Our origins stretch back to the 60s, when informal pub meetings were formalised into what was first called the Brain Research Association. Our members, past and present, include world-leading scientists making major discoveries in neuroscience.
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In the 1960s, a new type of interdisciplinary science gained an official name: neuroscience.
Neuroscience first saw the day of light under the name of the ‘Neurosciences Research Program’ or NRP. Founded in 1962, the NRP went on to become the American Society for Neuroscience.
In Britain, meanwhile, the first organisation that could lay claim to being dedicated to neuroscience was the predecessor of the British Neuroscience Association; the Brain Research Association (BRA) formally founded in London in 1968. The BRA shared the ethos of the American NRP, namely to promote multidisciplinarity and collaboration across the brain sciences.
Yet the BRA came from very humble beginnings.
It started as an eclectic group of like-minded scientists – not yet neuroscientists – who would gather at the Black Horse pub in Rathbone Place, London, to discuss topics that cut across different disciplines in brain science. This “brain discussion group,” sometimes also called the London Neurobiology Discussion Group, was initiated by four scientists: Steven Rose, John Lagnado, John Dobbing, and Robert Balázs.
From the mid-1960s the BRA promoted neuroscience in the UK, organizing conferences and workshops, acting as a lobby group, promoting new courses, degrees, centres and chairs in the neurosciences and gradually engaging in the ethical and social implications emerging from this new field of research.
The first BRA committee, elected in 1968 by postal vote, comprised eight members from different regions of the UK: John B. Cavanagh, Barry A. Cross, John Dobbing, Chris Evans, Edward George Gray, Pat Wall, Ian C. Whitefield, and Oliver L. Zangwill. Derek Richter and Donald MacKay (see The origins of the British Neuroscience Association by Edward Reynolds (2017)). UK representatives on the Central Council of the International Brain Research Organization, should also be acknowledged for their role in formalising the BRA as the first national neuroscience association in the UK.
It wasn’t until 1996 that BRA became the British Neuroscience Association. The linguistic mutation from ‘brain’ to ‘neuroscience’ is an illuminating moment in the history of the BNA (and brain research more broadly) for it reflects the rise of neuroscience in both scientific and popular imaginations.
(Above text based on article in the 2012 BNA Bulletin, The Legend of the Black Horse, by Joelle M. Abi-Rached, Anne Cooke and Steven Rose)
See further information about the early years of the BNA in the Archive, below.
The origins of the BNA lie in the 1960s, when neuroscience first emerged as a disclipine in its own right. The exact nature and series of events that led to (what was then) to the Brain Research Association are a subject of some discussion, as becomes clear by reading the articles below.
The Legend of the Black Horse, by Joelle M. Abi-Rached, Anne Cooke and Steven Rose
British Neuroscience Association Bulletin, 63 pp 20-21 (2011)
The Legend of the Black Horse (revisited) by Robert Balazs & Edward H. Reynolds
British Neuroscience Association Bulletin, 70 p28 (2014)
Reply to the Legend of the Black Horse (revisited) by Abi-Rached, JM, SPR Rose, and J Lagnado
British Neuroscience Association Bulletin, 70 p29 (2014)
From brain to neuro: the Brain Research Association and the making of British neuroscience 1965–1996, by JM Abi-Rached
J Hist Neurosci, 21 (2012), pp. 189–213
DOI: 10.1080/0964704X.2011.552413
Letter to the Editor and Authors' Response: Reaction to Abi-Rached JM (2012): From Brain to Neuro: The Brain Research Association and the Making of British Neuroscience, 1965–1996. Journal of the History of the Neurosciences 21:189–213) by Robert Balazs & Edward H. Reynolds
J Hist Neurosci, 22 (2013), pp. 199-207
