9th Edition: Brain Health and Longevity

The ninth edition of the Advanced Training Course in Neurobioethics, promoted by the Faculty of Philosophy of the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum, in collaboration with the Science and Faith Institute and the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights, will be dedicated to the very current theme of brain health and longevity.   

In light of the great interest generated by the first Vatican Longevity Summit (March 2025), the Neurobioethics Research Group (GdN) led by Fr. Alberto Carrara, LC, proposes an annual course that addresses the main ethical and anthropological challenges arising from the encounter between neuroscience, emerging technologies, and the culture of longevity.

Educational Objectives

The course aims to investigate the concept of brain health from an integral perspective, considering the nervous system in close relation to all dimensions of the person: biological, psychic, relational, and spiritual. Particular attention will be paid to the themes of biological rejuvenation, neuroprotection, and the new scientific perspectives opened up by epigenetic research and cellular reprogramming factors, with references to the contributions of Nobel Prize-winning scientists such as Shinya Yamanaka and Venkatraman Ramakrishnan.

The course promotes a critical and interdisciplinary reflection on contemporary models of longevity, through an anthropological and bioethical perspective inspired by the Aristotelian-Thomistic tradition and oriented towards the principles of the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights. The concrete implications of neuroscience in human life will be analyzed, with particular regard to legal, social, health, and cultural aspects.

Structure and methods of participation

The course has an annual duration and is divided into 10 monthly meetings of two hours each, including seminars and round tables. Lessons will be held on Fridays from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, from September 2025 to June 2026, according to the following calendar:

Course start: Friday, September 26, 2025

• 2025: September 26, October 24, November 21, December 19
• 2026: January 23, February 27, March 13 (special event Brain Awareness Week), April 17, May 22, June 19

The course includes 25 total hours of lessons and the achievement of 3 ECTS credits. The final evaluation is based on regular attendance and a written summary paper.

Lessons will be held in English with translation into Italian, with the possibility of participation in the following modes: in-person, synchronous online (live), asynchronous online (recorded).

Admission Requirements

The course is aimed at doctors, bioethicists, philosophers, theologians, jurists, economists, trainers, and cultural operators interested in exploring the new scenarios of neurobioethics and the frontiers of longevity. For enrollment in the course, at least a high school diploma is required. There is no selection process, but a minimum number of 10 enrollees is necessary for activation.

Enrollment Procedure

1. Fill out the contact form by clicking the button at the bottom of the page.
2. Prepare the required documents (copy of the qualification, identity document).
3. Upload the documentation to the online admission form.
4. Await confirmation from the General Secretariat and follow the instructions to complete enrollment.

Costs and Deadlines

• Course cost:C €500
• Early bird enrollment: €450 for those who enroll by October 31, 2025
• Full price enrollment: until January 30, 2026

Contacts

For more information, contact: Renato Zeuli

• Email: info.filosofia@upra.org
• Mobile: +39 3202461802
• Tel.: +39 06 91689901 (Faculty of Philosophy Secretariat)