Success of the 2nd Cajal Neuroscience Meeting at UFRJ: a bridge between Brazil and Spain for understanding the brain.

On October 2, 2025 , the 2nd Cajal Meeting on Neurosciences took place in the Hélio Fraga Auditorium at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) . This event consolidated scientific cooperation between Brazil and Spain in the areas of neuroscience, biomedicine, and translational medicine. The event opened at 9:00 AM with an official ceremony attended by Professor Dr. Verónica Aran Ponte , president of ACEBRA (Association of Spanish Scientists in Brazil) ; Professor Dr. Paulo Niemeyer Filho , neurosurgeon and director of the Paulo Niemeyer State Brain Institute (IECPN); Professor Dr. Patrícia Dias , director of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICB/UFRJ); the Ambassador of Spain to Brazil, Her Excellency Ms. María del Mar Fernández-Palácios ; and Professor Dr. Luiz Eurico Nasciutti , rector of CCS/UFRJ.

Photo: Artur Moês (CCS/UFRJ).

The ambassador offered us words of support that strengthen the ties of cooperation between Spain and Brazil in the scientific field, highlighting the importance of associations such as ACEBRA and the role of scientists in building bridges of knowledge. She also emphasized the commitment of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and Spanish embassies around the world to promoting and supporting these types of meetings that foster science and international collaboration.

During the morning, ACEBRA Treasurer Luiz Teixeira acted as moderator, guiding a series of lectures that addressed the relationship between laboratory discoveries and clinical applications. Professor Dr. Vivaldo Moura Neto gave an inspiring lecture entitled "Remembering Cajal ," in homage to the great Spanish neuroscientist Santiago Ramón y Cajal. After a short coffee break, Professor Dr. Isabel Lastres Becker , from the Autonomous University of Madrid , presented "From the laboratory to the clinic: innovation in therapies for neurodegenerative diseases," highlighting advances in preclinical models and therapeutic strategies in neurodegenerative diseases. Following this, Professor Dr. Rosália Mendez-Otero (UFRJ) addressed the topic "Precision Medicine in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ," emphasizing the importance of translational research in the Brazilian context.

After lunch, the afternoon session was moderated by the president of ACEBRA, Prof. Dr. Verónica Aran Ponte , who continued the meeting with a program of a strong translational and international character. Prof. Dr. Rafael López , from the University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain) and president of ASEICA , delivered the keynote lecture on "Liquid biopsy in cancer and precision oncology ," highlighting the synergies between neuroscience, molecular biology, and personalized medicine.

The afternoon continued with the presentation “Glial Connections” by Prof. Dr. Vivaldo Moura Neto , followed by presentations from the winning researchers of the ACEBRA 2025 Mobility Grants : Prof. Dr. Julia Clarke (ICB/UFRJ) , who presented her work on the influence of social experience on cognitive and morphological patterns of the brain , and doctoral candidate Paula Almeida , who presented the characterization of molecular markers of vascular damage in a cohort of children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder .

The meeting concluded with speeches by the Cultural and Scientific Advisor of the Spanish Embassy in Brazil , José Miguel de Lara Toledo, the delegate from CDTI, Carlos Quintana, and our president of ACEBRA , followed by a guided tour of the facilities of the Health Sciences Center (CCS/UFRJ) .

This event, a result of the collaboration between the Spanish Embassy in Brazil , AECID , ACEBRA , ICB/UFRJ , the Paulo Niemeyer State Brain Institute , and Spanish organizations such as CSIC , CDTI , RAICEX , and the Cervantes Institute , reaffirmed the joint commitment of both countries to the promotion of biomedical science and innovation.

The Second Cajal Meeting not only strengthened ties between Brazilian and Spanish researchers, but also honored the legacy of Santiago Ramón y Cajal, reminding us that his vision continues to inspire new generations in their quest to understand the human brain.

We thank everyone present, including representatives from FAPERJ (Prof. Luis Cristovão Porto, Ana Beatriz Ramadas, Laura Soares), UERJ, UFRJ, Instituto D'Or, researchers and students.

Photos: Artur Moês (CCS/UFRJ).