Abbreviation IBRO Region served Worldwide | Headquarters Paris Official language English | |
Formation 1961; 56 years ago (1961) Type International non-governmental organization | ||
The International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) is a learned society that was founded in 1961 in response to the growing demand from neuroscientists in many countries for the creation of a central organization that would cut across world boundaries and improve communication and collaboration among brain researchers. At present, IBRO membership includes more than 80 corporate and academic affiliated associations with a combined membership of over 75,000 neuroscientists, making it the world's largest organization of scientists and physicians devoted to advancing understanding of the brain and nervous system.
The origin of IBRO can be traced back to a meeting of electroencephalographers in London in 1947, which led to the establishment of an International Federation of EEG and Clinical Neurophysiology. At a conference of this group and others in Moscow in 1958, there was unanimous support for a resolution proposing the creation of an International Organization representing brain research worldwide. This plan was welcomed by UNESCO, and in 1960 IBRO was established as an independent, non-governmental organization. IBRO established close links with the International Council for Science, a division of UNESCO, and in 1976 was given Associate Status (in the category Scientific Unions) in ICSU.
IBRO is an international organization dedicated to the promotion of neuroscience and communication between brain researchers around the world with special emphasis on assisting young investigators in the developing world. Over the years, IBRO has set up a number of programmes to stimulate international contacts in brain research.
Symposia and workshops are sponsored on the basis of competitive applications. Under its Publications Programme, IBRO publishes the journal Neuroscience and the annual newsletter IBRO News. IBRO offers post-doctoral fellowships and travel grants to students from less-developed countries.
Since 1999, IBRO has run a Neuroscience Schools Programme, organized by the committees of IBRO’s six Regions, aimed at forming interactive networks among students and teachers during training courses in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and the US and Canada.
With just three schools in 1999, expansion has been rapid. An average of 20-25 schools are organized annually. As a result, IBRO has over 5000 alumni, who communicate among themselves and schools faculty via their own website and Facebook.
In 2011, IBRO organized a "Young Investigator Program" in which more than 80 young researchers from developing countries were fully supported for research visits in European labs.
IBRO is regulated by its Governing Council, which is made up of over 80 neuroscience organizations. IBRO represents the interests of more than 75,000 neuroscientists around the globe.