NSERC CREATE-IRTG: The Brain in Action

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The brain enables humans to interact with the surrounding world by integrating perception with action. This comes into play in essentially all aspects of work, communication, transportation, and leisure. Canada has invested very successfully in this scientific field, so that we are now poised to develop important practical applications for neuroscience in real-world settings. The goal of the current program is to span this critical bridge, by training students to 1) translate the standard methods and technologies of systems/cognitive neuroscience laboratories to natural behaviors in real-world situations, and 2) apply these findings in non-academic sectors. To accomplish these goals, investigators from the Canadian Action and Perception Network (based at the York Centre for Vision Research, the Western Brain and Mind Institute, and the Queen's Centre for Neuroscience Studies) have linked with the German Perception and Action Group based at Philipps-Universität Marburg and Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen to form an international research training group (IRTG). Canadian students in this IRTG will participate in international research exchange projects and a rigorous academic/practical training program in topics related to the translation of neuroscience findings to real-world settings. They will also participate in industrial collaborations and knowledge mobilization workshops and courses (both at home and abroad), as well as research internships organized with partners ranging from major corporations to local research-oriented companies. This hands-on combination of experience in translating basic neuroscience to real-world discovery science and the non-academic sector will immediately accelerate the influence of neuroscience on industry and society, and will ensure that our trainees graduate with the theory, technical skills, and experience to meet a growing demand in the Canadian workforce. Our long term aim is to create a sustainable program of study and a new generation of applied neuroscientists who - unlimited by traditional academic borders - can address the big questions about integrative brain function and apply this approach to real- world problems/opportunities beyond academia.