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Last month, I stood in St. Peter’s Square, watching white smoke rise over the Vatican city. A new pope had just been chosen. But I was there for another reason; to attend The Memory: A Symposium Addressing the Opportunities and Challenges of an Aging Global Population, the first of its kind conceptualized by late Pope Francis and hosted by the Vatican in collaboration with the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). It was an extraordinary gathering that brought together scientists, policymakers and faith leaders to reimagine aging. I had the honour of speaking about brain health across the life course and the need for culturally grounded strategies, especially in low- and middle-income countries where the population of older adults is accelerating fastest and where treatment and support systems remain underprepared.  |
 Dr Bernard Aliwa is a postdoctoral research fellow at the BMI. A molecular scientist on a mission, Aliwa is determined to answer tough questions about the brain and make sure those answers help people across Africa. During the day, he studies tiny clues hidden in blood and tissue samples. At night, you might find him watching a hockey match or relaxing with some soul music. In June 2025, his journey took him to Helsinki, Finland, where he spent one month in a top-tier research lab after being selected for a prestigious fellowship funded by the Finnish National Agency for Education.
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As the fourth researcher selected for the prestigious Harvard–AKU Global Mental Health Fellowship, Dr. Nida Zahid is taking on a critical challenge, integrating mental health into cancer care in low-resource settings. The fellowship, a joint initiative of Harvard Medical School and AKU’s Brain and Mind Institute, supports post-doctoral leaders advancing mental health implementation science in South & Central Asia and East Africa. We spoke with Nida about what drives her work, why brain tumor patients in Pakistan need more than just biomedical treatment, and how this fellowship is helping her turn research into real-world impact.
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 In Vishakani, Kilifi County, a new model of doing research is taking root. It puts communities at the heart of knowledge creation. From April 8 to 11, 2025, 35 Community Health Promoters(CHPs) were trained to take on leadership roles in brain health research within their own communities. A follow up training was held on April 23 to 24, 2025, to build on this foundation. Led by the Brain and Mind Institute (BMI), this training was part of our Living Lab initiative, an approach that transforms real-world communities into dynamic spaces where innovative health solutions are co-created, tested, and refined by the people they are designed to serve.
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 Building on the success of its inaugural cohort in 2024, the African College of Neuropsychopharmacology (AfCNP) School hosted its second cohort from June 1–8, 2025 aimed to empower a new generation of 28 African scientists with the knowledge, tools, and networks needed to develop locally relevant solutions to some of the continent’s most pressing brain and mental health challenges linked to HIV/AIDS, mental health, and substance use.
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 A study led by the Shamiri Institute and the BMI has revealed alarming levels of childhood trauma among Kenyan adolescents, raising red flags about a looming youth mental health crisis. The research, unveiled during a stakeholder convening hosted by BMI and Shamiri, found that 1 in 5 adolescents in Kenya has experienced four or more Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) including abuse, neglect, and family instability, placing them at significantly higher risk of depression, anxiety and bullying.
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Authors: Andrew Aballa, Catherine Ajalo, Chinedu Udeh-Momoh, Cyprian Mostert, David Andai, Edna Bosire, Jasmit Shah, Karen Blackmon, Kendi Muchungi, Linda Khakali, Linet Ongeri, Lucy Kamau, Lukoye Atwoli, Olivera Nesic-Taylor, Willie Njoroge, Zul Merali
Journals: Nature Medicine, BMC Public Health, EJNMMI Reports, PLOS Global Public Health, Translational Oncology, Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, Qualitative Health Research, Alzheimer’s & Dementia, Culture, Medicine & Psychiatry, Biological Psychiatry, Nutrients, Value in Health RegionalIssues, Journal in Internal Medicine, Schizophrenia Research, eBioMedicine, PLOS One, Globalization and Health
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Dr Benard Alaka, a Postdoctoral Fellow at the BMI, has been selected to participate in the CINP Research Fellowships 2025, a globally competitive programme supported bythe International College of Neuropsychopharmacology (CINP). The fellowship recognises early-career researchers who show outstanding promise in the field of neuropsychopharmacology and mental health research. As part of theprogramme, Benard will havethe opportunity to engage in advanced research, build international collaborations and contribute to cutting-edge developments in neuroscience.
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Brain and neurological conditions are becoming more common across Africa, yet research in this area is still limited. To help address this gap, Drs Karen Blackmon and Thomas Thesen led a practical training workshop on July 2 and 3, 2025, in Nairobi, Kenya. The focus was on strengthening research skills in neuroimaging, wearable technology and artificial intelligence. The one-and-a-half-day workshop brought together staff from BMI, Haematology-Oncology, Clinical Research Unit (CRU), and the Radiology and Imaging Department. It provided participants withhands-on training to support current and future brain health research at the university. |
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