Programme Thesis
This biennial conference, hosted by Newcastle University and partners, funds participation (registration, travel, accommodation) for researchers to present and discuss the burden, risk factors, and cross-cultural aspects of cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, including HIV dementias, in LMICs. It exists to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange between LMIC and high-income country researchers, with a strong focus on early-career researchers and African dementia research capacity.
Selection Criteria
- Abstract quality and relevance to conference themes (risk factors, genetics, biomarkers, diagnosis, dementia care in LMICs)
- Fit with session themes (1.5-hr sessions with 4 speakers + 2 ECRs)
- Early-career researcher status (ECR slots are explicitly allocated)
- Geographic representation (LMIC, especially African, researchers are prioritized)
- Potential for cross-cultural comparison (LMIC vs HIC perspectives)
- For oral slots: abstracts selected to fill session gaps; most abstracts become posters
- Abstract format: 250-300 words, title, authors, text; deadline 13 September 2026
Past Winners / Cohort Profiles
Past cohorts (2022, 2024 symposia) included researchers from African institutions and international collaborators, with a mix of established speakers and early-career researchers. Named examples are not listed on the page, but the programme explicitly reserves slots for ECRs and hosts African Dementia Consortium (AfDC) workshops, indicating a strong African researcher presence.
Ideal Candidate Fingerprint
An early-career researcher (pre-PhD, PhD, or postdoc) based in an LMIC (ideally Africa) working on dementia, cerebrovascular disease, or related neurodegeneration, with a focus on risk factors, biomarkers, or cross-cultural care. They have a compelling abstract that fits a session theme and are eager to network with the African Dementia Consortium and international experts.
Recommended Framing
For Eniola, the strongest angle is to leverage his computational modeling expertise in addiction neuroscience and brain-circuit simulation (neurocascade) to address dementia risk factors in LMICs, particularly the intersection of substance use and neurodegeneration. His CCT model and neurocascade engine demonstrate a unique ability to simulate receptor-to-behavior pathways, which can be framed as a novel approach to understanding modifiable risk factors (e.g., addiction) for dementia in African populations. He should submit an abstract on 'Computational modeling of addiction-related neurodegeneration risk in LMICs' to align with the conference's focus on modifiable risk factors and cross-cultural populations.
Watch Out
The conference is primarily a symposium, not a grant or fellowship; funding is likely limited to registration/travel support, not a $10K-$100K award. Eniola is not yet enrolled in his M.Sc. (starts Winter 2026/27) and is an independent researcher, which may complicate 'early-career' status verification. The deadline (13 Sept 2026) is far out, but the conference is in Nairobi, Kenya, which is a plus for his Nigeria angle. No explicit funding amount or application process beyond abstract submission is detailed.
Research History
2026-08-04 20:03 · medium confidence
2026-07-30 09:24 · medium confidence