GBHI's new Site Director gives introductory address

Posted on: 28 March 2025

In his opening remarks Brian Lawlor, GBHI Founding Director and Conolly Norman Professor of Old Age Psychiatry at Trinity, reflected on GBHI’s extraordinary journey—shaped by dedication, collaboration, and the synchronicity of key people and events—from its 2015 founding at Trinity College Dublin and the University of California, San Francisco, as one of Chuck Feeney’s last big bets, to its continued success today. Since welcoming the first cohort of Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health, the global network has grown to over 260 fellows across more than 60 countries, working to drive meaningful change in brain health and dementia. Lawlor expressed gratitude to partners and supporters whose contributions have been integral to GBHI’s success:

“We are changing the world by changing how people see dementia and brain health. It’s time to build on our strengths and embrace new opportunities. GBHI is truly a once in a lifetime,” Brian Lawlor said.

Framing her talk around three pillars—Global, Brain Health, and Institute—Iracema Leroi, GBHI Site Director and Professor in Geriatric Psychiatry at Trinity, outlined key challenges and opportunities for GBHI as it strives to protect the world’s populations from threats to brain health.

1.Global: Embracing Complexities and Expanding Partnerships

Acknowledging the challenges posed by shifts in global health priorities, an aging population, and the projected 144% rise in dementia cases by 2050, Leroi underscored the need for GBHI to engage with global partners: “Global means we need partners, regional hubs, and communities,” she stated, citing successful initiatives in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa. Looking ahead, she discussed the potential for co-developing regional hubs in South Asia and Southeastern Europe, noting that “having one fellow in a country isn’t going to deliver sustainable impact—we need to create critical mass by building those hubs.” Leroi also highlighted the importance of addressing complex issues surrounding brain health and equity: “Because we’re global, we need to engage with complex global situations, call out threats to brain health, and support all affected individuals, regardless of their circumstances.”

2.Brain Health: Advancing a Holistic Approach

Leroi noted that when GBHI was established, the focus was on neurodegeneration and dementia, with the emerging concept of "brain health" gaining shape and momentum more recently. “Ultimately, brain health is multifaceted. It’s dynamic, encompassing cognition, emotion, and motor function, and influenced by ecological, biological, psychological, and social factors.” Consequently, she emphasized that interdisciplinary collaboration is critical to advancing brain health across the lifespan:

“Neuroscience cannot stand alone in addressing questions that fundamentally involve organizations, societies, economies, and cultures. Collaboration is key. We share. We collaborate. We make connections. And that’s fundamental to what our fellows are doing,”  Iracema said.

3.Institute: Empowering Brain Health Leaders and Ensuring Sustainability

Finally, Leroi focused on the “Institute” element of GBHI—as a platform for advancing research and leadership in brain health. She emphasized the requirement for flexible fellowship structures to meet diverse needs, including non-residential and non-English programming. Continuing professional development (CPD) education for the community and peer-to-peer learning are central: “We have such richness, talent, and experience amongst our fellows, and they're keen to learn from each other and have opportunities to share.”

She recognized that institutes also carry a responsibility to bring positive social benefits, highlighting key developments in community engagement and embedding the lived experience in GBHI’s work. “Institutes come with commitment to the mission and values but I think one thing that we need to be far more intentional about is operationalizing those values,” said Leroi.

She also stressed the importance of stewardship and sustainability, noting that Chuck Feeney’s legacy will live on through the Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health alumni. As GBHI looks to the future, it aims to deepen its collaboration with the Atlantic Institute, ensuring its efforts remain aligned with the broader Atlantic Fellows community.

In conclusion, Leroi encapsulated what success will look like for GBHI at Trinity in five years:

• Future-ready fellowship training with flexible, lifelong learning and innovative technologies.
• Neuroscience-based, yet deeply interdisciplinary.
• Strong faculty collaborations within Trinity, across the GBHI community, locally, nationally, and internationally.
• Global impact through fellow-led hubs in strategic regions.
• A united alumni-driven community evolving from beneficiaries to sustainable stewards.
• Involvement of people with lived experience for equity and knowledge co-creation.

Panel Discussion

Following Iracema’s talk, three distinguished panellists shared their unique perspectives on the impact and evolution of GBHI:

• Speaking from San Juan, Argentina, during Latin America’s first Creative Brain Week—an event uniting vulnerable communities, neuroscientists, artists, and more to celebrate the intersection of arts and brain health—Agustín Ibáñez, Professor in Global Brain Health at GBHI and the School of Medicine at Trinity and Director of BrainLat at Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, described the gathering as a powerful example of what GBHI stands for. He highlighted an inspiring program that integrates musical training, prosocial education, and brain health promotion, where children with limited access to instruments have not only learned music but also essential practices for brain health. Now, they are preparing to showcase their music on stage during the event.

“This is what GBHI represents. I am a scientist, but I feel the incredible holistic integration of so many things beyond science, and that’s the magic of GBHI—what makes us completely different from any other project,” said Ibáñez.

• Seán Kennelly, Consultant Physician at Tallaght University Hospital, Clinical Associate Professor of Medical Gerontology, Director of the Institute for Memory and Cognition, and GBHI faculty member at Trinity, shared insights on how fellows engage in the hospital to deepen their understanding of clinical practice, dementia care, and the lived experiences of people with dementia. “The clinical services have benefited hugely from that experience,” he noted, describing the transformative impact—for both patients and clinicians—of interacting with fellows from diverse backgrounds, including the arts. This engagement has helped broaden the understanding of living with dementia, expanding the focus beyond clinical consultation to a more holistic approach.

“After the first cohort of Atlantic Fellows, I realized they were looking after us—we didn’t need to look after them,” Sean reflected. “I’m really excited because there’s a regeneration with new fellows coming each year—a constant evolution.”

• Jane Ohlmeyer, Erasmus Smith’s Professor of Modern History (1762) at Trinity, shared her unique perspective as a historian who values interdisciplinarity and as a former Vice Provost for Global Relations at Trinity. “I’ve been watching in great awe and admiration the development of GBHI since it was a PowerPoint presentation.”
• She outlined five key aspects of GBHI she admires, starting with “I.” First, she commended the leadership of Ian Robertson and Brian Lawlor, whose vision has shaped the institute’s success. She emphasized the impact and innovation GBHI has brought to brain health, and the enormous potential for future progress. Ohlmeyer celebrated GBHI’s international approach and interdisciplinarity, calling it “an exemplar for how to do inter and transdisciplinarity.” She concluded with congratulations and immense optimism for GBHI at Trinity’s future under Iracema’s leadership.

Event Chairs

The event was chaired by the following GBHI at Trinity faculty members:

• Talks: Román Romero Ortuño, Head of Discipline (Medical Gerontology); Professor in Medical Gerontology
• Panel: Nicholas Johnson, Head of Discipline (Drama); Associate Professor, Drama

• Tags:
• Community
• Health
• Research