National Neuroscience Society of Romania

Our project “Romanian brain-match: neuroscientists versus society” intended to respond to the question if the brain research efforts match the society expectations in Romania. National Neuroscience Society of Romania together with researchers and clinicians from “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, aimed to build upon the Brain Awareness Week 2016 opportunity to address this challenging question. By an online survey, we mapped the ongoing research interests of Romanian neuroscience research groups as well as what members of the Romanian society in the broad sense expect from brain research. The society respondents considered that neuroscience should prioritize finding treatments for nervous system diseases as compared to understanding the normal nervous system. More specifically, the principal area of interest from the society was the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and their impact on the mind. In contrast, responding neuroscientists reported a greater interest for understanding the normal nervous system without a particular priority for the mind. These results were discussed in a series of public lectures during BAW involving decision factors, science regulators and invited scientists from the Romanian diaspora. We benefitted of a wide press and media coverage. Satellite events included school visit, lab open day, practical neuroscience workshops and a presentation competition for students.

We found the online survey being an excellent instrument to increase BAW participation and to map the ongoing research interests of Romanian neuroscience research groups as well as what members of the Romanian society in the broad sense expect from brain research.