The “FALAN LATP Kickoff Meeting” was a resounding success. Thanks to the support and participation of IBRO-LARC, we were able to present the FALAN Strategic Plan, with a special focus on the ambitious initiative to establish a Permanent Neuroscience School in Latin America. Acknowledging that this project can only be achieved through the collaboration of various institutions, agencies, and organizations, we organized this meeting to lay the groundwork for a collective effort.
The event saw the active participation of IBRO-LARC, the various FALAN committees (current and past Executive, Scientific, and Communication), member societies of the Federation, and representatives from prestigious international institutions. Among the highlights were representatives from IBRO Central, the Max Planck Institute in Frankfurt, the Latin American Brain Imaging Network, the Société Française des Neurosciences, the Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Épinière (Paris, France), the Instituto de Investigación Biológica Clemente Estable Montevideo, Uruguay), the Institut Pasteur de Paris, the National Institute on Aging and the National Institutes of Health, UNESCO (Paris, France) and its Regional Office in Montevideo, the Neurobridge Consortium (Italy), LATBrain, and BRIDGE Latin America.
Additionally, directors of previous Latin American Neuroscience Schools held in Mexico, Uruguay, and Chile participated, sharing their valuable organizational experiences. During the session dedicated to the FALAN School, Dr. María Pertusa, President of the Chilean Society for Neuroscience, provided a preview of the project, outlining the goals and structure of the first FALAN LATP edition scheduled for 2026.
At the conclusion of the event, attendees signed a letter of intent, reaffirming their commitment and willingness to contribute to the development of neuroscience in Latin America and the Caribbean in close collaboration with FALAN.
Beyond this significant milestone, the meeting fostered collaborative initiatives among participants, reflecting one of our Federation’s primary goals: to facilitate interaction and collaboration between organizations that share a common interest in advancing neuroscience in the region.
In collaboration with the Society for Neuroscience of Uruguay, we supported the special outreach activity titled “Neurotechnology and Neurorights in the Future of Uruguay”, held in the Senate Antechamber of Uruguay’s Legislative Palace. For the first time, this critical topic was addressed in an event hosted at the core of the Government of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay. The activity featured representatives from the Senate, UNESCO (Paris, France), the University of Valparaíso (Chile), the Faculty of Law (Uruguay), and a virtual presentation by Dr. Rafael Yuste, a global leader in the field of neurorights.
As part of the Annual Congress of the Society for Neuroscience of Uruguay, we organized two key activities: a session introducing the IV FALAN Congress, to be held in Santiago, Chile in 2026, and an event focused on technological platforms in neuroscience, aimed at consolidating a Latin American network in this strategic area.
This meeting leaves us with renewed enthusiasm and commitment to continue driving the growth and development of neuroscience in Latin America and the Caribbean. Our next goal is to present FALAN’s strategic plan to potential partners and solidify their involvement in the proposed initiatives. With their support, we are confident in achieving the establishment of both the Permanent Neuroscience School and other activities that will foster a borderless, high-quality neuroscience community in our region.
Best regards,
FALAN Executive Committee
