Professor Hilal A Lashuel, executive director of Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), co-chaired The Brain Forum 2015 in Lausanne, Switzerland, last week.
QBRI is a research and development entity under Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development.
The annual global event highlighted the challenges and opportunities in translating scientific advances in neuroscience, computing, drug discovery and brain research into new technologies, tools and treatments that would improve the quality of life and healthcare.
The Brain Forum 2015 was a joint partnership between W Science Initiative and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne. It was co-chaired by Professor Lashuel, QBRI; Professor Patrick Aebischer, president of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne; Dr Walid Juffali, chairman of W Science Initiative; and Dr Jamil al-Imad, CEO of W Science Initiative.
The event was launched in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in 2013.
With the primary aim of addressing national priorities for growth and development, the work of QBRI also highlights Qatar’s role as an emerging global centre for healthcare innovation.
The Brain Forum was founded on the principle that progress is achieved through dialogue, engagement and collaboration between all stakeholders involved in shaping the landscape and future of brain research.
Commenting on the forum, Professor Lashuel said: “Towards achieving this goal, we sought to bring together leading scientific and academic experts from around the world, including philanthropists and leaders from the industry, funding agencies and policymakers to share their knowledge and expertise with the aim of improving our understanding of the human brain in addition to finding new ways to enhance brain function and find treatments for neurological diseases that are threatening our society today.”
Lashuel, one of the key individuals behind the development of The Brain Forum, is a founding member of the Scientific Advisory Committee and co-chaired the development of scientific programmes for The Brain Forum in 2013 and 2015.
On the first day of the forum, Lashuel chaired a panel discussion with some of the pioneers and scientific leaders behind major national and regional brain initiatives, including the US Brain Initiative launched by US President Barack Obama in 2013, the European Human Brain Project, The Allen Institute for Brain Science and the recently announced China Brain Science Project.
Lashuel speaking at The Brain Forum.
