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.

Hot Topics in Neuroscience is back at UCT Summer School, 2026!!

The Neuroscience Institute presents - Hot topics in Neuroscience! Five thought-provoking lectures (and a panel discussion) at the forefront of academia to be presented at UCT Summer School 2026.

The NI dazzles in Faculty Publication Awards

The recent UCT Faculty of Health Science Publication Awards saw two NI members, Dr Catherine Wedderburn and PhD candidate Rachel Brown, impress with their winning publications.

Programme sprouts new idea at UCT’s Neuroscience Institute

The NI has hosted its very first artist-in-residence, Ralph Borland, made possible by the EthicsLab! In this UCT News piece Ralph details his experience, as well as his desire to spearhead a further Creative Residency Programme.

The Conversation Africa Violence is a normal part of life

Recent 'The Conversation Africa' article on 'exposure to violence' by NI researchers

Recent graduate, Lucinda Tsunga, now working at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, spent her PhD at the NI with Prof Kirsty Donald, exploring the mental health impacts of children commonly exposed to violence.

PsychoPy/Unreal Engine workshop

A 1-hour online workshop run every 2nd friday (10-11am) that will be useful for those using PsychoPy and Unreal Engine to create and modify fMRI, EEG, fNIRS, and/or Cognitive or Behavioral tasks.

15 March 2024 - 18 December 2026 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 - 1 December 2026 Read more

Xhosa Classes for all levels

learning to speak Xhosa in community.

12 March 2024 - 24 December 2026 Read more

Simons Computational Neuroscience Imbizo

The Imbizo is a southern hemisphere summer school aiming to promote computational neuroscience in Africa. It will bring together international and local students under the tutelage of the world's leading experts in the field.

11 January 2026 - 1 February 2026 Read more