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Director’s Message
Looking back, moving forward: A year of purpose, partnership and progress
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Dear Colleagues, Partners and Friends,
As we draw the year to a close, I want to thank you for your partnership and confidence in our mission to champion for brain and mental health.
This has been a year of extraordinary momentum for us. Highlighted below, are few of the landmark events.
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We began the year with an extraordinary moment at the ‘Memory Symposium’ at the Vatican, that brought together scientists, policymakers and faith leaders to confront the challenges of an aging global population.
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Soon after, I was appointed to the World Dementia Council, joining eight other international leaders tasked with shaping global progress on dementia care, research and equity.
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Our 2nd Global Conference on Brain and Mental Health, held in Karachi in November, brought together researchers, clinicians and community leaders from across the world to explore how brain and mental health can become the foundation for thriving, resilient communities.
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We also deepened partnerships, with the Global Brain Health Institute by co-creating dementia prevention strategies with Kenyan communities through the Africa FINGERS programme.
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Our research study on trauma exposure among Nairobi adults revealed that over half show signs of PTSD in their lifetime, an alarming reminder of the silent burden carried by many.
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Among adolescents, findings from our joint forum with the Shamiri Institute showed that one in five had experienced high levels of adverse childhood experiences, significantly increasing their risk of depression and anxiety. These insights are sobering, but they also guide us toward more compassionate, evidence-driven approaches to prevention, policy and care.
Looking ahead to 2026, we plan to deepen our research focus, strengthen capacity building for the next generation of mental health scholars and expand partnerships to amplify regional leadership in brain and mental health.
I hope this season offers time for rest, reflection and renewed hope. Wishing you and your loved ones a peaceful holiday season and a purposeful start to the new year.
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BMI Hosts Global Conference on Brain and Mental Health
The Brain and Mind Institute hosted a three-day Global Conference on Brain and Mental Health, held from November 3–5 at AKU’s Stadium Road campus in Karachi. Themed “Building Thriving Communities: Promoting Brain and Mental Health,” the conference brought together leading researchers, clinicians, policymakers and community leaders from across Pakistan and around the world to discuss urgent priorities for mental health in the Global South.
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Building partnerships for better brain health
The Brain and Mind Institute hosted Prof. Victor Valcour, Director of the Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI) at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), for a series of engagements on October 14–15, 2025, focused on strengthening research and training in brain health across the region.
During his visit, Prof. Valcour delivered a public lecture titled Accompaniment in Brain Health Research: Leveraging the Teachings of Paul Farmer for Sustainable Impact. Drawing on his global experience, he spoke about the principle of “accompaniment” working with communities rather than for them, as essential to building trust and ensuring that research leads to real-world change.
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Youth suicide prevention forum urges collective action and shared responsibility
Suicide is robbing Africa of too many young lives, even though it is among the most preventable public health challenges of our time. The weight of stigma, the silence surrounding mental health and the lack of accessible care continue to deepen the crisis. These realities took centre stage at the Youth Suicide Prevention Forum, hosted by the Brain and Mind Institute in collaboration with the Science for Africa Foundation (SFA) on October 1, 2025.
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Kenyan adults face high post-traumatic stress disorder risk: Study reveals patterns
A new study has revealed that Nairobi adults face a high burden of trauma, with more than half of participants showing signs of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in their lifetime. The findings, shared at a dissemination event hosted by the Brain and Mind Institute on September 24, 2025, shed light on one of Africa’s most pressing and often overlooked mental health challenges.
The study, led by Prof. Lukoye Atwoli, Deputy Director at BMI and Dean, Medical College, EA, in collaboration with international investigators Prof. Benjamin Neale and Prof. Karestan Koenen of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, aimed to expand understanding of the genetic and environmental factors contributing to PTSD. The study also sought to strengthen local research capacity, reduce stigma and ensure African populations are fully represented in global psychiatric genetics research, paving the way for culturally relevant interventions and equitable mental health solutions.
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Communities in Kenya co-create dementia prevention strategies through Africa FINGERS Program
The Brain and Mind Institute, through the Africa FINGERS project team, brought together community members, researchers, and health officials for validation workshops in Nairobi on October 27 and in Kilifi on October 29, 2025. The sessions were held to review community designed ideas for reducing dementia risk and supporting healthy aging.
Anchored at BMI, Africa FINGERS uses a community-based approach that places local experience at the center of the work. The aim is to ensure that any recommended actions are practical and grounded in what communities say they can sustain.
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NeuroGAP–P II: Building African-led evidence on psychotic disorders
Psychotic disorders affect more than 21 million people worldwide and are among the leading causes of disability, yet most research into their causes has focused on populations of European ancestry. To close this critical gap, the Neuropsychiatric Genetics of African Populations – Psychosis II (NeuroGAP-Psychosis) project is advancing understanding of the genetic, societal and environmental factors influencing psychosis across Africa. Following the first phase which engaged over 43,000 participants across four countries, NeuroGAP-Psychosis II is now underway. By centering African populations, this study aims to generate evidence that will not only deepen scientific knowledge but also inform more inclusive approaches to mental health worldwide.
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Authors: Chinedu Udeh-Momoh, Cyprian Mostert, Edna Bosire, Jasmit Shah, Karen Blackmon, Levi Muyela, Lukoye Atwoli, Zul Merali
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Journals: eBiomedicine, European Neuropsychopharmacology, NMC, PLOS One, The American Journal of Psychiatry
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Dissemination of Preliminary Findings from the Genetics of PTSD in African Population Study
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BMI 2025 Conference - Building thriving communities: Promoting brain and mental health
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New research staff at BMI
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