Brain Connect 2026 is a three-day national neuroscience symposium that brings together researchers, clinician-scientists, educators, and students. The event aims to explore the brain at various scales, from fundamental mechanisms to clinical applications and societal impacts.
Taking place at Swami Rama Himalayan University in Dehradun during International Brain Awareness Week (March 19–21, 2026), the symposium features cutting-edge scientific discussions, clinical relevance, educational opportunities, and mentorship in a uniquely inclusive and collaborative format.
Distinguished Speakers & Institutions. The symposium will feature prominent neuroscientists and clinician-scientists from leading national institutions, including NBRC, NIMHANS, IITs, central and private universities, and major medical institutes. Additionally, faculty experts from Swami Rama Himalayan University will participate. Together, these professionals represent a diverse range of expertise in basic, translational, and clinical neuroscience.
Inaugural Session & Keynote. Brain Connect 2026 will open with an inaugural session and keynote address, outlining the scientific and translational vision of the meeting while emphasising the significance of brain research for national and regional health priorities.
Educational Workshop (19 March 2026). A comprehensive pre-symposium educational workshop will be held before the leading conference, offering participants focused training and practical insights in the following areas:
This workshop is specifically designed for students, doctoral scholars, postdoctoral fellows, and young faculty members. Participation will be limited to a fixed number of seats to ensure meaningful interaction and personalised engagement. Registration for the workshop will be on a first-come, first-served basis, and early application is strongly encouraged.
Scientific Sessions (20–21 March 2026).. The core scientific programme comprises thematic sessions spanning:
Each session is designed to encourage meaningful dialogue between basic scientists and clinicians, reinforcing the symposium's translational ethos.
Emerging Investigators Forum (Oral Presentations). A dedicated Emerging Investigators Forum offers early-career researchers under 35 the opportunity to present their work in oral sessions. The Scientific Committee will review all submitted abstracts, and only selected entries will be invited to present orally, based on scientific merit and relevance. Submissions not selected for oral presentation will be automatically considered for poster presentation, ensuring broad participation and visibility.
Poster Session. The symposium includes a dedicated poster session open to students and researchers at all career stages, providing a dynamic platform for discussion, networking, and mentorship with senior scientists and clinicians.
Awards & Recognition..To encourage excellence and innovation, awards will be presented for outstanding oral presentations by emerging investigators and for best poster presentations, as evaluated by the Scientific Committee.
Panel Discussion: Strengthening Neuroscience in Uttarakhand and Beyond. The symposium culminates in an interactive panel discussion that brings together senior neuroscientists, clinician–scientists, and academic leaders to reflect on pathways to strengthen neuroscience research and education, with a particular focus on Uttarakhand and similar emerging regions.
The discussion will address shared research challenges, evolving funding opportunities, and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in bridging basic neuroscience research with clinical practice. Emphasis will be placed on capacity building, mentorship, and educational initiatives to support the growth of regional neuroscience ecosystems and complement ongoing national efforts.
Confirmed Speakers (Selected). Brain Connect 2026 features leading neuroscientists and clinician–scientists from premier national institutions, including:
Beyond the Symposium. Brain Connect 2026 represents a meaningful step toward strengthening the neuroscience ecosystem in the Himalayan region by nurturing young talent, encouraging translational thinking, and fostering connections between scientific inquiry, clinical practice, and societal needs.
Uttarakhand, the land known for mountains, meditation, and resilience, faces an emerging silent health crisis. There is a sharp increase in neurological and mental health issues across the state, driven by global and national trends but worsened by its geography, shifting lifestyles, and limited access to specialist care. Conditions such as stroke, epilepsy, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, head injuries, depression, and anxiety now impact both rural and urban communities, yet neurology services and neuroscience research remain limited.
Based on data from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the 2019 Global Burden of Disease Study, neurological disorders make up nearly 10% of India’s total disease burden, with stroke and dementia increasing most rapidly. In Uttarakhand, where about 70% of residents live in hilly or remote areas, emergency neurological treatment is often delayed beyond the critical “golden hour,” leading to preventable disabilities, loss of livelihoods, and significant psychosocial stress for families.
