The British Neuroscience Association (BNA) is a key player in the neuroscience sector, supporting professionals and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration. Chief Executive Dr Laura Ajram highlights the importance of bridging advanced neurological research with public understanding and the latest developments in the field
What is the role of the BNA in the neurology sector? What are your main objectives as an organisation?
The British Neuroscience Association (BNA) plays a vital role in championing neuroscience and supporting those who work within it. Our mission is to inform, connect, and influence – representing neuroscientists across academia, healthcare, industry, and policy. We bring together diverse sectors of the neuroscience community to promote excellence and integrity in brain research. Our work ensures that neuroscience remains a vibrant, inclusive, and impactful field that serves both science and society.
A key part of our mission is shaping the culture in which research is done. Through our Credibility in Neuroscience campaign, we advocate for transparent, replicable, and rigorous research practices. We also play an active role in policy, working with funders, institutions, and government bodies to ensure that the UK’s research environment supports high-quality science and protects the wellbeing of researchers. Whether through our conferences, public engagement efforts, or strategic collaborations, the BNA is committed to making neuroscience more connected, credible, and influential.
What impact can the fragmentation and duplication of neurological research have, and how does the BNA work to facilitate collaborative research across multiple disciplines? Could increased collaborative efforts between the medical, industry and policy fields accelerate research and innovation?
Fragmentation and duplication in neuroscience research can significantly slow progress, especially in complex fields like mental health and neurological disease. When researchers, clinicians, industry professionals, and policymakers work in isolation, valuable knowledge is lost, efforts are repeated unnecessarily, and innovation stalls. This is especially true in areas like psychiatric drug discovery, where collaborative efforts are beginning to show promise in areas that have historically seen limited progress.
The BNA actively addresses this by creating platforms that encourage cross-sector dialogue and interdisciplinary collaboration. We are uniquely placed to bring stakeholders together through events, policy work, and thought leadership. We believe that by bridging the gaps between medicine, academia, industry, and policy, we can unlock faster and more effective pathways from discovery to real-world impact.
Do you think there is a gap between the field of neurological research and the general public’s understanding of it? How could this be tackled?
There is often a gap between cutting-edge neuroscience and public understanding, largely because the field is inherently complex and sometimes perceived as intimidating. But neuroscience research ultimately exists to serve society, so it’s essential that we communicate it clearly and meaningfully. The BNA supports this through our commitment to public engagement, helping researchers develop skills to share their science confidently and accessibly.
During our flagship conference, the International Festival of Neuroscience, we run a month-long public engagement programme that invites the wider public to engage with neuroscience in creative and approachable ways. We also embed communication training into our conferences to help researchers, starting from the undergraduate level, become confident science communicators. These efforts align with our broader goal of fostering a positive and credible research culture, where transparency, openness, and public trust are paramount. By supporting our members to engage meaningfully, we’re building stronger connections between neuroscience and society.
Are there any notable developments or current issues in the world of brain research which you think our readers should be more aware of?
This is an incredibly exciting time for the field of neuroscience. It’s fantastic to see how our understanding of the brain has inspired developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how advances in this field are now transforming diagnosis, treatment and research. We are also edging closer to breakthroughs in the treatment of conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, where decades of research are finally beginning to yield promising results. These developments have the potential to transform lives through revolutions in healthcare.
But with such rapid progress comes the responsibility to ensure that research is conducted ethically, credibly, and collaboratively. Through our policy work, the BNA helps shape the broader research environment, advocating for a culture that supports innovation without compromising rigour. We want the public and policymakers alike to be aware not just of the breakthroughs, but of the values and culture behind them.
