International Institute for Neuroscience of Natal

One of the Institute Buildings inside the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte

The International Institute for Neurosciences of Natal - Edmond and Lily Safra (IINN-ELS - Portuguese for Instituto Internacional de Neurociências de Natal - Edmond e Lily Safra) is located in Natal, capital city of the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Norte. It was projected and is directed by neuroscientist Miguel Nicolelis (considered one of the 20 most important neuroscientists in activity in the last decade^{[citation needed]}). The IINN aims to decentralize research in Brazil, currently restricted to South and Southeast regions of Brazil.

There are many educational projects held by the IINN, to support the local community and teach science to children of the nearby area. Nicolelis said he chose that district to create the institute exactly because it was the worst in terms of education.^{[citation needed]}

One of its objectives is to allow the return of Brazilian scientists to the country and create an enabling environment for foreigners to come based on criteria internally defined by the institution's managers.^{[citation needed]} In 2007, the IINN received a cash reinforcement: Education Minister Fernando Haddad signed a decree allocating R $42 million to the institution.^{[citation needed]} In 2007, on the occasion of the II IINN Symposium, it was renamed the Edmond and Lily Safra International Christmas Neuroscience Institute through an agreement with the Safra Foundation.^{[citation needed]}

It was endowed by the Edmond J. Safra Foundation.^[1]

References

^ Clay Risen. 2022. Lily Safra, Star-Crossed Socialite and Philanthropist, Dies at 87. The New York Times. Retrieved February 14, 2024 from this url "Their foundation endowed the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard, the Edmond J. Safra campus at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience in Brazil and the Edmond and Lily Safra Children’s Hospital in Israel."