Brain Connect 2026 emerges from this urgent situation. Scheduled to align with International Brain Awareness Week, it is more than a symposium; it is a collective effort to introduce world-class neuroscience research, training, and collaboration to the Himalayas, while actively involving the public in understanding the science and significance of brain health.
Brain Connect 2026 envisions the birth of a neuroscience ecosystem in Uttarakhand, uniting scientists, clinicians, educators, students, and policymakers in a shared mission: to understand the brain, prevent disease, and heal through science.
The symposium serves as both an intellectual platform and a strategic catalyst, linking fundamental research with clinical practice. It seeks to ensure that discoveries in the laboratory translate into better diagnostics, therapies, and rehabilitation strategies at the bedside.
Through its Department of Neurology at the Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences (HIMS), SRHU aims to become the regional nucleus of translational neuroscience, where molecular insights meet compassionate care and innovation aligns with social responsibility. This vision draws directly from SRHU’s founding philosophy, inspired by H.H. Swami Rama, the first yogi to undergo rigorous physiological studies in U.S. laboratories during the 1970s, scientifically demonstrating yogic mastery over heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration. His life’s work bridged ancient wisdom with empirical science, a legacy that Brain Connect 2026 continues in the language of modern neuroscience.
Despite significant national progress, neuroscience research and training in India remain concentrated in a few premier institutions such as NBRC, NIMHANS, IISERs, and AIIMS. The Himalayan region, including Uttarakhand, has no formal undergraduate or postgraduate programs in neuroscience and only limited research infrastructure. Clinicians in neurology, psychiatry, and neurosurgery provide commendable care, yet rarely have the opportunity to collaborate with molecular or systems neuroscientists to explore disease mechanisms or novel treatments.
Brain Connect 2026 addresses this gap by creating a shared platform for scientists, clinicians, and students, thus serving as the launchpad for a long-term translational neuroscience initiative aligned with India’s National Health Policy (2017), National Program for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NPCDCS), and Science, Technology & Innovation Policy (2020).
The Brain Connect 2026 Neuroscience Symposium, to be held during Brain Awareness Week (March 2026), is designed to bridge fundamental research and clinical practice, addressing India’s rising neurological disease burden through integrated science and community engagement.
With conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and epilepsy imposing an increasing load on healthcare systems, this symposium responds to an urgent national need: to translate discovery into diagnosis and science into solutions.
Backed by the Government of India's policy framework, NHP 2017, NPCDCS, DBT and ICMR initiatives, and the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy 2020, this symposium will spotlight collaborative research and clinical innovation across four thematic domains.
19 March 2026 – Inaugural Session and Educational Workshop.
Brain Connect 2026 will open with an inaugural session featuring welcome addresses, inaugural remarks by dignitaries, and a keynote lecture. This will be followed by an intensive educational workshop titled “Mastering the Art of Scientific Communication, Grant Writing and Academic Integrity”. Designed primarily for students and early-career researchers, the workshop will focus on effective scientific presentation, ethical academic writing, avoidance of plagiarism, and essential strategies for competitive grant writing.
20–21 March 2026 – Main Symposium.
The main symposium spans two days and brings together basic neuroscientists, clinician–scientists, and educators through plenary lectures, thematic scientific sessions, special talks, poster presentations, and a concluding panel discussion. The scientific programme is organised around the following core thematic domains:
In addition to thematic scientific sessions, the programme includes an Emerging Investigators Forum, special invited talks, a dedicated poster session, and a concluding panel discussion on “The Roadmap for Neuro-Research in India”, focusing on challenges, funding, collaboration, and future directions.
Brain Connect 2026 aims to foster meaningful dialogue between basic science and clinical practice, inspire young investigators, and strengthen collaborative networks in neuroscience, with a special focus on regional and national health priorities.
Brain Connect 2026, organised as part of International Brain Awareness Week, directly advances Uttarakhand’s healthcare and development priorities:
In the long term, this initiative aims to establish a Centre for Neuroscience Research and Education at SRHU, a sustainable hub integrating clinical neurology, neuroscience research, and community engagement.
Brain Connect 2026, coinciding with Brain Awareness Week, represents a decisive step toward transforming these limitations into opportunities and bringing neuroscience to the grassroots.
