Chapter Highlights: Mission:BRAIN UNAM, February to May 2026

Mission:BRAIN UNAM has released the third edition of its chapter newsletter, and the four months it covers read like a full year of work. From February through May, the chapter hosted more than 15 keynote lectures, led the neurology and neuroscience track at a major student congress, brought neuroscience education to more than 700 community members, placed student research on international stages, and launched a podcast. Here is what the chapter accomplished, and what is coming next.

Education: bridging knowledge in the community

The chapter opened its educational calendar on February 27 with an in-person conference on neurological emergencies. As part of the MB-STROPE initiative, vascular neurosurgeon Dr. Omar Pichardo shared clinical insights on the evolution of stroke management, including how artificial intelligence tools like Brainomix are reshaping endovascular care. Dr. Constantino Hernández of GIEUM UNAM followed with an interactive session on the early identification of secondary headaches, drawing more than 30 students into collaborative case discussions.

Leading the MEDIGEN 2026 Student Congress

From March 10 to 13, Mission:BRAIN UNAM led the neurology and neuroscience academic track at the MEDIGEN Student Congress, "United by Knowledge," hosting 11 specialized lectures across three days. Half of the MEDIGEN executive board was made up of Mission:BRAIN UNAM board members, a reflection of the chapter's belief that students should not just study medicine but lead it.

The lecture lineup spanned the field. Dr. Yolanda Aburto of the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery (INNN) covered the interventional management of acute ischemic stroke, including patient selection and the critical time window for mechanical thrombectomy. Stroke survivor Andrea Farill, founder of the ALIVE Foundation, brought a patient-centered perspective on recovery and resilience. Dr. Santiago Núñez presented cranial surgery fundamentals in a collaborative session co-hosted with the MB UDG chapter, with thanks to Itzel Bravo Treviño, Regional Director of LATAM, for her support. Dr. Jorge Omar García Gutiérrez walked attendees through key imaging findings in stroke, and Dr. Rosaura Fuentes of INCMNSZ led a hands-on neuroimaging workshop on reading cranial CT scans and skull radiographs.

The series continued with Dr. Fernando Castro on deep brain stimulation as part of the chapter's "Neurosurgery Without a Scalpel" series, Dr. Daniel Ballesteros (known to many as PhotoBrain) on awake brain surgery and intraoperative mapping, Dr. Raúl Mellado Orellana on neuro-oncology and compassionate patient communication, Dr. Sonia Mejía on neuromodulation for drug-resistant epilepsy, and Dr. Sophie d'Herbemont on clinical vascular neurosurgery. Dr. Rabindranath López capped the hands-on offerings with an aneurysm clipping simulation workshop, and an alumni panel featuring Dr. Alejandro Arias and Dr. Hazel Jocelyn Vázquez gave students career guidance from graduates who have walked the path.

The chapter also served as official organizer of the MEDIGEN Neurology and Neuroscience Scientific Poster Competition, which gathered 325 participants and 80 original scientific posters, one of the largest student research showcases in the congress's history.

Spring lectures: Gamma Knife, multiple sclerosis, and neuromuscular disease

On April 24 at FACMED, Dr. Ramiro Del Valle Robles, a neurosurgeon specializing in microsurgery and radioneurosurgery, presented "Gamma Knife: Neurosurgery Without Knife," sharing clinical cases and outcomes from this non-invasive approach to complex brain tumors.

On May 27, the chapter joined MexCTRIMS for a commemorative symposium on World Multiple Sclerosis Day. Dr. Teresita Corona Vázquez opened with the changing epidemiology of MS, Dr. Irene Treviño Frenk broke down the disease's immunological mechanisms, MexCTRIMS President Dr. Verónica Rivas Alonso delivered a masterclass on diagnostic criteria and the importance of early intervention, Dr. Gloria Lourdes Llamosa updated attendees on current treatment strategies, and Dr. Emmanuel Rodríguez closed with the role of physical activity, nutrition, and psychological wellness in long-term disease management.

