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Management System
Core Organization
Junichi NABEKURA
National Institute for Physiological Sciences
Director General
The core organization of Brain/MINDS Beyond works as a response window in enhancing contacts with the International Brain Initiative (IBI) and coordinating Japanese research. It is fostering the neuroethical aspects of human and non-human primate research and promoting outreach activities for the stakeholders to run the activities of this program. In a word, the core organization of the Brain/MINDS Beyond is strategically backing up the research and development with an aim to increase global collaborations in brain science research.
1. Enhancing collaboration in brain science research
One of the major goals of the Brain/MINDS Beyond is to promote brain science research collaboration with other large-scale domestic projects across the world. The core organization has established an appropriate support system to achieve this goal.
Domestic structures for international cooperation
Currently, the Brain/MINDS Beyond program is working in close collaboration with the IBI. Among six working groups of this international consortium, Japan plays the central role in the Data Standards and Sharing one, and actively participates in the other working groups as well. Two domestic meeting bodies deal with related decision-making and implementation.
Council on International Cooperation in Brain Science
This is the highest level of decision-making body for international collaboration in the field of brain science research.
Support Team for international Cooperation in Brain Science
This team is established under the Council on International Cooperation in Brain Science , and it implements international cooperative activities.
2. Supporting the activities of the Brain/MINDS Beyond program
The following meeting bodies, etc., are operated to ensure smooth promotion of the Brain/MINDS Beyond program.
Research Progress Conference
This is a conference conducted once every year by the program supervisor (PS) and program officers (PO) to evaluate the research progress of the Brain/MINDS Beyond program.
Brain/MINDS Beyond Retreat
This is a meeting arranged by the researchers once every year to boost the interaction among researchers and track the progress of research.
Project Promotion Meeting
Different strategic plans to run this program are discussed and assessed in the Project Promotion Meeting, which is held at the call of the PS, the chair.
Working Groups
Brain/MINDS Beyond program’s leadership establish working groups, which are conducted by researchers, to move forward some specific activities. The present condition of the working groups is following.
Human Brain MRI
This working group plans, coordinates, and implements actions aimed at establishing a high-quality human brain MRI database. Particularly, it focuses on developing an original protocol of human brain MRI (HARP, HARmonized Protocol), which involves different approaches, like harmonization by using traveling subjects, etc.
Neuroethics
The Neuroethics Working Group provides guidance and advice on the neuroethical aspects of the data sharing and NHPs research based on current trends. An Ethics Consultation Counter has been established and operated under this working group.
Understanding human brain functions and diseases from NHPs
This working group is involved in the identification of similar cortical and sub-cortical circuit functions and diseases in human and non-human primates. For this, they are working on resting-state functional connectivity, disease models, etc.
MRI Promotion
This particular working group consisting of young and mid-career MRI researchers aims at implementing a research and education system that makes full use of Brain/MIND Beyond program’s MRI data and human resources.
Outreach
The Outreach Working Group works at enhancing effective communication among researchers (domestic and global) and the public by arranging events and updating information on websites.
Research Group Meeting
This meeting aims at the progression of the research and enhancement of collaboration by necessary discussion among the researchers of an individual group.
Ethics Consultation Counter
The National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), a partner of the core organization, provides ethical support to project participants by running the Ethics Consultation Counter. This counter works in cooperation with the Neuroethics Working Group.