VBHI, the Ban Ki-moon Foundation, and the Paris Brain Institute have jointly launched the Global Brain Care Scholars programme in collaboration with the Global Brain Care Coalition and the Global Brain Health Institute. This international initiative aims to train and empower local brain health advocates in the Global South to address the growing global burden of strokes, dementia, and depression.
The Ambition of the Global Brain Care Scholars Programme
Brain health is one of the major medical and societal challenges of our time. The leading cause of disability and the second leading cause of death worldwide, brain diseases affect one in three people over the course of their life. This issue is even more critical for low-income countries, which are facing the rapid increase of this burden that weakens societies, economies, and innovation.
While treatments remain limited, rapid advancements in neuroscience, artificial intelligence, genomic medicine, and digital therapeutics are opening new pathways for prevention and care. Even though many risk factors for the most common brain disorders, such as strokes, dementia, and depression, are modifiable, they are not sufficiently addressed within populations with limited resources..
The creation of the Global Brain Care Scholars programme comes within this context. It aims to reduce the burden of strokes, dementia, and depression in the Global South by investing in ambitious capacity-building, training, and mentorship initiatives to empower local brain health advocates.
Selected scholars will receive tailored training, mentorship, and funding to implement their innovative projects dedicated to improving brain health, with a particular focus on reducing the burden of strokes, dementia, and depression.
The programme will foster global collaboration, leadership, and awareness to advance brain health and promote equitable access to care worldwide. It will closely align with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to health, access to care, and reducing inequalities.
Engaged community partners
The Global Brain Care Coalition, founded by Professor Jonathan Rosand, and the Global Brain Health Institute, represented by Professor Agustín Ibáñez, are two exceptional partners who will contribute essential guidance and evidenced-based tools
Specifically, the Global Brain Care Scholars programme will rely on:
- The Brain Care Score from the Global Brain Care Coalition, a tool that translates scientific knowledge into effective community-level prevention in over 20 countries worldwide.
- Global Brain Health Institute’s global training platform and resources such as their Brain Health Diplomacy Toolkit, as well as its extensive international network of leaders and former fellows committed to advancing brain health across diverse cultural and resource settings.
Official Launch in Paris
On Friday, January 16, His Excellency Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations, and His Excellency Heinz Fischer, 11th Federal President of Austria, both co-chairs of the Ban Ki-moon Foundation, along with Professor Igor Sibon, VBHI Interim Director, and Professor Stéphanie Debette, Director-General of the Paris Brain Institute, officially launched the Global Brain Care Scholars programme by signing a partnership agreement at the University of Sorbonne in Paris, following the 1st World Brain Health Forum (see our news).
“This collaboration reflects our core conviction at the Vascular Brain Health Institute: that prevention, integration of science and care, and a strong focus on education and equity are key to reducing the global burden of vascular and other brain disorders. Together with our partners, we are proud to support locally driven solutions and contribute our prevention and capacity-building expertise to the Global Brain Care Scholars Program.” – Prof. Igor Sibon, VBHI Interim Director
Further Information:
- Press release from the Ban Ki-moon Foundation
- United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
- The Brain Care Score
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