Home | Neuroscience Institute

Our vision

Our vision is of an Africa where people achieve their full potential through brain health.

By addressing existing knowledge gaps and strengthening African research networks, we seek solutions to African challenges and work to ensure that African priorities are represented in global neuroscience.

Training and capacity development

We strive to build research capacity nationally and internationally, and grow the next generation of neuroscience researchers on both the clinical and basic neuroscience career tracks.

Master of Neuroscience Applications for 2026 now CLOSED!!

We look forward to welcoming students from diverse academic disciplines for this new Master's course, which prioritizes interdisciplinarity!

Advocacy and engagement

We follow a socially-responsive approach, using advocacy, engagement and outreach to extend our impact to and beyond the scientific community, to industry, government and society more broadly.

SA Health Excellence Awards starring the NI!

The recent SA Health Excellence Awards hosted by Clinix/SA Clinician Scientists' Society in Johannesburg saw NI members and student sparkling.

How a shared approach in Cape Town helps high-risk babies

Article published in Spotlight: Waiting is not an option in the first 1000 days

Dr Kirsty Donald, deputy director of the Neuroscience Institute, speaks about the lack of accurate prevalence data for Cerebral Palsy in South Africa in this recent article published in Spotlight.

Finding Focus and Community: A look back at the benefits of a writing retreat

The UCT ALMA/DELTAS Mont Fleur Writing Retreat 18- 20th August 2025, an example creating an effective space for research conviviality and writing.

UCT to host first-ever THE World Academic Summit in Africa

The University of Cape Town has been announced as host for the Times Higher Education World Academic Summit 2026 from 29 September to 1 October.

Southern African Conference for Artificial Intelligence Research 2025

AI at the Edge | Pushing Boundaries | Powering Possibilities

1 December 2025 - 5 December 2025 Read more

Talk: Programming and reprogramming neuronal circuits

Dr Mohammed Mostajo-Radji (University of California, Santa Cruz) uses brain organoids across the evolutionary tree to study cortical fate specification and circuit wiring, combining high-density electrophysiology with deep learning models.

1 December 2025 Read more

Art-Science Collaboration: A New Creative Programme at the Neuroscience Institute

Exploring intersections of art, neuroscience, and ethics through light and form.

2 December 2025 Read more

Clinical Ethics Forum

Join us the first Tuesday of every month as we present and discuss complex ethics cases encountered by clinicians around the province.

9 April 2024 - 3 November 2026 Read more