When first created in 1960 in a politically divided world, the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) was intended to offer an international forum to encourage scientific discussion and training of neuroscientists.

With the passage of time, the international scene has changed substantially so that interaction between scientists and training of students can be carried out on a truly international scale without significant restrictions. The number of neuroscientists has increased substantially all over the world, while specific needs and problems have arisen based on the social and economical situations of the home countries. Meanwhile, very active and large multinational neuroscience societies, such as the Society for Neuroscience and Federation of European Neuroscience Societies, now offer high level congresses and other activities that fulfil some of the goals originally assumed by IBRO.

In light of these changes, IBRO's leadership decided to adapt its objectives to better serve the new international situation and focus on training and education of students and scientists in regions with special needs. In particular, IBRO wishes to assist in giving neuroscientists in different parts of the world a direct voice in defining their own needs and priorities in research and science education. One step in this direction has been for IBRO to identify a set of six regions on the basis of geographical, social and economic criteria. Each region has a Regional Committee, composed of six to eight active scientists, that defines its priorities and receives a annual budget from IBRO  that is used for the organization of activities in that area. The present regions, are Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, the US and Canada, and Western Europe.

Reports from the Regions