September 1, 2016

Dear IRNSC members,

It is my pleasure to write to you about IRNSC, at our 11th anniversary. IRNSC is a community based group, run
by its members with the goal of fostering common grounds and creating opportunities for all Iranian
Neuroscientists. During these years, we have witnessed many students, postdoctoral fellows, and principle
investigators gather during our social events at the annual SfN meeting. They shared stories, assisted one
another with advice about their career endeavors, and enjoyed the company of fellow Iranians. Since its
establishments, we were able to distribute over 20 travel awards worth over $10,000 to students and
postdoctoral fellow applicants from Iran, Europe, and North America. Here, I wish to thank all of our
contributors, referees, and sponsors.
Each year, the organizers attempt to advance and expand IRNSC activities to better serve its members. In the
past year, we were able to successfully file a tax exemption status with the IRS. Thus, we are currently recognized
as a non-profit organization under US federal law. These efforts took almost one year of hard work and were
led by our treasurer Dr. Mahmoud Kiaei and made possible by generous donations from Dr. Amir Kolani. Dr.
Mohsen Omrani will remain the chair of the IRNSC committee.
I would like to thank Dr. Farahbod for redesigning and launching our new website (www.IRNSC.net). The new
design will help our members to stay connected to IRNSC and be informed of our activities more efficiently. We
will also continue to be more interactive in our social media. In addition, an initiative has been set up by Dr.
Behrang Sharif for fundraising strategies which IRNSC urgently needs. I also wish to thank Mr. Hessam
Akhlaghpour for his great comments on our newsletters. This year, we will also announce one travel award to
be awarded to an eligible student and to a postdoctoral fellow. If you would like to sponsor a travel award, in
any amount, please do not hesitate to contact me.
With this newsletter, you will find information on our latest efforts to keep the pace in different fronts. IRNSC
needs your support in fundraising, membership payments, and getting involved in any areas through joining the
organizers and nominating individuals for presidency, with the hope of bringing in new ideas and initiative. We
look forward to taking nominations and votes for IRNSC presidency, this November in San Diego. As a reminder,
our social will take place on Sunday November 13, between 6:30-8:30 PM at Hilton San Diego Bayfront. As was
the case in previous years, our gathering will continue at Persian restaurant nearby which will be announced
before the meeting so please stay tuned. We were also informed that there will be a Middle Eastern
Neuroscientists social event at the same time at Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina, room La Costa. You can
always seek more information on SfN website about the both socials here.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with your suggestions and comments,
Best regards
Masoud Shekarabi PhD
Interim president of IRNSC
Masoud.shekarabi@temple.edu
Iranianneuroscientists@gmail.com

Treasury Report
It is a great pleasure to serve as a treasurer for IRNSC and assist with organizing committee to make our events
take place with success. IRNSC is in a growth phase since its start in 2005. At SfN 2015 in Chicago, due to lack of
funds, we only had social gathering at a Persian restaurant which turned out to be very good and we had a great
turn out.
Important Historical Milestone for IRNSC:
The year 2015-2016 is a historical moment for IRNSC due to its milestone of becoming registered as a non-profit
organization in USA and gained approval for Tax-Exception status. On behalf of IRNSC Board of directors,
organizers and members, I would like to thank Dr. Amir Kolini for his tremendous generosity to sponsor the
IRNSC registration and a non-profit entity and tax exemption status form IRS. Therefore, IRNSC is a registered
scientific community and received its TAX-exemption Status under IRC Section 501 (3) and Tax exemption #
26053758001595.
I would like to also thank IRNSCs Past-President Dr. Arezoo Campbell for an amazing job during past two years
and for her generosity to fund the social event banquet.
Financial Status and Budget:
Herein, I have outlined IRNSCs financial status:
Income: Donations and membership dues collected.
1) Membership dues and donations collected at SfN and via Pay Pal,
2) Donation (Dr. Amir Kolini)
Donations and membership collections:
total:

$ 350.00
$1530.00
$1880.00

Expenses:
Non-Profit Organization registration and TAX-Exemption

$1530.00

SfN registration of IRNSC satellite event and announcement in SfN program

$ 400.00

Total:

$1930.00

Net:

Anticipated costs for Social Event at SfN (room and food, drinks, surcharge)

50.00

~$2000.00

We would like to invite donors to consider donating funds to sponsor this event. All donations are tax exempt.
IRNScs events planned for 2016:
IRNSCs organizing committee planned to have a social event at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel on
November 13, from 6.30-8.30 pm (room Aqua 300).
IRNSCs dinner will be at a local Persian Restaurant in San Diego, Gaslamp Quarter area (details will be
announced in October) as stated in the letter by interim president.