DOI: 10.1080/0964704X.2012.750700
Authors' Response: Of Founding Fathers and History by Joelle M. Abi-Rached & Steven P.R. Rose
J Hist Neurosci, 22 (2013), pp. 208-211
DOI: 10.1080/0964704X.2012.754270
50 years of neuroscience, by Steven Rose
The Lancet, Volume 385, Issue 9968, 14–20 February 2015, Pages 598–599
DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60224-0
The origins of the British Neuroscience Association by E. Reynolds
Neuroscience 367, pp. 10–14. (2017)
doi: 10.1016/J.NEUROSCIENCE.2017.09.057
| Year | Officers | Trustees | |
| 2022-2023 |
President: Rik Henson Secretary: Zoe Kourtzi Treasurer: Trevor Bushell |
Catherine Abbott Mike Ashby Manfred Berners Kevin Cox Annette Dolphin |
Alan Palmer |
| 2021-2022 |
President: Rik Henson Secretary: Zoe Kourtzi Treasurer: Catherine Harmer |
Manfred Berners Kevin Cox Annette Dolphin Anthony Isles Anne Lingford-Hughes |
Alan Palmer Narender Ramnani Tara Spires-Jones Volko Straub |
| 2020-2021 |
President: Rik Henson Secretary: Zoe Kourtzi Treasurer: Catherine Harmer |
Manfred Berners Kevin Cox Annette Dolphin Anthony Isles Anne Lingford-Hughes |
Alan Palmer Narender Ramnani Tara Spires-Jones Volko Straub |
| 2020-2021 |
President: Annette Dolphin Secretary: Zoe Kourtzi Treasurer: Catherine Harmer |
Manfred Berners Kevin Cox Annette Dolphin Anthony Isles Stafford Lightman |
Anne Lingford-Hughes Alan Palmer Narender Ramnani Volko Straub |
| 2019-2020 |
President: Annette Dolphin Secretary: Zoe Kourtzi Treasurer: Catherine Harmer |
Manfred Berners Kevin Cox Annette Dolphin Anthony Isles Stafford Lightman |
Anne Lingford-Hughes Rosamund Langston Alan Palmer Narender Ramnani |
| 2018-2019 |
President: Stafford Lightman Secretary: Zoe Kourtzi Treasurer: Catherine Harmer |
John Aggleton Manfred Berners Kevin Cox Annette Dolphin Anthony Isles |
Anne Lingford-Hughes Rosamund Langston Alan Palmer Narender Ramnani |
| 2017-2018 |
President: Stafford Lightman Secretary: Emil Toescu Treasurer: Catherine Harmer |
John Aggleton |
Anne Lingford-Hughes Rosamund Langston Alan Palmer Narender Ramnani |
| Year | President | Secretary | Treasurer | Non-Executive Directors |
| 2016-2017 | John Aggleton | Emil Toescu | Attila Sik | Alan Palmer Manfred Berners Kevin Cox |
| 2015-2016 | John Aggleton | Emil Toescu | Attila Sik |
Alan Palmer |
| 2014-2015 | Russell Foster | Bruno Frenguelli | Attila Sik |
Alan Palmer |
| Year | President (Chair 1968-1997) | Secretary | Treasurer |
| 2013-2014 | Russell Foster | Bruno Frenguelli | Duncan Banks |
| 2012-2013 | David Nutt | Bruno Frenguelli | Duncan Banks |
| 2011-2012 | David Nutt | Bruno Frenguelli | Duncan Banks |
| 2010-2011 | Trevor Robbins | Bruno Frenguelli | Duncan Banks |
| 2009-2010 | Trevor Robbins | Colin Ingram | Duncan Banks |
| 2008-2009 | Graham Collingridge | Colin Ingram | Stefan Przyborski |
| 2007-2008 | Graham Collingridge | Colin Ingram | Stefan Przyborski |
| 2006-2007 | Richard Frackowiak | Debbie Dewar | Stefan Przyborski |
| 2005-2006 | Richard Frackowiak | Debbie Dewar | Colin Ingram |
| 2004-2005 | Richard Frackowiak | Debbie Dewar | Colin Ingram |
| 2003-2004 | Nancy Rothwell | Raj Kalaria | Ian Varndell |
| 2002-2003 | Nancy Rothwell | Raj Kalaria | Ian Varndell |
| 2001-2002 | Nancy Rothwell | Raj Kalaria | Ian Varndell |
| 2000-2001 | Nancy Rothwell | Raj Kalaria | Ian Varndell |
| 1999-2000 | Colin Blakemore | Paul Bolam | Lindy Holden-Dye |
| 1998-1999 | Colin Blakemore | Paul Bolam | Lindy Holden-Dye |
| 1997-1998 | Colin Blakemore | Paul Bolam | Lindy Holden-Dye |
| 1996-1997 | Susan Iversen | Paul Bolam | Philip Bradley |
| 1995-1996 | Susan Iversen | Mike Stewart | Philip Bradley |
| 1994-1995 | Susan Iversen | Mike Stewart | Philip Bradley |
| 1993-1994 | Richard Morris | Mike Stewart | Philip Bradley |
| 1992-1993 | Richard Morris | Mike Stewart | Philip Bradley |
| 1991-1992 | Richard Morris | Ian Kilpatrick | Philip Bradley |
| 1990-1991 | Richard Morris | Ian Kilpatrick | John Garthwaite |
| 1989-1990 | John Kelly | Peter Roberts | John Garthwaite |
