Our EMU aims to advance neuroscience capacity in Africa to promote brain health and address a wide range of high-burden brain-related conditions that share common pathophysiology and present similar clinical challenges. In particular, we focus on studying and understanding the brain in childhood, because it is a tremendous period of plasticity, growth, and maturation, that determines the full course of that person’s life trajectory.

Africa has more children than any other region, and the many conditions that affect the brain collectively account for the largest burden of disease that cause mortality and disability across the world

These two realities combine as a great challenge, but they also represent our great opportunity to study and protect the brain in childhood to ensure a healthy future for our continent. We will use a vast array of cutting-edge clinical and research tools to generate ground-breaking inter-disciplinary translational science that positively impacts real lives. In doing so, we will leverage unique opportunities to advance world science in understanding the developing brain, which we expect will also unlock secrets of the aging brain in adulthood, and develop transformative academic and clinical leadership from Africa.