The most important and immediate help you can do for IRNSC is to pay your dues today.
How to pay your Membership Dues:
To pay your membership dues or make donations, email me then I will send you an invoice via Pay Pal. We hope
you can help us by your donation today.
Membership fees:
Faculties, professionals, employed scientists, consultants $50.00 or more, Postdocs $30.00 or more, Students
$15.00 or more.
We organizers would like to add more activities, like sponsorships, awards to students which depend on funding.
If you wish to sponsor a sponsorship or student awards in your own name or tribute to someone else that to be
awarded during our social events, please contact us.
Yours sincerely
Mahmoud Kiaei, PhD
IRNSCs Treasurer
mkiaei@uams.edu (Ph: 1-917-378-1373)

Fundraising
"As IRNSC has gained tax exemption status in the US, we would like to ask our members to help us find potential
sponsors for the society. Our fundraising team is collecting information and preparing a fundraising
campaign. Please keep IRNSC in mind and if you read a news item with prominent Iranians listed, or if you hear
about a company/group, or meet with someone who could be a supporter of Iranian neuroscientists add them
to this list. You can bookmark the link and fill the form from your phone or tablet as well. Please forward the link
to everyone who could be helpful.
Here is the link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PZGdk8cBaAEzVeOlkke07K3iGxvsVbLdRQ-RBbsnapA/viewform

IRNSC travel awards

As previous years, IRNSC is pleased to announce at least two travel awards of $500. Iranian neuroscience
graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who have submitted an abstract and will be participating at the
2016 SfN annual meeting in San Diego are eligible to apply for these awards.
To be considered for the awards, the applicants should be in good standing for their membership dues (please
visit www.irnsc.net for membership fees). Please note that there is no membership fee for researchers
attending the meeting from Iran. Each applicant should provide a short CV (maximum 2 pages), a one-page
summary of research and a copy of the abstract submitted for the SfN meeting plus up to two reference letters.
The CV should provide information about the applicants academic background, publications, honors and

awards, teaching experiences and any outreach or leadership abilities. All documents should be merged into a
single PDF file. The research summary should be written in lay language to be understandable to the members
of our selection committee with a wide range of academic backgrounds.
The application should be sent to IRNSCs email address: Iranianneuroscientists@gmail.com by September 30th
(now extended to October 23). The results will be announced by the second week of October to the successful
applicants and the awards will be officially announced and presented at the IRNSC social event.
If you are interested to sponsor any award(s) announced by IRNSC, please do not hesitate to contact the interim
president IRNSC Dr. Masoud Shekarabi at: masoud.shekarabi@temple.edu
With warmest regards
IRNSC Organizing Committee

Basic and Clinical Neuroscience (BCN) - Call for papers

Basic and Clinical Neuroscience (BCN http://bcn.tums.ac.ir) is a peer-reviewed journal, publishing original
articles that contribute to the advancement of science in the field of the neurosciences with an emphasis on
both basic and clinical research, theory, practice, policy and education. BCN provides a venue to share critical
hypotheses, exchange clinical experiences and strategies, communicate research findings, express important
conceptual perspectives, and define policy and practice initiatives and issues. The journal is designed to
respond to the needs of practitioners, researchers, educators, and administrators who develop, promote, and
apply evidence-informed knowledge in their lives and work.
Published four times a year by Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), BCN seeks manuscripts from
researchers, practitioners, educators, and administrators in the field of neuroscience from around the world.
To submit a manuscript, please use our online submission system.