| 1987-1989 | John Kelly | Peter Roberts | Steve Logan |
| 1986-1987 | John Kelly | Peter Roberts | Ray Hill |
| 1985-1986 | John O’Keefe | Vicky Sterling | Ray Hill |
| 1984-1985 | John O’Keefe | Vicky Sterling | Ray Hill |
| 1983-1984 | John O’Keefe | Vicky Sterling | Ray Hill |
| 1982-1983 | Adam Sillito | Vicky Sterling | Ray Hill |
| 1981-1982 | Adam Sillito | Vicky Sterling | Paul Lewis |
| 1979-1981 | John Wolstencroft | John O’Keefe | Paul Lewis |
| 1978-1979 | John Wolstencroft | John O’Keefe | Sandra File |
| 1977-1978 | Geof Einon | John O’Keefe | Sandra File |
| 1976-1977 | Horace Barlow | Geof Einon | Sandra File |
| 1974-1976 | Horace Barlow | Geof Einon | John Wolstencroft |
| 1973-1974 | Pat Wall | Chris Evans | John Wolstencroft |
| 1968-1973 | Pat Wall | Chris Evans | John Dobbing |
This list includes a range of roles at the BNA, such as but not limited to: Trustees, Patrons, Council, Executive and Committee Members. The dates are listed with first known interaction with the BNA to the last known interaction. (The names and dates may be incomplete, as all information was drawn from letters, BNA bulletins and annual reports, when these were available. If you are aware of any missing or wrong data, please email us at office@bna.org.uk, so we can update it.)
| Year | Outstanding Contribution to Neuroscience |
| 2022 | Professor Dame Pamela Shaw Consultant neurologist, and professor of neurology at the University of Sheffield. |
| 2021 | Professor Joanna Wardlaw Chair of Applied Neuroimaging; Head of Neuroimaging Sciences and Edinburgh Imaging; Row Fogo Centre Director, University of Edinburgh |
| 2020 | Professor Karen Duff Associate Director (Professor in Dementia and Neurodegeneration) at the UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL. |
| 2019 |
Professor Steve McMahon |
| 2018 | Professor Irene Tracey Head of Department for the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences & Professor of Anaesthetic Science Oxford University |
| 2017 | Professor Michael Owen Professor of Psychological Medicine (Psychiatry) Cardiff University |
| 2016 | Professor David Ogden Université Paris Descartes |
| 2015 | Professor Angela Vincent MBBS (Hon PhD Bergen) FRCPath FMedSci FRD, University of Oxford |
| 2014 | Professor Dame Kay Davies CBE, DBE, F.MedSci., FRS. University of Oxford |
| 2013 | Professor Uta Frith Professor of Cognitive Development UCL Institute of Neuroscience |
| 2012 | Professor Steven Rose Emeritus Professor of Biology, Open University. Emeritus Professor of Phsick, Gresham College London. Visiting Professor, University College London. |
| 2011 | Sir Gabriel Horn FRS FRCP Emeritus Professor of Zoology University of Cambridge |
| 2010 | Not awarded |
| 2009 | FRS Professor Geoffrey Burnstock FRS |
| 2008 | FRS Professor Chris Frith FRS |
| 2007 | Professor John O'Keefe FRS |
| 2006 | Professor Horace Barlow FRS |
| 2005 | Professor Richard Gregory FRS |
| 2004 | Professor Geoffrey Raisman FRS |
| 2003 | Dr Tim Bliss |
| 2002 | Professor Richard Morris FRS FRSE |
| 2001 | Professor Colin Blakemore FRS |
| 2000 | Professor Patrick Wall FRS First recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to British Neuroscience Award |
| Year | Public Engagement of Neuroscience |
| 2022 | Sophie Sanford Sophie pioneered a new virtual, free STEM conference – Making it Brain - specifically aimed at students aged 16+. |
| 2021 | The BrainBus team, MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge BrainBus at MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit provides a pivotal outreach experience to primary school children, exposing them to subjects, careers and role models which they would not otherwise encounter. |
| 2020 | Matt Eagles Matt Eagles has been living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) for some 45 years, but has never succumbed and has been using his enormous experience of this brain disease to raise awareness of PD, acting as a tireless patient advocate and a frequent public speaker contributing to charity events, clinical and scientific meetings and conferences. |
