Dear Guests,

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to the 9 th international SONA conference in Sharm El-Sheikh from 8th to 13th December 2009. The Neuroscience Group of Egypt, NGE, is honored to be the host of the first Society of Neuroscientists of Africa, SONA, meeting in Egypt, and it is our aim to offer all the possible organizational support to make it an exceptional one.

A large group of renowned Neuroscientists from over the world will share their knowledge and experience in this prestigious convention, which will include scientific activities such as plenary talks, symposia, oral, and poster presentations of original research work. The sessions will integrate basic and clinical neurosciences to set a model of integration in medical practice.

We encourage all African neuroscientists to actively participate in this meeting and to make the best out of this unique scientific gathering. Junior neuroscientists will also have the change to explore the new advances in the various neuroscience disciplines, and to enjoy the different social activities that will be organized in parallel with the scientific work.

We look forward to seeing you all in Sharm El-Sheikh.


Ahmed El-Gohary, President
Society of Neuroscientists of Africa (SONA)

• Abdelhamid Benazzouz, INSERM, Universite Victor Segalen, France.
Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinson's Disease: From Basic Research to Clinical Application.

• Avi Chaudhuri, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
Is the Brain Wired for Face Perception at Birth?

• Charles Gross, Princeton University, USA.
Three " before their time": Neuroscientists whose ideas were ignored by their contemporaries.

• Leszek Kaczmarek, Nencki Institute, Poland.
Extracellular Proteolysis as a Key Factor in Synaptic Physiology.

• Hans-Peter Lipp, University of Zurich, Switzerland. On Bats and Mice.

• Charles Newton, Welcome/KEMRI Laboratory, Kilifi , Kenya
Cerebral Malaria

• Carol Barnes, Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, USA
Neural Correlates of Memory Decline in Aging

• Paul Manger, University of Wittswaterand, South Africa
So many different African brains, so little time...

• Vijayalakshmi Ravindranath, Centre for Neuroscience, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore India
Redox mediated apoptotic signaling and cell-specific degeneration in Parkinson's disease

• Abdel-Halim Nour El-Din, Egyptology Specialist

• Henry Markram, Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland
"The Blue Brain Project"

• Marina Bentivoglio, Secretary-General, IBRO, University of Verona, Italy

• Willie Daniels, University of KwaZulu-Natal , South Africa
How Lifestyle Affects Neurons

Special Events

Registration Form

Registration Fees: Includes Registration and Conference Kit Coffee Breaks, Welcome cocktail and Gala dinner.


Registration Rates for Egyptians

• Early registration: (before 30^th September 2009): L.E 250
• Late registration: (October 1^st December 1^st 2009): L.E 300
• On site registration: (After 1^st December 2009 ) : L.E 350



Registration Rates for Egyptian Students

• Early registration: (before 30^th September 2009): L.E 100
• Late registration: (After 30^st September 2009): L.E 150

** Student to Provide Proof of Registration and Letter From Head of Department.



Accompanying Persons (includes Welcome reception and Gala Dinner)

• Early registration Persons: (before 30^th September 2009): L.E 150
• Late registration Persons: (October 1^st December 1^st 2009): L.E 200
• On site registration Persons: (After 1^st December 2009 ) : L.E 250