TReND in Africa: Toward a Truly Global (Neuro)science Community

Abstract

TReND is a volunteer-scientist run charity dedicated to promoting research and education on the African continent. Focusing on neuroscience, we discuss approaches to address some of the factors that currently stifle Africa’s scientific development and our experience in implementing them.

Simple Models For Neuroscience Research Discoveries: How Often Are These Models Used In Africa

“…This could be why more than 80% of the studies from Nigeria were neuroscience-related. TReND in Africa has also equipped many African scientists with skills and technology in neurogenetics, genome editing, behavioural neuroscience, and electrophysiology, among others, through workshops, donation of equipment and consumables, and the establishment of biomedical research centers [29][30][31] . Nigeria is one of the top beneficiaries of The performance of Kenya, which was not ranked among the top of Africa's strongest economies, may be due to the presence of the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), which is one of the major institutes for insect research in the continent.…”

Towards a More Globally Inclusive and Relevant Neuroethics

“…16 Neuroscience research in Africa, however, remains comparatively minimal 17 due to various factors, including a lack of resources, funding, infrastructure, and scientists specialising in the requisite areas (Maina et al, 2021). Despite this, there have been concerted efforts to address the African neuroscience research gap in recent years (Yusuf, Baden & Prieto-Godino, 2014;Karikari, Cobham & Ndams, 2016;Balogan et al, 2018;Baden et al, 2020), 18 with cause for optimism given indications of a decisive increase in publications of studies led by African scientists in recent years (Maina et al, 2021). 19 International research collaborations involving multiple study sites and partners, not only globally but also across the African continent, are another effective way of fostering neuroscience networks and research capacity as well as cultivating 16 The recently inaugurated Neuroscience Institute at the University of Cape Town and the subsequent establishing of an arm within the associated Brain Behaviour Unit, focused on advancing neuroethics in Africa, provides support for this assumption.…”

“…17 A recent survey of the neuroscience-related literature between 1996 to 2017 identified 5 219 publications led by African scientists, with 77% of these publications produced by only five African countries (Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria, Morocco, and Tunisia) (Maina et al, 2021). The predominant focus of these studies is on neurodegeneration and brain injury, which is appropriate, given figures indicating that by 2050 just under three-quarters of persons living with dementia-related conditions will reside in LMICs (Baden et al, 2020).…”

“…18 An example is the formation of the UK-led non-profit organisation, TReND in Africa (Teaching and Research in Natural Sciences for Development in Africa) in 2011. This organisation comprising volunteers from various universities across the globe and partners from African universities, focuses on capacity building of scientists (including neuroscientists) from Africa with the goal of promoting independence, empowerment, and scientific exchange as well as public and policy engagement on neuroscience-related issues (Baden et al, 2020).…”

A low-cost, high-performance video-based binocular eye tracker for psychophysical research

“…However, with prices reaching a few tens of thousands of dollars, the costs of easy-to-use, non-invasive commercial eye tracking systems can be very prohibitive for research laboratories. This hampers even wider spread use of eye tracking technology for psychophysical research, and particularly in emerging world regions interested in furthering their investments in science ( 11 , 12 ).…”