Swami Rama Himalayan University stands upon the vision of H.H. Swami Rama (1925–1996), a philosopher-scientist who united Eastern wisdom and Western empiricism. In 1970, at the Menninger Foundation Laboratory (USA), he volunteered for pioneering physiological experiments that scientifically validated yogic control over autonomic functions. His mission was to demonstrate that inner mastery can be studied, understood, and harnessed for healing.
SRHU continues that journey through disciplined science, compassion, and service. Brain Connect 2026 is a continuation of this living legacy: understanding the brain not as a mystery to be feared, but as a frontier to be explored for the betterment of humankind
Swami Rama Himalayan University (SRHU), located in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, and accredited with NAAC A+, is a multidisciplinary institution that embodies the vision of H.H. Dr Swami Rama. A renowned yogi, philosopher, and scholar, Swami Rama's extraordinary yogic feats were recognised worldwide and documented in Encyclopaedia Britannica (1973). His vision was to extend quality healthcare and education to the remote Himalayan areas, empowering communities through knowledge, service, and compassion. Sponsored by the Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust (HIHT), SRHU was founded under Section 2(f) of the UGC Act, 1956, through Uttarakhand Act No. 12 of 2013, with amendments in 2021. Over the years, the university has built upon more than 30 years of Himalayan excellence in healthcare, education, and social outreach, turning Swami Rama’s dream into a vibrant reality. SRHU offers an integrated ecosystem of education, research, healthcare, and rural development. Its cornerstone is the Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences (HIMS), the first and largest NABH-accredited private teaching hospital in Uttarakhand, featuring a 1200-bed super-speciality Himalayan Hospital and the region’s only Cancer Care and Research Center (CCRC). It has become a centre for medical innovation and compassionate healthcare.
The University comprises seven constituent schools and colleges:
In addition, SRHU is home to several pioneering centres, including the Cancer Care and Research Center (CCRC), the Himalayan Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (HCIE), the Ayurveda Centre, and the Rural Development Institute (RDI), which together form a comprehensive environment for innovation, learning, and community engagement.
The University offers Diploma, Undergraduate, Postgraduate, and PhD programs across diverse disciplines. Its faculty are actively engaged in research supported by national and state agencies, including ICMR, DST, UCOST, and DHR, and have consistently contributed to high-quality publications and translational research initiatives.
Beyond academic rigour, SRHU nurtures the holistic development of students and staff through its distinctive Science of Joyful Living (SoJL) program, rooted in the founder’s philosophy of inner balance and ethical leadership. This approach ensures that graduates evolve not only as skilled professionals but also as compassionate, socially conscious individuals prepared to serve humanity.
Through transformative initiatives like Brain Connect 2026, SRHU reaffirms its role as the epicentre of medical education, research, and innovation in the Himalayan region, carrying forward the timeless vision of its founder into the neuroscientific and technological frontiers of the 21st century.
Dr. Vijay Dhasmana, President, Swami Rama Himalayan University, Dehradun
Dr. Rajendra Dobhal, Vice Chancellor, Swami Rama Himalayan University
Dr. Vijendra Chauhan, Director General, Swami Rama Himalayan University, Dehradun
Dr. Ashok Deorari, Pro Vice Chancellor, Swami Rama Himalayan University, Dehradun
Dr. Sunil Saini , Director, Cancer Care and Research Center (CCRC), Swami Rama Himalayan University, Dehradun
Dr. Renu Dhasmana, Principal, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Swami Rama Himalayan University, Dehradun
Dr. Hem Chandra, Advisor and Director Hospital Services, Swami Rama Himalayan University, Dehradun
Dr. Chandra Shekhar Nautiyal, Scientific Advisor, Swami Rama Himalayan University, Dehradun
Dr. Bindu Dey, Director Research, Swami Rama Himalayan University, Dehradun
| Category | Early Registration (Until 5th March ) | Late / On-site Registration |
|---|---|---|
| Students / Trainees (UG, PG, PhD, DM/MD residents, Postdocs) | ₹ 2,500 | ₹ 3,500 |
| Faculty / Scientists / Clinicians | ₹ 5,000 | ₹ 7,000 |
| Industry | ₹ 8,000 | ₹ 10,000 |
For information regarding accommdation near the campus, please contact Dr. Rajat Kala at: +91- 8126218025
