The PANERIS project is led by Vilnius University (Lithuania), while at IDIBAPS it is coordinated by Juan Abolafia, Director of the Office for European and International Projects, and Dr. Hugo López, head of the Clinical addictions group. PANERIS aims to promote a joint internationalization strategy in research and innovation in neuroscience among institutions from Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, and Spain.
This Winter School, focused on the “Basics of Computational Neuroscience”, brought together 16 young researchers: master’s students, PhD candidates, and postdocs, from the consortium partner institutions: Vilnius University (VU), Maj Institute of Pharmacology of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IP-PAS), Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine (GIMM), and IDIBAPS.
A week of immersion in computational neuroscience
The program combined specialized scientific training with cross-cutting workshops aimed at developing essential transversal skills for a research career.
Among the highlighted scientific sessions were:
- An introduction to the EBRAINS digital tools and resources, delivered by Pierpaolo Sorrentino and Marianna Angiolelli from the University of Marseille.
- Sessions on computational modeling, neural networks, and brain activity patterns, taught by Mavi Sánchez-Vives (head of the Systems Neuroscience research group), Arnau Manasanch (researcher from the same group), and Albert Compte (head of the Theoretical Neurobiology of Cortical Circuits research group).
- Hands-on training in meta-analysis of 3D volumes in neuroimaging, led by Joaquim Raduà (head of the Mood and Anxiety-Related Disorders Imaging (IMARD) research group).
- A training visit to the IDIBAPS scientific platforms, including the Neurological Tissue Bank and the Magnetic Resonance platform.
Transversal skills for future scientific leaders
In line with the PANERIS approach, the school also included training activities related to transversal skills. In this edition, participants attended sessions on:
- Gender in research, with Gisela Sugranyes (head of the Multimodal Neuroimaging in Early and High-Risk Psychosis research group) and Maria Ortuño (researcher from the same group).
- Community engagement in research, delivered by Anne-Sophie and Joan Fernando (from the Patient Experience Observatory of Hospital Clínic).
- Technology transfer, with Teresa Lloret (head of the knowledge and technology transfer office at IDIBAPS).
- Translational research skills and motivational interviewing, with Clara Oliveras (researcher from the “Clinical addictions” group).
- Well-being and self-care during the PhD, with Gemma Pascual and Maria Fatjó (from the academic coordination office at IDIBAPS).
- A session on science policy and influence in Brussels, taught by Marina Martínez (from the SOST-CDTI office, Brussels).
- Science communication and outreach, delivered by Carla Serra (from the IDIBAPS communications office).
- The program also included an activity organized by EATRIS on drug development through the interactive game Repurpolis.
Looking towards Lisbon: the fourth and final PANERIS school
This Winter School is the third of the four schools planned within the framework of the PANERIS project. The final edition will take place in Lisbon during the last week of February 2026, organized by the Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine.
With this new meeting, the PANERIS consortium continues to strengthen relationships among European institutions and to offer high-value training opportunities for the new generation of neuroscience researchers.
Acknowledgements
The Winter School on “Basics of Computational Neuroscience” was organized by IDIBAPS as part of the PANERIS project.
The opinions and views expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the REA can be held responsible for them.
