17th International Conference of the Society of Neuroscientists of Africa Marrakesh-Morocco April, 17-20, 2025

Title: The rising Star symposium: Neuroimmunology Schools in Africa Alumni Research and Progress
Organizer: Willias Masocha & Roberto Furlan
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait
Clinical Neuroimmunology Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology. INSpe, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
email: willias.masocha@ku.edu.kw; furlan.roberto@hsr.it

Abstract:

Neuroimmunology is at the core of the pathophysiology of both communicable and non-communicable diseases affecting African populations. Our two previous symposiums held during the bi-annual meetings of SONA, in Accra 2021 and in Johannesburg 2023 covered neuroimmunology of neuroinfections and non-communicable diseases, respectively. The presenters were instructors, organizers of the Neuroimmunology schools or authors of articles in the Frontiers E-book Neuroimmunology in Africa. This symposium to be held during the bi-annual meeting of SONA, in Marrakesh 2025 will have four students who passed through the Neuroimmunology schools present their research in neuroimmunology and their trajectory in research after attending the IBRO Neuroimmunology schools. The presenters are at different stages of their career i.e., PhD Student, Post-doctoral Researcher, Lecturer, and Senior Lecturer and PI. The presenters, four former students of the Neuroimmunology Schools held in Rabat, Morocco will share their data and experience, and will interact with attendants, including younger African students, fully in line with the conference's aim to foster knowledge exchange and education in Africa. Information about ISNI & the African School of Neuroimmunology will also be availed to the participants.

Speakers

Number	Speaker	e-mail	Title of  the communication
SP17_1	Hind Ibork	hindibork88@gmail.com	CBD Effect on Neuroinflammation-Induced Metabolic Changes in Astrocytes: Focus on Cannabinoid Receptor Type 1
SP17_2	Ahmed Bakare	abakare6@jh.edu	An assessment of T-cell involvement in CIPN
SP17_3	Josephine Mapunda	josephine.mapunda@nm-aist.ac.tz	How immune cells enter the brain: current state-of-the art in vivo imaging techniques
SP17_4	Rachael Dangarembizi	rachael.dangarembizi@uct.ac.za	Decrypting the complex neuroimmune interactions underlying brain injury during cryptococcal infection