- By Matas Vitkauskas
On December 5th and 6th, 2023, the SfN Singapore Chapter co-organised our seminal yearly conference Neuroscience Singapore 2023 at Center for Life Sciences at NUS. The mini-symposium was co-organised with the support of the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Institute for Digital Medicine (WisDM).
The two days of the conference featured memorable talks as well as panel discussions with key opinion leaders. The first day started with a panel discussion on SG Neuroscience featuring Prof. Lim Kah Leong, Prof. Barry Halliwell, and Prof. Chng Wee Joo. They explored the concept of SG Neuroscience – the idea of establishing a collaborative neuroscience entity in Singapore to boost research and collaboration across the island. Key points included developing online resources to consolidate bio-assets (e.g., cell lines, animal models), ensuring fair inter-institutional representation in funding grants, drawing insights from Singapore Translational Cancer Consortium’s (STCC) best practices led by Prof. Chng Wee Joo. Additionally, there was a proposal for an alumni network of PhD graduates to foster international neuroscientific collaborations.
Following this insightful discussion on the future of neuroscience in Singapore, early-career neuroscientists took the stage for 3-minute “flashtalks.” The first day balanced strategic insights into the community’s future with a showcase of Singapore’s promising neuroscientific talents.
The second day of the conference took a more talk-focused approach with four distinct sessions:
- Age-associated disorders of the brain (chaired by Prof. Barry Halliwell)
- Mental Health and Technology (chaired by Dr. Serenella Tolomeo)
- Cognitive Neuroscience (chaired by A/Prof. Chris Asplund)
- Talks selected from submitted abstracts (chaired by Dr. Sarah Luo)
Speakers explored diverse approaches to studying the brain in health and disease, ranging from mice to monkeys, genetics of age-related disorders to network-level changes during multitasking in healthy humans, and the use of digital wearables to virtual reality. The broad spectrum of topics highlighted the excellent and unique scientific voices within Singapore’s neuroscience community. The conference concluded with an award ceremony for the best poster and talk, followed by a wine and dine session for networking. Please read the blog post from Dr. Caroline Wee on the winning entries.
We extend our gratitude to everyone who participated in Neuroscience Singapore 2023, and we look forward to seeing you next year! Special mention should go to the volunteers who helped with the logistics of the event and dedicated their time and effort to advancing neuroscience research and a vibrant neuroscientific community in Singapore. Ending the season on a high note, our brain-body initiative Seminar Series will feature Dr. Florian Engert on December 15th. Make sure to check it out!
Here are some moments from the symposium below with more at this site
