🌍 Bridging Continents Through Neuroscience: UniPort–LTU Students Investigate ADHD Brain Differences with Support from African Brain Data Network and Brainlife.io
In Spring 2025, students from the University of Port Harcourt (UniPort), Nigeria and Lawrence Technological University (LTU), USA embarked on a transformative international collaboration to study brain volume differences in children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This project, conducted under the Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) model, was made possible through the support of the African Brain Data Network (ABDN) and the computational infrastructure provided by Brainlife.io.
Over the course of 15 weeks, 26 undergraduate neuroscience students were organized into mixed intercontinental teams to analyze structural MRI data from the ADHD-200 Consortium. Their analyses explored total brain volume, gray and white matter distribution, and cortical thickness across typically developing children and children diagnosed with ADHD.
🧑🏽🏫 Supervised by a Global Team of Neuroscience Mentors
This collaborative research project was conducted under the dedicated supervision and mentorship of:
- Prof. Franco Delogu (Lawrence Technological University, USA)
- Dr. Eberechi Wogu (University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria)
- Dr. Franco Pestilli (University of Texas at Austin, USA / Brainlife.io)
- Dr. Ahmed Unshur (City University of Mogadishu, Somalia)
- Mr. Patrick Filima (University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria / African Brain Data Network)
- Dr. Joan Mutahi (Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya)
Their guidance ensured that students not only developed neuroimaging skills but also engaged deeply in critical scientific thinking, data ethics, and global collaboration.
🧠 Training and Research on Brainlife.io
The students received structured hands-on training using Brainlife.io, a free and open cloud-based platform for analyzing MRI data. The training included:
- Data preprocessing with FSL ANAT
- Cortical segmentation and parcellation with Freesurfer
- Data aggregation and visualization using Jupyter notebooks
- Quality control and interpretation of volumetric brain measures
Although the original goal was to analyze Nigerian brain MRI data, the limited resolution (1.5 Tesla) required a switch to open datasets highlighting ongoing infrastructure challenges and the value of cloud-based platforms for African research institutions.
🤝 African Brain Data Network’s Pivotal Role
The African Brain Data Network (ABDN) was instrumental in:
- Providing technical mentorship and support throughout the project
- Facilitating early training with Nigerian brain data
- Offering institutional backing and visibility for African students in global neuroscience
- Inspiring the long-term goal of equitable access to neuroimaging research resources across the continent
“The mentorship and encouragement from ABDN gave us the confidence to collaborate across borders and dive into real-world brain data,” said several UniPort students.
🌱 A Model for Inclusive, Cloud-Powered Neuroscience
This project showcased the power of combining open science, cloud computing, and inclusive pedagogy. Students not only learned technical skills but also built cultural understanding and cross-institutional teamwork hallmarks of truly global science.
🔭 What’s Next?
With the success of this collaboration, there are active plans to:
- Expand the CURE + Brainlife model to other African institutions
- Strengthen MRI data quality and acquisition standards across the continent
- Continue supporting student-driven projects through ABDN, Brainlife.io, and their growing network of global mentors
This initiative is a powerful example of what can happen when African leadership, cloud technology, and collaborative research training unite to empower the next generation of neuroscientists.
