

“There is a lot more work to do in Malaysia and the region. In South-east Asia, we need to have more collaborative efforts,” he said, before opening the 2^nd IBRO School of Neuroscience.

Addressing some 30 young neuroscientists attending the two-week program, Prof Anuar said as the centre of brain research activity, there were many opportunities to explore with BRIMS.

IBRO, the International Brain Research Organisation, funds the program.

BRIMS Director Prof Ishwar Parhar said the program’s objectives were two-fold: to teach neurological and technical knowledge for research, and to develop a cohort of neuroscientists in the region.

“The development of neuroscientists is to understand the brain – one of the most complex organs in the universe – and solve problems and unlock its mysteries to develop new therapies,” he said.

Program participants include those from Pakistan, India, China, Japan, Taiwan and Iran.

The two-week course will see participants engage in laboratory-based mini projects focusing on four technique-oriented areas: functional genomics, molecular morphology, behavioural neuroscience, and imaging.

The 2nd School of Neuroscience exposes young neuroscientists to high-quality neuroscience research.