IIT Madras hosted first BRICS Neuroscience Symposium in India with 400+ participants, unveiled Human Brainstem Atlas, and strengthened neuroscience collaborations across BRICS nations through SGBC.
IIT Madras Hosts First BRICS Neuroscience Symposium in India
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) successfully hosted the BRICS Neuroscience Symposium 2026 from June 5 to 7, marking the first time the prestigious international event was held in India. Organized by the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre (SGBC) under the theme ‘Expanding Neuroscience: BRICS & Extended Nations’, the symposium brought together leading scientists, policymakers, researchers, and delegates from BRICS nations to advance collaboration in neuroscience and brain research.
The event featured scientific sessions, keynote lectures, discussions on emerging neuroscience research, and a significant data release of the Human Brainstem Atlas by SGBC. Over 400 participants from India and BRICS nations attended the three-day symposium, establishing new partnerships and sharing cutting-edge research findings.
Prominent Dignitaries Attend and Emphasize International Collaboration
The BRICS Neuroscience Symposium 2026 was attended by prominent dignitaries including Vikram Misri, Foreign Secretary of India; Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India; Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras; Kris Gopalakrishnan, Co-founder of Infosys; and delegates representing BRICS nations.
Welcoming global participants, Vikram Misri highlighted the importance of international cooperation in addressing contemporary challenges. “We are entering a world today where the problems are multiplying faster than they ever were before. But we are also in a world where some of the solutions that we are finding are themselves creating new problems of their own. It is in that kind of a world that the value on international collaboration and cooperation is even more. And that spirit of collaboration and cooperation of working together is precisely what BRICS symbolizes,” he said.
SGBC Exemplates Multi-Institutional, Multinational Research Collaboration
Addressing the gathering virtually as Chief Guest, Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood emphasized the collaborative nature of the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre. “An important feature of SGBC is that it has been a multi-institutional, multinational and multi-disciplinary endeavour. The Centre has become an exemplar of research and innovation through collaboration and diversified support system for long-term sustainability,” he said.
Launched in March 2022, the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre is a cutting-edge research and development centre dedicated to human brain research with the objective of creating transformative impact in neuroscience and neurotechnologies. The centre also operates state-of-the-art imaging facilities and maintains international partnerships with leading neuroscience institutions.
Multidisciplinary Approaches Key to Solving Neuroscience Complexity
The BRICS Neuroscience Symposium 2026 also underscored the growing importance of multidisciplinary approaches in neuroscience research. Speaking on the complexity of the field, Prof. Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam, Head of SGBC, said, “In a highly complex field like neuroscience, multi-national and multi-disciplinary teams are key to solve hard problems and create breakthroughs.”
Participants engaged in discussions covering computational neuroscience, neuroimaging technologies, brain-computer interfaces, artificial intelligence applications in neuroscience, and ethical considerations in brain research. The symposium also facilitated cross-border collaborations that will advance collective understanding of brain function and neurological disorders.
SGBC Demonstrates World-Class Whole-Brain Imaging Capabilities
During the BRICS Neuroscience Symposium 2026, participants were introduced to the capabilities of SGBC, which has developed and operates a world-class high-throughput multimodal whole-brain imaging pipeline capable of mapping human brains at cell resolution. This imaging pipeline enables researchers to visualize brain structures with unprecedented detail, identifying individual cells and their connections throughout the entire brain.
The facility supports multiple imaging modalities including MRI, CT, optical imaging, and electron microscopy, providing comprehensive data for neuroscience research. SGBC’s imaging capabilities position India as a leader in advanced neuroimaging technology and attract international researchers seeking access to cutting-edge facilities.
Human Brainstem Atlas Release Marks Major Scientific Achievement
A key highlight of the event was the release of the Human Brainstem Atlas, reflecting SGBC’s commitment to advancing neuroscience research through data-driven scientific discovery and international cooperation. The atlas provides detailed mapping of the brainstem – a critical region controlling vital functions including breathing, heart rate, and sleep – at cellular resolution.
Scientists across BRICS nations will utilize the atlas for research on neurological disorders, brain injury rehabilitation, and understanding fundamental brain mechanisms. The open-access release also ensures global researchers can access this valuable resource, accelerating scientific discoveries and clinical applications.
Symposium Concludes with Strengthened Scientific Partnerships
The BRICS Neuroscience Symposium 2026 concluded with strengthened scientific partnerships among participating nations and reinforced efforts toward advancing global neuroscience initiatives through collaborative research, innovation, and knowledge exchange. Participants signed memoranda of understanding for joint research projects, student exchanges, and shared data initiatives.
The symposium established working groups focused on specific neuroscience challenges including neurodegenerative diseases, mental health disorders, and brain aging. These groups will coordinate research activities across BRICS nations, ensuring consistent methodologies and shared data standards that enable meaningful comparisons and meta-analyses.
IIT Madras’s successful hosting of the first BRICS Neuroscience Symposium in India demonstrates the institute’s capability to lead international scientific collaborations. The event positioned SGBC as a premier neuroscience research centre and established India as a significant contributor to global brain research initiatives. The Human Brainstem Atlas release represents a landmark achievement that will advance neuroscience research worldwide while showcasing Indian scientific excellence to the global community.
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