The Global Brain Health Institute invites emerging leaders from around the world to join a lifelong community advancing brain health equity.
A member of Atlantic Fellow Prabha Shrestha's research team conducts a community interview with an older adult in rural Nepal as part of a GBHI Pilot Award project.
The Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI), based at Trinity College Dublin and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), is now accepting applications for the 2027–2028 Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health program.
As populations age, the need for leaders equipped to address the growing impact of dementia has never been greater. The Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health program brings together experienced professionals from diverse disciplines who are committed to advancing brain health equity through leadership, collaboration, research, and innovation.
Designed for emerging leaders, the fellowship provides education, mentorship, leadership development, and lifelong global connections. Fellows strengthen their expertise while learning alongside clinicians, researchers, artists, public health professionals, policymakers, educators, and advocates from around the world.
The Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health is a community of leaders from all over the world that are doing amazing work to reduce the burden of dementia and to help people live longer, healthier lives.
— Tanisha Hill-Jarrett, Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health
One Mission, Two Fellowship Experiences
Atlantic Fellows complete their fellowship year at one of two sites: Trinity College Dublin or the University of California, San Francisco. While both programs share a common mission, values, and commitment to advancing brain health equity, each offers a distinct learning experience shaped by its institutional strengths.
GBHI at Trinity offers a full-time, in-person fellowship in Dublin, emphasizing a life-course approach to brain health and the social determinants that influence dementia risk throughout life.
GBHI at UCSF offers a global hybrid fellowship that combines interactive online learning, international in-person workshops, and flexible opportunities to engage with the UCSF Fein Memory and Aging Center. Fellows gain exposure to world-leading clinical care, research, and interdisciplinary education while remaining connected to their home institutions and communities.
Applicants may apply to one fellowship site per application cycle and are encouraged to choose the program that best aligns with their professional goals and preferred learning experience.
Learning Across Disciplines
One of the fellowship's defining strengths is its interdisciplinary community.
Atlantic Fellows come from fields including clinical practice, neuroscience, public health, policy, technology, education, engineering, journalism, the arts, business, and the social sciences. Together, they challenge assumptions, exchange ideas, and develop new approaches to advancing brain health in communities around the world.
The fellowship is designed to meet fellows where they are, building on their existing expertise while expanding their understanding of brain health through clinical, scientific, public health, and humanities perspectives.
Turning Learning into Action
Throughout the fellowship year, participants develop the knowledge, leadership skills, and global partnerships needed to create lasting impact.
Many fellows go on to lead innovative research, strengthen clinical care, influence policy, launch community initiatives, and inspire new conversations about dementia and brain health. Through GBHI's Pilot Awards for Global Brain Health Leaders program, fellows can also receive funding to support projects that improve brain health outcomes in their home communities.
For example, Atlantic Fellow Prabha Shrestha is leading a pilot project in Nepal focused on hypertension as a modifiable risk factor for dementia, demonstrating how fellowship learning can be translated into meaningful local action with global relevance.
A Lifelong Global Community
Graduation marks the beginning—not the end—of the fellowship experience.
Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health become part of a lifelong global community committed to advancing brain health equity through continued learning, mentorship, collaboration, and leadership. Fellows also join the broader Atlantic Fellows network, connecting them with leaders across seven fellowship programs working to build fairer, healthier, and more inclusive societies worldwide.
Apply Today
Applications for the 2027–2028 Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health program are now open.
Application deadlines
- Trinity College Dublin: September 18, 2026
- University of California, San Francisco: November 2, 2026
The fellowship begins in late August 2027.
Prospective applicants are also invited to attend upcoming virtual information sessions to hear from GBHI faculty, staff, and Atlantic Fellows, learn about the fellowship experience, and ask questions about the application process.
- Trinity Applicant Webinar: July 30, 2026 | Register
- UCSF Applicant Webinar: August 11, 2026 | Register
We welcome applications from experienced professionals who are ready to collaborate across disciplines, challenge conventional thinking, and help create a healthier future for communities around the world.
