Following the launch of the Global Brain Care Scholars Program, the Ban Ki-moon Foundation (BKMF), together with the Paris Brain Institute (ICM), the Vascular Brain Health Institute (VBHI), and with the support of the Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI), the Global Brain Care Coalition (GBCC) and the Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), is pleased to announce the first Call for Applications for the Global Brain Care Scholars Program.
The Global Brain Care Scholars Program is a 12-month hybrid scholarship that empowers emerging clinicians, researchers, public health professionals, digital health and AI specialists, and other brain care leaders to improve brain care in their communities through innovative Changemaker projects. Scholars also benefit from expert workshops, international mentorship, and a one-week in-person Winter School at the Paris Brain Institute in Paris.
The Global Brain Care Scholars Program will select approximately 10 scholars from across the Global South. For this first edition, eligibility is limited to countries where the program partners have established collaborations and local networks. Eligible countries are located across Africa, Asia, and Latin America & the Caribbean, with priority given to applicants from low-, lower-middle-, and upper-middle-income countries. High-income countries are not eligible. See list of all eligible countries below.
Program period: October 2026 – September 2027
Over the course of 12 months, selected Scholars will strengthen their knowledge and leadership in global brain care, gain practical skills through expert-led workshops, and receive tailored mentorship from leading international experts. The program also includes a fully funded one-week Winter School at the Paris Brain Institute in Paris, an €800 microgrant to implement an innovative community-based brain care project, and the opportunity for the top-performing Scholars to receive recognition through participation in an international conference at the conclusion of the program.
If you are passionate about improving brain care in your community, committed to driving meaningful impact, and eager to join an international network of brain care leaders, we encourage you to apply and become one of the inaugural Global Brain Care Scholars.
During the application process, you will be asked to provide:
- Your personal details (e.g. name, contact information, date of birth, country of residence, citizenship, education, language proficiency, short profile)
- Your professional background (e.g. organization, position, experience in brain care or a related field)
- Information about your proposed brain care project (project title, objectives, target population, implementation approach, expected impact)
At the final stage of the application process, you will be prompted to upload:
- A motivational statement
- A portrait picture (JPEG or PNG)
- A short introduction video (maximum 60 seconds; MP4 or MOV)
- Your CV
- A project concept outlining your proposed brain care initiative
You will be able to save your application as a draft and return to complete it at any time before the deadline.
Should you have any questions, please contact sophie.unger@bankimoon.org.
Please note that applicants must meet all eligibility criteria to be considered for the program. Due to the competitive nature of the selection process, we are unfortunately unable to make exceptions.
Applicants must be nationals of one of the eligible countries listed below. For the first edition of the Global Brain Care Scholars Program, eligibility is limited to countries where the program partners have established collaborations and local networks. High-income countries are not eligible.
Eligible countries: Argentina, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, Colombia, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Mauritius, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Paraguay, Peru, Senegal, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Thailand, and Venezuela.
- Applicants must hold citizenship of one of the countries listed above
- Applicants must be between 20 and 35 years of age at the application deadline.
- Applicants must have completed at least a Master’s degree in a relevant field.
- Applicants should have a demonstrated track record in brain care / brain health or a related field, such as neuroscience, neurology, psychiatry, public health, social sciences, healthcare, advocacy, policy, or digital health.
- Applicants must be committed to designing and implementing a community-based brain care impact project during the program.
- Applicants must be available to attend at least 80% of all virtual sessions and fully participate in mentorship activities and reporting requirements throughout the 12-month program. Attendance at the one-week Winter School in Paris is mandatory.
- Applicants must have a minimum English level B2 (CEFR).