University of Haifa Neuroimaging Forum

General

The Interdisciplinary Neuroimaging Forum was established in 2017 at the University of Haifa with the initial support of the Edmond J. Safra Center for Brain Research in Learning Disabilities. The Forum currently has 38 faculty members and research groups (about 150 students) affiliated with various faculties: 13 members affiliated with the Faculty of Education, 3 members affiliated with the Faculty of Natural Sciences, 12 members affiliated with the Faculty of Social Sciences, 9 members affiliated with the Faculty of Social Welfare and Health sciences and one member affiliated with the Faculty of Humanities.

Who we are

The Forum is based on a unique interdisciplinary academic environment that enables students to learn from the best researchers in the field of human brain research and behavior. The Forum combines basic and applied research by brain scientists from a variety of disciplines, including cognition, psychopathology, rehabilitation and brain plasticity, which underlie human behavior. The Forum is unique in the diversity of its researchers and the fact that it is the only academic body in Israel emphasizing applied brain research where the academic affiliations of the its members span four different faculties: Education, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, and Social Welfare and Health sciences. This diversity supports groundbreaking research in both basic and applied fields and the possibility of broad, interdisciplinary intellectual interaction between the various researchers and their students.

The vision

The goal and vision of the Forum is to promote applied and basic research in the field of human brain imaging among University of Haifa researchers and among a new generation of outstanding students, while increasing visibility in the Israeli and international scientific community. To this end, the Forum works to advance the following objectives:
A unique curriculum - the establishment of a human brain imaging courses unit to train the next generation of neuroscientists. This program offers broad training in basic and practical courses for postgraduate students (MA and PhD). Courses are currently given in Hebrew

Scholarships for Students - There is a great demand for outstanding students to take part in groundbreaking research in the fields of basic research and applications in human brain research. In order to recruit outstanding students, the Forum strives for future scholarships and support for research and international travel. This will enable research at the highest level in innovative and creative fields, such as the impact of brain training interventions, mindfulness, motor and physical training on cognition, development and aging, human memory, social cognition and neurological rehabilitation.
Availability of research and technical support tools - To enable qualitative and breakthrough research, new research centers will be established in addition to the existing research centers, with emphasis on innovative equipment, including real-time electrophysiological and physiological measurements, virtual reality laboratories and a new MRI device, specifically dedicated for research purposes along with technical and methodological support for researchers.
Annual International Conference – one of our aims is to establish a bi-annual international conference to connect the Israeli and international neuroimaging communities to advance groundbreaking innovative research in basic and applied human brain research.

Committees

Committees:The forum was founded by Dr. Aviva Berkovich-Ohana with the steering committee: Prof. Avi Karni, Dr. Avi Mendelsohn (1st year), Dr. Hadas Okon-Singer (2nd year on), Prof. Simone Shamay-Tsoory.

Active committees:
Head of Forum: Prof. Aviva Berkovich-Ohana.
Courses committee: Prof. Tomer Shechner, Prof. Hadas Okon-Singer, Dr. Tali Raveh, Dr. Sarit Szpiro. Aims to provide theoretical and practical training in the field of neuroimaging, including existing and new courses.
Community committee: Prof. Tali Bitan, Prof. Aviva Berkovich-Ohana, Dr. Tal Krasovsky. Aims to create networking opportunities to support research, create visibility of the forum, implement a website for the forum and promote annual meetings.
MRI committee: Dr. Roee Admon, Prof. Avi Karni, Prof. Shai Gabay, Prof. Irit Weissman-Fogel, Dr. Nogah Cohen, Dr. Avi Mendelsohn. Aims to bridge the gap at University of Haifa in MRI research, including personnel and Infrastructure.
Procedures committee: Prof. Shai Gabai, Dr. Avi Mendelsohn. In charge of the Forum's protocol and procedures.
Technical support and infrastructure committee: Prof. Simone Shamay-Tsoory, Dr. Michal Kafri, Prof. Irit Weissman-Fogel, Dr. Amit Yashar. Aims to operationalize existing equipment for faculty and students and and provide space and support for new neuroimaging systems.