The following day, Dr. Adib Jorge De Sarachaga, a neurologist specializing in neuromuscular disorders and neuroimmunology, presented "Early Diagnosis and Targeted Treatment in Neuromuscular Diseases," covering the epidemiology of these conditions in the Mexican population and the precision medicine approaches changing how they are managed.

NeuroCamps: more than 700 people reached

Three community outreach events brought the chapter's NeuroCamp initiative to more than 700 participants this spring.

The initiative launched February 7 during Health Week at the Simón Bolívar Galicia High School, where roughly 145 students learned acute stroke recognition through the FAST method, capped by a retro-comic-inspired keynote, "Our Brain vs. the World," on brain development and the neurological impact of substance use on the adolescent brain.

The largest NeuroCamp to date ran March 20 to 22 at the Universum Science Museum during Brain Awareness Week, where approximately 400 children and adolescents rotated through interactive workshops: building clay brains to learn neuroplasticity, experiencing the link between rhythm and cortical function in Musical Mind Tracing, and decoding the anatomy of the central nervous system in Brain Detective.

The series culminated March 23 and 24 at the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery, where the chapter shifted its focus to more than 100 patients, family members, and healthcare professionals. The standout was a custom-engineered sensory box, designed by chapter member Vianney Sánchez, that simulated the tactile, visual, and balance alterations of conditions like peripheral neuropathy, epilepsy, and vertigo, giving participants a firsthand window into their patients' experience.

At every NeuroCamp, the chapter dedicated space to the MB-STROPE initiative and stroke recognition, including the memorable Brain Freeze Challenge run with Peanut Ganglion, using ice cream to spark conversations about brain health.

Research: from workshop to international stages

Conceived by Senior Advisor Alejandro Arias, the chapter's systematic review workshop moved students through a 72-hour curriculum in mentorship-based study groups, covering PICOS question formulation, literature screening, medical statistics, and quality assessment. The result: four original systematic reviews and meta-analyses in vascular neurology, neuro-oncology, spine surgery, and epilepsy, all peer-reviewed and presented as posters at MEDIGEN 2026.

Individual members carried chapter research well beyond campus. Diana Ochoa and Hazel Jocelyn Vázquez published a meta-analysis of cranioplasty timing after decompressive craniectomy, covering 4,703 patients, in Neurosurgery. Rafael Gómez presented work on biomarkers of axonal injury in acute ischemic stroke at the 12th European Stroke Organisation Conference in Maastricht. Ailyn Vallarte presented a meta-analysis comparing occipital nerve block and pulsed radiofrequency for chronic migraine at ISCOMS in Groningen. Additional member work was accepted to the World Stroke Congress in Seoul and the 4th Congress of General Medicine in Brazil, presented at Brain Week at the INNN, at FACMED's Brain Awareness Week, at the Hospital General de México, and at the national student research congress in Acapulco, with topics ranging from pediatric pineal germinoma to music therapy as an adjunct in traumatic brain injury models.

Giving back: Donatón 2026

In collaboration with the UNAM Faculty of Medicine, chapter members organized Donatón 2026, a toy drive that collected 283 toys. Volunteers delivered them in person at the Gabriela Zubirán Girls' Home, complete with costumes, games, and a piñata, with remaining donations extending to a local orphanage.

What's next: Deep Synapsis and the summer calendar

The chapter launched Deep Synapsis, a podcast connecting medical students with leaders in neurology and neurosurgery. Episode one featured Dr. Armando Alpízar, President of the Mexican Society of Neurological Surgery and Chief of Spine Surgery at the National Institute of Rehabilitation, on leadership and the future of spine surgery. Episode two featured Dr. Hazel Jocelyn Vázquez on women in surgical fields and the impact of structured mentorship.

The summer calendar continues with a June 26 lecture on craniosynostosis, expanding the chapter's scope into pediatric neurosurgery, and a July session on occult spinal dysraphism.

This edition of the MB UNAM newsletter was produced by Georgina Gastaldi, Alejandro Quezada, David Galindo, Atala Gonzalez, and Pablo Carranza. Follow the chapter at @missionbrainunam.