| 2019 | Dr Dean Burnett Dean Burnett is a neuroscientist, lecturer, author, blogger, podcaster, pundit, science communicator, comedian and numerous other things, depending on who’s asking and what they need. |
| 2018 | Dr Emma Yhnell Cardiff University. Health and Care Research Wales Fellow working in the Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute (NMHRI). Fellowship focusing on computerised cognitive training (brain training) for people with Huntington's disease. Dedicated STEM ambassador and role model who was awarded the prestigious Charles Darwin Lecture at the 2018 British Science Festival. |
| 2017 | Dr Dervila Glynn University of Cambridge. Neuroscience coordinator who supports neuroscientists across the institution through activities including conferences and seminars. Significant contributor to BRAINfest public event in 2017. |
| 2016 | Dr Emma Robinson University of Bristol. A full time neuroscientist who is also highly active in carrying out public engagement, and in facilitating other people to do so via the Bristol Neuroscience Festival. |
| Public Understanding of Neuroscience | |
| 2015 |
Professor Mark Lythgoe |
| 2014 | Science Media Centre Fiona Fox, Chief Executive and Dr Edward Sykes, Senior Press Manager and Head of Mental Health & Neuroscience. |
| 2013 | Dr Jane Haley Edinburgh Neuroscience Coordinator, University of Edinburgh |
| 2012 | Claudia Hammond British author, occasional TV presenter, and frequent radio presenter with the BBC World Service and BBC Radio 4 |
| 2011 | Oliver Sacks MD FRCP Neurologist and Author; Columbia University, New York |
| 2010 | Ben Goldacre Medical doctor, author and blogger |
| 2009 | Mary Baker MBE |
| 2008 | Sir Terry Pratchett |
| 2007 | Lord (David) Sainsbury of Turville |
| 2006 | Michael Robins |
| 2005 | Dr Mark Matfield |
| 2004 | European DANA Alliance for the Brain (EDAB) |
| 2003 | Lord (Jack) Ashley of Stoke |
| 2002 | Marjorie Wallace (SANE) |
| 2001 | Lord (Brian) Rix of Hornsea (MENCAP) |
| 2000 | Andrew Blake |
| 1999 | Julia Somerville First recipient of the BNA Public Service Award |
| Year | Undergraduate Winner | Postgraduate Winner |
| 2022 | Catherine Whittle, Durham University |
Andrija Sente, University of Cambridge |
| 2021 | Sioned Williams (University of Leeds) |
Alberto Lazari (University of Oxford) |
| 2020 | Tahnee Mackensen (University of Edinburgh) |
Alexander Bates (University of Cambridge) |
| 2019 |
Pia Siegele |
James Phillips |
| 2018 | Rachel Coney (University of Leeds) |
Delia Fuhrmann (University College London) |
| 2017 | Irene Echeverria Altuna (University College London) |
Gido van de Ven (University of Oxford) |
| 2016 | Jointly awarded to: Alina Gutoreva (University of Leeds) Blair Wilson (University of Edinburgh) |
Chen Song (University College London) |
| 2015 | Veselina Petrova (University of Edinburgh) |
Kathryn Mills (University College London) |
| 2014 | Lauren Byrne (University of Edinburgh) |
Linda Katona (University of Oxford) |
| 2013 | Elina Jacobs (University of Edinburgh) |
Rumana Chowdhury (University College London) |
| 2012 | Lewis Hou (University of Edinburgh) |
Dr Florence Rose Fricker (King's College London) |
| 2011 | Kate Clark (University of Central Lancashire) Special Commendation to Joseph Norris (King's College London) |
Dr Christian Münch (LMB, University of Cambridge) |
| 2010 | Owen Thomas (University of Birmingham) Special Commendation to Sally Harris (University of Bristol) |
Dr Stephanie Burnett |
| 2009 | Not awarded | Not awarded |
| 2008 | Phillip Goldrich (University of Leeds) |
Dr Lara Menzies (University of Cambridge) |
| 2007 | Richard Hickman (University of Birmingham) |
Dr Rosamund Langston (University of Edinburgh) |
| 2006 | Sophie Buglass (University of Leeds) |
Dr Karen Luyt (University of Bristol) |
| 2005 | Jointly awarded to: Luxmi Fatimathas (University College London) Matthew Martin (University of Bradford) |
Dr Felipe Court (University of Edinburgh) |
