Hosted by the Aga Khan University’s Brain and Mind Institute (BMI) in collaboration with global partners, this intensive training programme provided hands-on, interdisciplinary learning in how drugs affect the brain and its application to mental health conditions, including HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders, substance use disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. Speaking at the training, Prof. Lukoye Atwoli, Deputy Director of the Brain and Mind Institute and Dean of AKU’s Medical College in East Africa, emphasized the need for African-led solutions in brain and mental health research. “Across Africa, communities are facing the impact of untreated mental and neurological conditions, often linked to HIV, poverty, conflict, and substance use. Yet many solutions still rely on imported knowledge that does not fully reflect local realities. This training is essential because it equips African researchers with both the technical skills and the confidence to develop solutions that are relevant to their communities,” he emphasized.

Africa’s mental health landscape is shaped by complex social and economic pressures, along with neurological conditions that remain under-researched in African populations. The rising prevalence of substance use and related disorders, including HIV-associated cognitive impairments, has revealed major gaps in both research and treatment capacity. Prof. Peter Kalivas, a neuroscientist at the Medical University of South Carolina and one of the programme’s international facilitators, emphasized the need for local scientific leadership. 

“Addiction, substance abuse, and mental illness must be understood through the lived realities of people across Africa. By training local researchers, we create the foundation for solutions that are both scientifically rigorous and culturally grounded,” he said. 

Prof. Zul Merali, Founding Director of the Brain and Mind Institute, reinforced BMI’s long-term commitment to shaping a future where African researchers lead in generating knowledge, advancing innovation, and creating impact in their own communities.

“At BMI, we support interdisciplinary research, build talent, and connect scientists with communities and policymakers. This training shows how we are building a network of African researchers who will shape brain and mental science that is relevant, innovative, and deeply rooted in the local context,” he noted. 

The training marked a turning point in the participants careers, opening doors to collaboration, mentorship, and strategic leadership in mental health research. Dr. Ophelia Anarfi, a Clinical Psychologist at University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ghana reflected on her experience.

“This training has been informative and transformative. I have learned the importance of strategic positioning to enhance regional research and collaboration,” she said.

This initiative is part of our broader effort to build sustainable research capacity in Africa, champion local leadership, and accelerate brain health solutions that reflect the continent’s unique challenges and strengths.