Center for Education Projects PIU The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports

Country Manager of the World Bank for Armenia Carolyn Geginat visited the Yerevan State Medical University after Mkhitar Heratsi to attend the opening of the “Cobrain” Brain Research Center. Accompanied by the MESCS CEP PIU director G. Hovhannisyan and YSMU grant project manager, vice-rector for science K. Yenkoyan, she visited the newly established center, got acquainted with the created opportunities and directions of activity. It should be noted that the Center was built as part of the World Bank grant project "Education Improvement", implemented by the PIU of the Center for Educational Programs of RA MESCS. During the visit, the head of the grant project spoke about the extensive work done and further goals. The expected results of the project and some steps towards the continuation of it have been detailed. YSMU vice-Rector presented the technical equipment and scientific tools of the center according to their practical significance. According to him, the main philosophy of the center is to make our brain research studies to determine the place of Armenia on the international scientific map with the help of this project. “One of the research goals of our university is the establishment of the Center for Excellence in Brain Research which will be aimed at preventing brain chronic diseases and ensuring healthy brain function throughout a person's life. A comprehensive program has been developed to promote national competitiveness and excellence in the field of brain research for the implementation of which this project was a decisive start”, - mentioned the vice-rector. Due to K.Yenkoyan, the main goal of the YSMU grant project is to develop the innovative research potential of the university by promoting brain research with an emphasis on cellular and drug neuro-protective mechanisms in the treatment of brain diseases. The visit ended with the opening ceremony of the center. Emphasizing the importance of working together, Country Manager of the World Bank for Armenia Carolyn Geginat thanked the education team for such extensive work and for their ongoing support in education, stressed that such infrastructures have already been created in 17 universities, noting that the World Bank has been in Armenia for about 30 years, and as a result of cooperation in the field of education, effective and efficient programs have been implemented and are being implemented, beginning from general education up to the higher educational system. Regarding the grant project, the country Manager of the World Bank for Armenia stated that the material and technical base of the center can serve as a platform for the work of students and scientists of research centers, which will contribute not only to the university, but also to the quality of science in the Republic of Armenia. The creation of this center will strengthen cooperation with leading international scientific centers; will allow acquiring new partners, thereby increasing the quality and efficiency of science in RA. Carolyn Geginat stressed that she expects to expand cooperation in support of the education sector in Armenia.