Latin American and Caribbean Network for Engineering and Neurosciences

Latin American and Caribbean Network for Engineering and Neurosciences
Name	Latin American and Caribbean Network for Engineering and Neurosciences
Abbreviation	LACENEN (commonly used)
Formation	2010s
Type	Regional research network
Region served	Latin America and the Caribbean
Headquarters	Rotating secretariat among member institutions
Fields	Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering, Neuroengineering

Latin American and Caribbean Network for Engineering and Neurosciences is a regional consortium linking universities, research institutes, hospitals, and technology centers across Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Cuba, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Venezuela, Panama, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago and other nations in the Caribbean. The network fosters interdisciplinary collaboration among faculty and centers affiliated with institutions such as the University of Buenos Aires, University of São Paulo, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Universidad de Chile and Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, promoting cross-border projects in neurotechnology, neural engineering, and translational neuroscience. It functions alongside regional bodies like the Inter-American Development Bank initiatives and interacts with international organizations such as the World Health Organization and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to align regional research priorities.

History

The network emerged during the 2010s amid growing interest in neurotechnology following landmark projects including the Human Brain Project and the BRAIN Initiative, and was influenced by multilateral scientific cooperation models exemplified by the Pan American Health Organization and the Latin American Council of Social Sciences. Early convenings involved representatives from the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), the Mexican National Autonomous University research groups, and the National Institutes of Health regional collaborators, catalyzing formal association. Founding meetings took place at venues tied to institutions such as the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, the University of São Paulo, and the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, building on precedents set by networks like the European Brain Council and the International Brain Research Organization.

Mission and Objectives

The network’s mission centers on strengthening neuroengineering capacity across Latin America and the Caribbean by coordinating research, training, and technology transfer between centers including the Institute of Neurosciences of Buenos Aires, the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery in Mexico City, and the Neuroscience Institute of the University of São Paulo. Core objectives include fostering translational projects connecting laboratories such as the Center for Biomedical Engineering at Universidad de Chile with clinical sites like the Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, promoting equitable access to neurotechnology innovations championed by entities such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and collaborating with funders like the Wellcome Trust and the European Commission framework programs.

Organizational Structure and Membership

Governance typically comprises an elected steering committee with representatives from major member institutions, rotating secretariats hosted by universities like the University of the West Indies, the University of Puerto Rico, or the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. Membership includes research groups from the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery (Mexico), the Brazilian Society for Neuroscience and Behavior, the Argentine Society for Neuroscience, and technology centers affiliated with the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and the University of São Paulo. Partnerships extend to international stakeholders such as the International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility, the Society for Neuroscience, the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, and regional funders like the Inter-American Development Bank.

Programs and Initiatives

Key programs include multicenter trials and pilot projects in neuroprosthetics linking laboratories at the University of São Paulo with clinical partners such as the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, open hardware initiatives inspired by the Open Source Hardware Association, and data-sharing platforms modeled after the Human Brain Project infrastructure. Initiatives also address neurological disorders prevalent in the region through collaborations with the Pan American Health Organization and disease-focused bodies like the Alzheimer’s Association and the Parkinson's Foundation, as well as technology transfer schemes similar to those promoted by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Research and Collaboration

Research themes emphasize brain–computer interfaces, neural signal processing, neuroimaging, neuromodulation, and computational neuroscience, drawing teams from laboratories such as the Neuroscience Research Laboratory of Universidad de Chile, the Neuroengineering Laboratory at the University of Campinas, and the Cuban Neuroscience Center. Cross-border projects have involved comparative studies with institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University, and collaborations with centers in Spain, Germany, and France through bilateral grants from agencies like the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and the Spanish Ministry of Science. Data initiatives align with standards advocated by the International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility and draw on tools developed by the IEEE community.

Education and Capacity Building

Capacity-building efforts include graduate training networks, summer schools hosted at the University of Buenos Aires, exchange programs with the University of São Paulo and the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and online curricula co-developed with partners including the Caribbean Institute for Health Research and the Latin American School of Neuroscience. Scholarships and fellowships leverage funds from the Inter-American Development Bank, national science councils like CONICET and CONACYT, and philanthropic donors such as the Wellcome Trust, enabling students and early-career researchers to work in labs at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.

Conferences and Events

The network sponsors biennial congresses and thematic workshops held in rotation at venues such as the University of São Paulo, the University of Buenos Aires, the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, and the University of the West Indies, often co-located with meetings of the Society for Neuroscience regional chapters, the IEEE EMBS Latin America conference, and the Latin American Congress on Biomedical Engineering. These events attract delegates from institutions including MIT, Harvard University, University College London, and regional ministries of science, fostering panels, hackathons, and policy dialogues with participants from the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization.

Category:Neuroscience organizations Category:Science and technology in Latin America Category:International research networks