An IBRO Journey

"Focus on the Journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it"

In line with the IBRO’s aim of collaborative networking, this IBRO-APRC Associate School on Neuromics 2021 has been put together with this aim in mind from the outset. We view such a collaboration in a wider intellectual sense that can offer platforms in sharing technical advancement, applications, or patents, and not mere article publications. To realize this, we leverage on our prior bonds, loyalty, friendship, and long-term commitment. Our team is mixed from both sexes, different nationalities, religions, cultures and scientific backgrounds. It is hoped that this IBRO-APRC Associate School delivers the spirit of ‘United We Concur’ at times of unprecedented pandemic the world is facing today.

The proposition of IBRO-APRC Associate School on Neuromics 2021 is an intellectual journey of four investigators of diverse institutional, ethnic, religion, gender, academic, and professional backgrounds. Associate Professor Dr Muzaimi Mustapha and Dr. Jaya Kumar known each other since Dr. Kumar’s PhD studies at the Universiti Sains Malaysia. Through the Malaysian Society of Neurosciences-Basic Neuroscience Council, both have teamed up with other colleagues in various neuroscience-related events such as Malaysian Brain Bee Challenge, Basic Neuroscience Council Hi5-Retreat, MyNeuro2017, and 29th MSN Annual Scientific Meeting 2019. The acquaintance between Dr. Jaya Kumar and Prof Dr. Norlinah Mohamed Ibrahim was made possible through their employments at the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. The birth of brain center “idea” at UKM that brought the neurologists and neuroscientists and strengthened their partnership. The collaboration between Dr. Wael Mohamed and Dr. Jaya Kumar developed over a casual ice breaking conversation nearby a coffee dispenser at MyNeuro2017, subsequently leading to many projects. Mutual trust and dedication to the field of neuroscience connected these four individuals to conceptualize the IBRO-APRC Associate School on Neuromics 2021.