Dubai, UAE — Neuratia Labs, a neuroscience and artificial intelligence company building technology for the future of brain health, has announced the 10 researchers selected for the inaugural Neuratia Research Fellows Program 2026.
The first edition of the fellowship received more than 1,000 applications from researchers across 50+ countries. Following a multi-stage evaluation process, 10 researchers were selected to form the inaugural global cohort.
The selected Fellows represent institutions across several countries and career stages, ranging from doctoral researchers and postdoctoral researchers to clinicians and early-career investigators. Their work spans neuroscience, neurology, biomedical engineering, artificial intelligence, brain health, rehabilitation, and related interdisciplinary fields.
The Inaugural Neuratia Research Fellows Program 2026 Cohort
The inaugural cohort includes:
- Victor Ekuta — MD Resident, Division of Neurology, Morehouse School of Medicine, United States
- Zehra Azim — PhD Candidate, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
- Sonia — PhD Candidate, CSIR–Central Scientific Instruments Organisation, India
- T. Naveen Keerthi — MBBS Student, MIMER Medical College, India
- Dr. Termara Cerene Parker — Early Career Investigator, Howard University College of Medicine, United States
- Hafsa Farooqi — Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, United States
- Anam Zafar — PhD Candidate, Superior University, Pakistan
- Mehmet Berke Isler — PhD Candidate, Istanbul Medipol University, Turkey
- Marcia Lorena de Oliveira Baldoino — MBBS Student, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
- Filipa Ferreira-Antunes — PhD Candidate, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), Portugal
The six-month fellowship is designed to support emerging researchers working across neuroscience, neurotechnology, artificial intelligence, brain health, and related scientific disciplines.
Throughout the program, Fellows will engage with a global ecosystem of mentors, researchers, scientific experts, and partner institutions while receiving guidance and opportunities to strengthen their research direction, scientific thinking, professional network, and long-term research ambitions.
Building a Global Research Ecosystem
The fellowship represents a broader initiative by Neuratia Labs to help connect emerging researchers with expertise, mentorship, technology, and international research networks.
According to Affaan Shaikh, Founder & CEO of Neuratia Labs, the long-term vision behind the fellowship is to create stronger pathways for talented researchers, particularly those at the beginning of their scientific careers, to access global opportunities and meaningful research ecosystems.
Affaan added that the initiative is designed to be more than a conventional fellowship.
“We are building a community that can continue beyond a single cohort. Our ambition is to create a global network of researchers, mentors, institutions, and innovators working across neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and brain health. The inaugural cohort is the first step toward that larger ecosystem.”
A New Model for Global Research Collaboration
Neuroscience and brain health are increasingly interdisciplinary, bringing together expertise from medicine, biology, engineering, artificial intelligence, data science, psychology, and emerging technologies.
Neuratia Labs sees the fellowship as a platform for encouraging greater collaboration across those disciplines and geographies.
By bringing together researchers from different countries, institutions, and stages of their careers, the program aims to create opportunities for scientific discussion, interdisciplinary thinking, and future collaboration.
The inaugural Fellows will participate in a structured six-month program that includes research development, mentorship, scientific discussions, progress reviews, and a final research showcase.
The program will also support the development of a long-term alumni network, allowing Fellows to remain connected to Neuratia’s broader research ecosystem beyond the formal duration of the fellowship.
From a Selective Cohort to a Long-Term Research Community
The selection of the inaugural 10 Fellows marks an important milestone for Neuratia Labs as it expands its presence within the international neuroscience and research ecosystem.
While the 2026 cohort consists of only 10 Fellows, Neuratia Labs intends to continue developing future cohorts and partnerships with researchers, mentors, academic institutions, and organizations working at the intersection of neuroscience, AI, healthcare, and emerging technologies.
“The first cohort is intentionally small,” Affaan said. “We wanted to focus on building a meaningful experience and understanding what a truly valuable fellowship should look like before expanding. If we can help these 10 researchers build stronger connections, advance their work, and become part of a lasting global community, that will be the real success of this inaugural program.”
The official introduction of the Fellows marks the beginning of the program’s inaugural journey, with the cohort set to begin engaging across research development, mentorship, and scientific collaboration over the coming months.
About Neuratia Labs
Neuratia Labs is a neuroscience and artificial intelligence company focused on building technologies and research ecosystems for the future of brain health. The company works at the intersection of neuroscience, neurotechnology, artificial intelligence, and computational research.
Through its technology initiatives and global research programs, Neuratia Labs aims to contribute to a future where advances in AI and neuroscience can support better understanding, analysis, and innovation around the human brain.
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