Within the framework of the “Neuroscience Week” event Yerevan State Medical University named after Mkhitar Heratsi hosted the Closing Conference of EU HORIZON 2020 COBRAIN Project – “Armenia Center for Translational Research on Chronic Neurodegenerative Disorders: Neuroscience Initiative on Maintaining Healthy Brain Ageing”. “COBRAIN” is the first EU HORIZON 2020 program in Armenia, coordinated by YSMU.
The main objective of the program is to develop the University's research and innovation capacity by promoting brain research, with an emphasis on cellular and pharmacological neuroprotective mechanisms for the treatment of brain diseases. By getting closer to the expertise of the internationally-leading EU counterparts – Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen (EKUT), Ruhr-University Bochum (RUB) and Lund University (ULUND), the project has addressed sub-objectives for establishing neuroscience research structure, investing in early stage researchers, broadening research career opportunities, building innovation capacity, increasing the visibility of the University.
Armen Muradyan, Rector of the Yerevan State Medical University; Zhanna Andreasyan, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport; Andrea Wiktorin, Ambassador of the European Union to Armenia; Viktor Richter, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Germany, Patrik Svensson, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Sweden; and Allan Kalueff, the Project External Advisory Board Member, Professor of Neuroscience, Director at ZENEREI Research Center, Head of Neuroscience and Pharmacology Lab, made welcoming addresses during the conference.