Strengthening Brain Health Research in Colombia

Amidst growing global awareness of the critical importance of brain health, a key initiative is underway in Colombia.

In a significant development for brain health research and training efforts in Colombia, the Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI) at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) has secured funding for a Fogarty International Research Training Award (D43) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This grant underscores GBHI’s commitment to building capacity for brain health research specifically within Colombia.

The funding will strengthen ongoing collaborations between GBHI and leading Colombian institutions, including Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá and Universidad de Antioquia in Medellín. Together, they aim to bolster research infrastructure, provide seed grants, offer financial support for students, and deliver training tailored to the needs of the Colombian research community.

In Colombia, the diverse challenges emphasize the urgent need to protect brain health. This funding enables researchers to explore brain health's intricacies, empowering citizens and advancing public health initiatives nationwide.

—Hernando Santamaría-García, Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health

Leading this ambitious initiative are Hernando Santamaría-García, Director of the PhD Program of Neuroscience at Universidad Javeriana and Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health, as well as Diana Matallana, Professor at Universidad Javeriana and Co-Founder of the Memory and Cognition Center at the University San Ignacio’s Hospital, serving as co-principal investigators along with Victor Valcour, Professor and Site Director for GBHI at UCSF. 

Their leadership aligns with the shared goal of empowering local researchers to address the pressing challenges in brain health. The program also benefits from the participation of Francisco Lopera, Professor at University of Antioquia and Chief of the Neuroscience Group of Antioquia (GNA), who brings extensive experience studying and caring for individuals living with neurodegenerative disease in Colombia.

“In Colombia, the diverse challenges emphasize the urgent need to protect brain health,” said Santamaría-García. “This funding enables researchers to explore brain health's intricacies, empowering citizens and advancing public health initiatives nationwide.”

This funding represents a significant step forward in GBHI’s aim to accompany Atlantic Fellows as they work to improve brain health outcomes in underserved communities around the world.