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British Neuroscience Association Chief Executive Laura Ajram says neuroscience research should involve patients and people with lived experience from the outset, alongside clinicians, charities, academics and industry. In a News-Medical interview, she also stressed that research partners need to discuss their different goals early; the interview does not announce a new program or research result.
The British Neuroscience Association’s chief executive, Dr. Laura Ajram, has called for people with lived experience, clinicians, charities, academics and industry researchers to be involved in neuroscience research from its early stages. In a News-Medical interview published Nov. 2, she said their perspectives can help researchers understand what patients want from research and improve communication among partners pursuing drug discovery.
Ajram told News-Medical that her views were shaped by her training in pharmacology and neuroscience, including doctoral research on the neuropharmacology of autism spectrum disorders. Her PhD was jointly based at King’s College London and Eli Lilly and included preclinical and clinical research. She said meeting people living with the conditions she studied influenced how she thinks about unmet needs and research priorities.
Autism is heterogeneous, Ajram said, and the people she spoke with had different experiences, challenges and expectations. That convinced her that research should not assume a single approach will reflect everyone’s needs. She said patients, caregivers, clinicians and people with lived experience should help shape research from the beginning, rather than being consulted only after priorities have been set.
Ajram also described the BNA as a membership organization supporting neuroscientists in laboratory, university and clinical roles through training, networking, events and opportunities to connect. As chief executive, she leads its strategy and oversees its team and operational priorities. She said her work across academia, industry, healthcare and charities has made her attentive to differences in how research partners define success.
Patient Priorities in Drug Discovery
Patient involvement can help research teams identify questions and outcomes that matter to the people affected by a condition. Ajram’s account highlights a practical challenge: scientific or commercial goals may not automatically match patient priorities. Bringing patients and clinicians into discussions early may help partnerships recognize those differences before research plans are fixed.
The interview is relevant to neuroscience organizations and research partners because it links collaboration not just to sharing expertise, but to agreeing on the purpose of a project. Ajram did not present evidence that any particular approach produces better treatments. Rather, she argued that listening to people affected by a condition is necessary to understand what research is intended to achieve.
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Ajram’s Cross-Sector Experience
Ajram studied pharmacology at King’s College London and completed a year in industry at GlaxoSmithKline, according to the interview. Her later doctoral work at King’s and Eli Lilly gave her experience spanning academic and industry research, as well as preclinical and clinical work. She said these experiences led her to seek roles connecting people across sectors rather than working exclusively in academia or industry.
She described the BNA as a professional membership association, not a research funder or drug developer. Its stated role is to support neuroscience professionals through career development, training, events and networking. The interview focuses on Ajram’s perspective and leadership approach; it does not report a new BNA initiative, partnership, clinical trial or scientific finding.
“You cannot take a one-size-fits-all approach, particularly in mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions.”
— Dr. Laura Ajram, British Neuroscience Association chief executive, speaking to News-Medical
No New Research Program Announced
The interview sets out Ajram’s views but does not specify a new BNA policy, funding commitment, research partnership or timetable for action. It also provides no data comparing outcomes from projects with and without patient involvement. The extent to which the BNA will apply these principles through specific future initiatives is not stated.
Ajram’s examples of differing academic and industry priorities are explanatory, not evidence that all partnerships share the same tensions. The interview does not identify a particular project, drug candidate or clinical outcome that has resulted from the collaborative approach she advocates.
How the BNA Applies Its Priorities
No next milestone was announced in the interview. Ajram said the BNA seeks to understand members’ needs and provide relevant training, events and connections, but the report does not give dates or details for new activities. Any future change to BNA programs or research partnerships would need to be confirmed separately by the association.
For now, the development is a statement of leadership priorities rather than a launch or policy announcement. Readers looking for practical follow-up can watch for BNA event and program information, as well as details of whether future research collaborations include patients and people with lived experience in setting their goals.
Key Questions
What did Laura Ajram say about neuroscience research?
She said research should involve patients, clinicians, caregivers and people with lived experience early, and that partners across sectors should communicate their goals clearly.
Was a new BNA program or research project announced?
No. The News-Medical piece is an interview about Ajram’s background and views; it does not announce a new program, partnership or research result.
Why does Ajram emphasize patient involvement?
She said people affected by conditions such as autism can have different experiences and expectations, so researchers should ask what matters to them rather than assume a single set of priorities.
What does the British Neuroscience Association do?
Ajram described the BNA as a membership organization that supports neuroscientists through training, networking, events and career connections.
What remains unknown after the interview?
The report does not detail a specific policy or future initiative, provide outcome data on patient involvement, or identify a research project resulting from the approach Ajram described.
Source: news-medical.net
