About school
Advancing neuropsychopharmacology research in Africa is crucial due to the unique loss of human resource and the development of natural therapies indigenous to the continent. This project aims to support African biomedical faculty through a 10-day school in collaboration with the African College of Neuropsychopharmacology (AfCNP). This initiative provides advanced training for junior to mid-level faculty who are starting or preparing to establish their own research programs.
The school serves as a vital platform to measure success and guide its future. The inaugural school, recently held in Nairobi, Kenya, under the leadership of AfCNP President Prof. Lukoye Atwoli and COCA Director Peter Kalivas, featured lecturers from prominent African and North American experts in Neuropsychopharmacology. The event hosted 21 students from across Africa and involved 10 distinguished faculty members.
Funders: American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) and a National Institutes of Health supplement for the Center for Opioid and Cocaine Addiction (COCA) project.
This 10-day course features intensive lectures by distinguished international faculty and participant-led poster sessions, offering a balanced approach to deepen students' insight and expertise in neuropsychopharmacology. The school will address the basics of nervous system physiology, focusing on drug targets, neurotransmitters, receptors, and drug mechanisms of action. The course will also cover various aspects of neuropsychopharmacology, including the fundamentals of drug development such as preclinical testing, clinical trials, and regulatory approvals. It will delve into the neurobiology of mental disorders, exploring brain circuits, genetics, and environmental factors. The use of neuroimaging techniques to study brain structure and activity will be discussed. The importance of collaborative teams involving psychiatrists, psychologists, and neuroscientists in research and clinical applications will be emphasised. Ethical considerations, including informed consent, patient autonomy, and reporting of serious adverse events (SAEs), will also be addressed.
Participants will also have the opportunity to participate in the Neuroscience Symposium that will take place in Nairobi on 10 - 11 June, 2024.
