School of Biotechnology Hosts Symposium Exploring Neurodevelopment and Neurodegeneration Across Disciplines
The School of Biotechnology at Nile University, in collaboration with the Faculty of Pharmacy Cairo University and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), co-organized a two-day symposium titled “Bridging the Gap Between Neurodevelopment and Neurodegeneration: A Multidisciplinary Approach.” The event took place on October 20–21, 2025, within the framework of the Clusters of Scientific Innovation in the Middle East and North Africa (COSIMENA) initiative.
Day 1 was hosted at the DAAD Regional Office in Zamalek, featuring opening remarks by Dr. Wiebke Bachmann, Director of DAAD Cairo, and Hannah Brandt from the German Embassy. The sessions brought together leading researchers, including Dr. Mohannad Dardiry (EMBL Heidelberg), Dr. Leena Ibrahim (KAUST), Dr. Andrea Forero (Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry), Dr. Rabab Ahmed (University of Pittsburgh), and Dr. Christel Depienne (University Hospital Essen), who shared insights on neurodevelopmental mechanisms and neurodegenerative diseases.
Day 2 continued at Nile University, highlighting the intersection between neuroscience, public health, and technology. Topics included environmental factors in neurodegeneration, neurodivergence and AI, and ethical and legal frameworks surrounding neurodevelopmental disorders. The symposium also featured interactive workshops by Dr. Maarten Rotman (Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin) on healthcare innovation and Dr. Sara Moustafa (AUC) and Prof. Mohammed Ghaly (Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar) on culturally adapting cognitive assessments.
By connecting experts from institutions across Egypt, Germany, United States, and the wider region, the symposium fostered dialogue on how multidisciplinary collaboration can promote healthy brain development and aging. The event embodied the spirit of COSIMENA’s mission to strengthen scientific cooperation between the MENA region and Germany and Nile University's dedication to advancing global scientific research.
