QBI researchers leading collaboration and innovation in neuroscience
In under a month, neuroscientists from across Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific will converge on Hobart for this year’s Australasian Neuroscience Society (ANS) Conference, Diversifying the Network. Two of UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) research leaders explain why this annual conference is the cornerstone event for the neuroscience community.
Influencing neuroscience’s future
Professor Jason Mattingley is the current ANS President. This leadership role appealed because of the opportunities it provides to influence the career trajectories of the next generation of neuroscientists and expand his professional network.
“With a membership of 600+ people, ANS brings together leading researchers, clinicians, and students from across the country and beyond to explore the latest discoveries in neuroscience,” Professor Mattingley said.
“The annual conference is a dynamic platform to make new connections, catch up with peers, explore potential collaborations and road test research ideas.
“ANS also provides awards that champion individuals’ and teams’ outstanding contributions to our field, including prizes for postdoctoral researchers, early career researchers and students.
“Each year we award up to four Finkel Foundation Travelling Fellowships, which support a ‘mini-sabbatical’ in a host laboratory with leading expertise relevant to brain-computer interfaces or related areas of innovative neurotechnology.”
Encouraging connection and collaboration
Dr Matilde Balbi is the ANS Secretary, a key coordination role that includes responsibility for the Annual General Meeting alongside the ANS conference. Originally from Naples, Italy, Dr Balbi worked in Ireland, Germany, and Canada before establishing her laboratory at QBI.
For Dr Balbi, the ANS Secretary role was an efficient and rewarding way to learn about neuroscience in Australia.
“ANS is a platform for me to connect with many people across the field, share the latest science and get feedback from my peers,” Dr Balbi said.
“Meeting people in person is the fastest way to collaborate, and the ANS conference has many spontaneous opportunities to connect between talks, poster presentations and events.”
Expanding the neuroscience network
While Dr Balbi is excited about this year’s conference program, she is already looking ahead to 2026.
“Next year, ANS is leading a joint meeting that will bring together members of Biological Psychiatry Australia and the Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Society in Sydney in December 2026,” Dr Balbi said.
“We anticipate the conference will be the largest meeting of brain researchers working across all disciplines in Australasia, offering invaluable insights and networking opportunities.
“If you're passionate about neuroscience and want to stay at the forefront of discovery, we encourage you to attend this year’s conference and register early for 2026.”
For more details about ANS and the conference, visit the ANS website.