SKMA on the international stage: participation in the «Neuroscience in the 21st Century» conference in Yakutsk

From June 4 to 5, 2025, the city of Yakutsk hosted the 2nd International Scientific and Practical Conference “Neuroscience in the 21st Century: Challenges and Prospects,” which brought together experts from various regions of Russia and neighboring countries, along with a young researchers’ competition. The conference served as a unique platform for sharing experience, discussing current issues in the diagnosis and treatment of neurological diseases, and strengthening scientific and professional ties between medical institutions.
The conference was organized jointly by the North-Eastern Federal University named after M.K. Ammosov, the Yakut Scientific Center for Complex Medical Problems, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), the Scientific and Practical Society of Neurologists of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), and the South Kazakhstan Medical Academy (Republic of Kazakhstan).
The delegation from South Kazakhstan Medical Academy (Shymkent, Kazakhstan), including faculty members and residents from the Department of Neurology, Psychiatry, Rehabilitology, and Neurosurgery, actively participated in the event. At the official opening, welcoming remarks were delivered by Dmitry Dmitrievich Sergin, First Deputy Minister of Health of the Republic of Sakha, and Anna Nikolaevna Romanova, Director of the Yakut Scientific Center.
As part of efforts to enhance interregional academic cooperation, the SKMA delegation visited the Rector of NEFU, A.N. Nikolaev, and held a meeting with the Director of the Medical Institute, N.M. Gogoleva. The meeting focused on discussing prospects for scientific collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the implementation of joint educational programs.
The event was held in a hybrid format. Key topics of the presentations included Parkinson’s disease, ALS, Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive impairments, rare neurological diseases, demyelinating and cerebrovascular conditions, neurorehabilitation, as well as basic and translational neurology.
Three key sessions were held as part of the conference: the Young Scientists’ Competition, a master class by Professor Henry Holden and Rauan Kaiyrzhanov, and the symposium “Neuroprotective Therapy in Early Stroke Rehabilitation.”
International and Russian experts presented their research, including:
• Prof. Henry Holden, PhD, Institute of Neurology, University College London (UK);
• Rauan Kaiyrzhanov, researcher at UCL Institute of Neurology (UK);
• Marina Romanovna Nodel, MD, Professor, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Sechenov University, Moscow;
• Svetlana Evgenyevna Khatkova, MD, Professor, expert in medical rehabilitation and head of the neurorehabilitation unit, FMBA of Russia.
Scientific achievements and recognition
Presenters from SKMA included:
• Nazira Asanovna Zharkynbekova – Head of Department, Candidate of Medical Sciences, and Chief Neurologist of the Turkestan Region Health Department;
• Eldar Baurzhan – second-year neurology resident, presented on “Neuromuscular Diseases: Diagnostic Challenges and Adult-Onset SMA,” earning a 2nd-degree diploma in the Young Scientists’ Competition;
• Olzhas Kalzhan – neurology resident, addressed early diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders common in South Kazakhstan;
• Otari Okroadze – psychiatry resident, gave a clinical and analytical presentation on “Chronic Somatoform Pain Disorder: Diagnostic and Treatment Challenges.”
Science without borders

The participation of SKMA representatives in this international conference in Yakutsk demonstrated the high level of training of its residents, their dedication to professional growth, and their active involvement in scientific work. Such events are essential not only for showcasing research achievements but also for fostering new ideas, gaining exposure to best practices, and exchanging knowledge with peers from different regions and countries.