CONNExIN Program

Welcome

The CONNExIN Program Team is happy to welcome you to our event website! Here you will find more information about the initiative, our objectives, our upcoming program, including schedule and instructors.

You will also be able to explore the content, apply to attend, and participate in the training events directly through this website.

Program Overview:

CONNExIN (COmprehensive Neuroimaging aNalysis Experience In resource constraiNed settings) is designed to provide experiential learning in neuroimaging to researchers practicing in Low-and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), with a focus on Africa, to enable the power of experience that will unlock neuroscience discoveries. The program will deliver state-of-the-art knowledge in neuroimaging methods and applications by instructors with local experience.  

CONNExIN is aimed at advancing the technical skill sets of LMIC neuroimaging experts and will implement RAD-AID’s Teach-Try-Use strategy, applied in CAMERA’s SPARK AI and SWiM training programs to rapidly provide brain imaging analysis competencies in resource-constrained settings. In keeping with CAMERA’s training model, CONNExIN will use a combination of case-based learning, conceptual seminars, observerships, and hands-on skills development approaches to train LMIC researchers and clinicians who will work together to use imaging to answer important neuroscience questions and train others in their communities. 

Given the growing dementia burden in LMICs and the dearth of trained research personnel in the region, the program will focus on dementia imaging and run from August 18th to October 4th, 2025. Participants will be trained to analyze neuroimaging data, including performing quality control, preprocessing, group-level analysis and statistics, and knowledge translation.

CONNExIN was piloted in 2024, and the full program will run this year, 2025. The pilot program was in partnership with the Brain and Mind Institute (Aga Khan University, Kenya), the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (Nigeria), and has been generously supported by the Tanenbaum Open Science Institute (TOSI), McGill Doctoral Internship Program (DIP) and Global Mobility Award (GMA).

Program Structure

Training is completed in 3 sequential blocks/modules with an optional advanced block (see Program Roadmap). 

Training is completed as a team, not as an individual.

Each candidate is enrolled as part of a team based on their imaging modality of interest.

Each team will be led by a CONNExIN Program Co-Supervisor. 

All tutorial assignments and capstone projects are completed as a team. 

Each week will include virtual weekend tutorials and mid-week networking sessions for teams to meet virtually, connect, and work together on learning objectives. 

Cost

Free

How to Apply 

Visit the How to Apply page and complete the application form with a 1 page CV summarizing any relevant training and experience, a 100-word essay of why you want to participate in the program, what you are looking to learn, how this will impact your own institute/community, and a 50-word description of what skills you bring to the program. You will receive an email confirmation after you submit, and a notification of your application results will be sent on August 4^th, 2025.   

Eligibility 

To be eligible for the 2025 CONNExIN Program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be an undergraduate/graduate/medical student resident, post-doctoral fellow, or early career clinician/researcher studying or working in the field of neuroscience, radiology, neurology, psychology, psychiatry, radiography, engineering, physics, or computer science in LMICs.  

• Commit to completing all activities on time and actively participate in the seminars, tutorials, Analysis Bootcamp, and the practicum. 

• Must be able to attend the Analysis Bootcamp in person at one of the three sites or online for all 5 days. 

• Be a self-motivated team player with a passion to learn neuroimaging skills.