The nervous system shapes who we are, what we do, and how we think, feel, and move. TRAIN is a graduate level multi-departmental specialization that integrates with existing SFU departmental graduate programs (Masters and Doctoral) and is ideal for graduate students interested in interdisciplinary training in neuroscience. Graduate students in this specialization will develop strong problem-solving, critical-thinking, and communication skills to serve their future careers. Whether your aim is fundamental research, clinical application, industry-related, or any combination, you will leave with a broad understanding of the pathway from discovery to application to commercialization.

Understanding the function of the brain and its disorders has become increasingly important. Although neuroscientists have made excellent progress, we still have much to learn, and we must work to translate fundamental knowledge into effective interventions and health technologies. Translational neuroscience research is the integration of, and transfer of knowledge between, basic-, clinical-, and community-based research; the design and testing of behavioural-, drug-, and neurostimulation-based interventions in clinical populations; and the development, testing, and commercialization of health technologies. Importantly, translation also involves communicating novel findings and promoting general neuroscientific concepts to the public. Our researchers are at the forefront of these endeavours, which have the potential to greatly benefit society. SFU is ideally situated to provide this graduate training, given its strong track record of health innovation and state-of-the-art neuroscience equipment. Accordingly, a critical component of the TRAIN graduate specialization is the series of translation-oriented workshops and activities students will engage in throughout their degree(s).

Overall, the goals of the Graduate Specialization in Translational and Integrative Neuroscience (TRAIN) are threefold: (1) to provide integrative and interdisciplinary training in neuroscience at both Masters and Doctoral levels; (2) to prepare graduate students for careers within academia as well as for clinical and industrial research settings; and (3) to instil a translational mind-set in its graduates.