Leading Together: Building Brain Health Leadership in Cameroon

In this perspective, Atlantic Fellow Yembe Njamnshi reflects on how local leadership and a global community are coming together to mentor emerging researchers, strengthen partnerships, and advance brain health in Cameroon.

^{Atlantic Fellow Yembe Njamnshi addresses the inaugural Cameroon Brain Health Leadership Seminar, which he organized. Photo courtesy of BRAIN.}

When I joined the Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI) as an Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health, my objective was to become a better researcher and leader as I work to create positive changes in my community. What I did not fully appreciate was that I was joining a community that would continually walk alongside me, investing in my vision and supporting my growth well beyond the fellowship year.

In June 2026, this was on full display during a remarkable week in Cameroon. I had one of the most intense but fulfilling six days of my career. The week began with AI-BOND IMPACT, a three-day, hands-on training workshop that brought together 17 early-career researchers and students at our home institution, Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), to strengthen skills in grant writing and research methods. The week also included visits to our clinical and research facilities, along with scientific and collaborative meetings.

^{GBHI faculty member Elena Tsoy (left) and Atlantic Fellow Temitope Farombi (right) share insights with participants at the Cameroon Brain Health Leadership Seminar. Photos courtesy of BRAIN.}

Inspiring Future Leaders

The highlight came with the maiden edition of the Cameroon Brain Health Leadership Seminar, which I had the privilege of organizing. As the first Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health from Cameroon, the expectations from my community after my fellowship were very high. If one thing was clear to me from day one of my fellowship, it was that it would take a team to collectively build a brain-healthy future on our continent. 

The vision for the seminar was simple: create an opportunity for students, clinicians, psychologists, researchers, laboratory scientists, radiologists, and anyone interested in brain health to learn from leaders in the field and discover how they might contribute to dementia research in Cameroon.

Nearly 60 participants from diverse professional backgrounds came together with a shared desire to improve brain health in Cameroon. Their enthusiasm exceeded every expectation. Throughout the day, staff (Matenyeh Kaba) faculty members (Elena Tsoy and Victor Valcour) and Atlantic Fellows – Yared Zewde (Ethiopia), Mawuli Lawson (Togo), Constance Ayuk (Cameroon), Temitope Farombi (Nigeria), and Chi Udeh-Momoh (Kenya) from GBHI shared their personal journeys, scientific knowledge, leadership experiences, and lessons learned from building successful research careers.

One of the most rewarding moments for me was watching participants ask questions, exchange ideas, and begin envisioning themselves as future leaders in brain health. I have come to believe that gatherings like this can do more than share knowledge. They bring people together, inspire new ways of thinking, and help shape careers. That is exactly what I saw happening at the seminar.

There comes a moment when you must step forward and create the opportunities you wish existed.

—Atlantic Fellow Yembe Njamnshi

Building Momentum Through Mentorship

The impact is already becoming visible. Following the grants training, six mentees on my team successfully submitted letters of intent for pilot grants and will continue to receive mentorship as they develop full applications. New collaborations have emerged across institutions, existing international partnerships have been strengthened, and a growing network of brain health researchers is beginning to take shape in Cameroon.

Personally, this experience reminded me of an important lesson about leadership. There comes a moment when you must step forward and create the opportunities you wish existed. Organizing the seminar was certainly ambitious, but I never felt that I was doing it alone. The GBHI community immediately rallied behind the vision. Faculty members and Atlantic Fellows generously volunteered their time to teach, mentor, encourage, and inspire the next generation. It was a powerful example of what becomes possible when local leadership is matched by a global community committed to equity.

My long-term vision has always been to build sustainable capacity for brain health research in Cameroon and French-speaking Africa. While research groups in the region are already doing important work, we need many more investigators, clinicians, and young leaders committed to understanding and improving brain health. Every student inspired, every new collaboration formed, every grant submitted, and every leader supported brings us one step closer to that future.

^{Yared Zewde and Alfred Njamnshi share a moment of connection (left), while seminar participants, Atlantic Fellows, and GBHI faculty and staff gather for a group photo (right). Photos courtesy of BRAIN.}

Turning Research Into National Action

Another highlight of the week was a productive working session at the Ministry of Public Health’s Directorate of Research. Through my GBHI-funded pilot project, we are working with the Ministry and other stakeholders to develop a National Dementia Plan for Cameroon. This visit provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen stakeholder engagement and discuss the next steps in the project. Together with Prof. Valcour, and Mawuli Lawson, an Atlantic Fellow from Togo, I had the opportunity to share updates on our progress, exchange perspectives with Ministry officials, and discuss priorities and strategies for moving the initiative forward. This is an important step toward translating our research efforts into national policy and improving dementia care in Cameroon. 

Looking back, I realize that this week was about much more than meetings, workshops, or seminars. It was about building people, strengthening partnerships, and laying the foundations for a future that will improve the lives of people living with dementia and their families.

The future of brain health in Africa is not being built in isolation. It is being shaped by Africans working in their communities alongside colleagues from around the world. This remarkable week demonstrated that our greatest strength lies not only in what we know, but in how we show up for one another. When we invest not only in research, but also in people, and lead with authenticity, fairness, openness, respect, courage and empathy, we can transform brain health—one person, one community, one region at a time.