From Central Brooklyn to the Global Stage: Equity in Neuroscience
By Office of the President | Jun 3, 2025
Earlier this spring, Downstate hosted the Global Neuroscience Initiative Meeting (DGNI), centered on the theme “Health Equity in the Precision Medicine Era of Global Neuroscience.” The event was convened by Ernest Barthélemy, M.D., MPH, MA., FCNS, Chief of the Division of Neurosurgery. Reflecting Downstate’s mission to drive scientific innovation while addressing health disparities, the meeting emphasized the importance of equitable access to emerging neuroscience advances. DGNI was co-founded and is co-directed by Dr. Barthélemy and Elizabeth Chernyak, M.D., Director of Inpatient Neurology Services at Maimonides Medical Center and Assistant Professor of Neurology at Downstate.
The keynote address, “The Business Argument for Promoting Neuro-Health Equity: Preparing Providers,” delivered by Allen N. Lewis, Ph.D., CRC, Dean of the School of Health Professions, examined culture as a crucial intersection of global neuroscience, precision medicine, and health equity. Dr. Lewis emphasized the business rationale and moral imperative for advancing neuro-health equity through culturally competent, globally coordinated care that addresses systemic barriers and accounts for genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. His message sharpened the symposium’s focus on achieving equity in acquired brain injury care.
A clear message emerged that unless historically excluded populations, particularly African, Caribbean, and Hispanic communities, are intentionally included, precision medicine will risk deepening existing disparities in neuroscience. Data gaps produce care gaps, leaving neighborhoods like East Flatbush and Crown Heights without access to timely, effective, and culturally responsive treatment. This convening served as a call to action: neuroscience must evolve beyond a top-down model into a globally collaborative field that amplifies leadership across diasporas. Downstate’s legacy in social medicine and community-grounded care remains a vital model for this transformation.
Sessions on neuro-ethics, diaspora leadership, and community-engaged research made it clear that trust must be rebuilt through data and dialogue. In the precision era, ethical frameworks, inclusive biobanking, and transparent, community-informed consent are not optional but foundational to legitimacy and equity.
Reflecting these values, this year’s DGNI will debut a new experimental session to help attendees refine their research aims through real-time discussion and collaborative feedback. This innovative format supports Downstate’s commitment to scientific excellence and community impact. As precision neuroscience evolves, Downstate accepts the charge to fund equity-driven research, train inclusive leaders, and forge global partnerships built on mutual respect.
Special thank you to W. Marcus Lambert, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Research; Marie-Claire Roberts, Ph.D., MS, MPA, RN, Executive Vice Dean, College of Nurisng; and Gene D. Morse, PharmD, FCCP, BCPS, Distinguished Professor in the University of Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and to student organizers Andrii Del Rosario and Sabina Kubayeva for their leadership in making this convening possible. This is what it means to #KeepCareClose and to ensure that the future of neuroscience is advanced and equitable.