Understanding how epilepsy relates to other diseases and the challenges this poses for scientific research will be the central theme of the conference “Complexity and Challenges in Studying the Bidirectional Relationship Between Epilepsy and Disease,” organized by the UIS-UPB Neuroscience and Behavior Group, led by Dr. Carlos Arturo Conde Cotes, a professor in the Department of Basic Sciences at the Industrial University of Santander (UIS).
The event will feature Dr. Norberto García Cairasco, a renowned researcher and international authority in neuroscience. García-Cairasco holds a degree in biology from the University of Valle and completed his master’s and doctoral studies at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil between 1980 and 1984, thanks to a scholarship from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and UNESCO. Upon his return to Colombia in 1984, he rejoined the UIS, where he established the Neuroscience Laboratory, laying the groundwork for the development of a major line of research in this field.
In 1986, he was invited to join the University of São Paulo as a professor, and he moved there permanently in January 1987. Since then, he has built an outstanding academic and scientific career at this university, where he has served as a full professor and has held the position of director of the Graduate Program in Physiology on several occasions.
His primary line of research has focused on experimental epilepsy and neuroscience, a field in which he has produced a vast body of scientific work and numerous publications that have contributed to our understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms associated with this condition.
His academic career is also marked by solid experience in research, training the next generation of scientists, and scientific leadership, establishing him as a leading figure in the field of experimental neuroscience.
The Neuroscience and Behavior Group traces its origins to the 1980s, a period during which Professor García-Cairasco played a fundamental role in its creation and consolidation. During his time at the UIS, he was initially affiliated with the School of Biology and later with the Department of Medicine, where he carried out academic and research activities and contributed to strengthening neuroscience research at the university.
The UIS-UPB Neuroscience and Behavior Group extends an invitation to the academic community, researchers, students, and health professionals to participate in this keynote lecture, which offers an opportunity to learn about current advances and challenges in neuroscience, as well as to reflect on the methodological and research challenges posed by the study of the complex bidirectional relationship between the brain, behavior, and health.
