Spanish Society for Neuroscience

Spanish Society for Neuroscience
Name	Spanish Society for Neuroscience
Native name	Sociedad Española de Neurociencia
Founded	1985
Headquarters	Madrid
Membership	Researchers, clinicians, students
Leader title	President

Spanish Society for Neuroscience

The Spanish Society for Neuroscience is a professional association that brings together neuroscientists from across Spain and international partners to advance research, training, and public engagement in neuroscience. It connects researchers from institutions such as Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Universidad de Barcelona, Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, and Hospital Clínic de Barcelona while interacting with international bodies like European Dana Alliance for the Brain, Federation of European Neuroscience Societies, International Brain Research Organization, Human Brain Project, and European Research Council.

History

The society originated in the mid-1980s amid growth at centers including Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Universidad de Valencia, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Hospital Universitario La Paz, and Instituto Cajal. Early leaders had ties to laboratories led by researchers who trained at Max Planck Society, Institut Pasteur, Columbia University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Johns Hopkins University. Over decades the society expanded alongside national initiatives such as programs from the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, collaborations with Agencia Estatal de Investigación, and projects funded by Horizon 2020, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, and private foundations like Fundación Ramón Areces.

Mission and objectives

The society aims to promote neuroscience research across universities and institutes such as Universidad de Navarra, Universidad de Granada, Universidad del País Vasco, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas, and Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Objectives include fostering translational links with hospitals like Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, promoting ethical standards aligned with bodies such as Comité de Bioética de España, encouraging young investigators trained in programs at European Molecular Biology Laboratory, and influencing policy in dialogues with entities like Ministerio de Sanidad.

Organizational structure

Governance comprises an elected board with roles reflecting units from institutions including Universidad Pompeu Fabra, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Universidad de Zaragoza, and Universidad de Salamanca. Committees address education, outreach, and research priorities interfacing with networks like Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Red de Centros de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud, and international societies such as Society for Neuroscience and Biophysical Society. Regional chapters coordinate activities in autonomous communities including Catalonia, Andalusia, Madrid (region), Valencian Community, and Galicia.

Activities and programs

Programs include training workshops inspired by curricula at University College London, exchange fellowships linked to Karolinska Institutet, summer schools modeled after Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory courses, and public engagement events with museums like Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales and festivals such as La Noche Europea de los Investigadores. The society runs grant-review panels similar to workflows at European Research Council and participates in national initiatives with Agencia Estatal de Investigación, Fundación BBVA, Fundación "la Caixa", European Commission, and private industry partners including Grifols and Roche (corporation).

Membership

Members include principal investigators, postdoctoral fellows, and students from institutions such as Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Institut de Neurociències (Universitat de Barcelona), and students from doctoral programs linked to Programa de Doctorado en Neurociencias (Universidad de Barcelona). Membership categories mirror those of organizations like Federation of European Neuroscience Societies and offer mentoring networks connected to European Young Investigators and awards sponsored by groups such as Society for Neuroscience and Human Frontier Science Program.

Conferences and publications

The society organizes annual meetings with keynote speakers drawn from institutions including Harvard Medical School, Stanford University School of Medicine, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and Imperial College London. Proceedings, position papers, and educational materials are disseminated alongside journals and platforms like European Journal of Neuroscience, Brain, Nature Neuroscience, Trends in Neurosciences, Journal of Neuroscience, and national outlets such as Revista de Neurología and collaborations with publishers like Elsevier, Springer Nature, and Oxford University Press.

Collaborations and impact

Collaborative efforts span translational consortia involving Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Red de Investigación en Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, and European consortia like Human Brain Project and IMAGEN Consortium. The society has contributed to policy dialogues with Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, supported clinical research in partnership with Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre and Hospital Universitario La Paz, and aided public understanding via initiatives with Fundación Telefónica, Fundación "la Caixa", and media outlets such as El País, ABC (newspaper), and La Vanguardia. Its networks connect Spanish neuroscience to global collaborations including International Brain Research Organization, European Research Council, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, Horizon Europe, and private-sector partners such as Novartis, Pfizer, and Bayer.

Category:Neuroscience organizations in Spain