The aim of the PhD Integrative Neuroscience Programme (NeurULisboa) is to train highly qualified Neuroscience researchers who intend to pursue a professional scientific career in the area by means of integrative research. The Programme is based at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon and brings together a number of institutions and research groups of the University of Lisbon with renowned scientific and formative expertise in the area of Neuroscience, namely the Faculty of Medicine (FMUL) and the Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM), the Faculty of Pharmacy (FFUL), the Faculty of Psychology (FPUL), the Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering of the Faculty of Science IBEB/FCUL, and the Technical School of Engineering (IST).

The University of Lisbon (ULisboa) is in a privileged position to implement a PhD Integrative Neuroscience Programme. The bibliometric data (Web of Knowledge) on the scientific ranking of the University of Lisbon in the field of Neuroscience are enlightening: out of a total of 1,510 scientific articles (excluding abstracts) published in Portugal over the past 5 years (2009-2013) in the field of Neuroscience/Neurology, 512 (30%) are from the University of Lisbon which has, thus, emerged as the institution with the most publications and citations in this field in Portugal. The authors with the most publications and citations in the field belong to the teaching staff of the NeurUlisboa. Some of these authors are the most internationally cited in their specific areas of research.

Neuroscience, the scientific study of the nervous system, is one of the most challenging areas of biomedical research, and an increasing number of students have shown interest in pursuing postgraduate studies in this area. Such interest is a result of the impact of Neuroscience on the understanding of neurological and psychiatric diseases, which are currently a major cause of disability.

Neuroscience covers complementary fields of knowledge, ranging from basic to clinical science, which are all highly dependent on cutting-edge technological developments. Hence, Neuroscience is a multidisciplinary science in which comprehensive knowledge is a key factor in pushing forward scientific advances. Overall, the NeurULisboa participant groups cover a broad spectrum of research and training opportunities in Neuroscience, enabling a diversity of complementary technological approaches that accommodate issues ranging from the molecule to function, neuronal excitability to cognition and basic science to pathology and neurotechnology.

NeurULisboa incorporates salient groups in basic and clinical neuroscience, and groups with technological innovation skills that are able to provide sophisticated tools to facilitate research. In its entirety, ULisboa provides a propitious atmosphere for translational research and the pursuit of innovative strategies to combat disease. Patient-orientated research groups have interacted with the industry in order to design multicentre clinical trials.

Technological research groups have also sustained fruitful relations with the industry. Collaboration among the FMUL/IMM, FFUL, EPUL, IBEB/FCUL, IST groups, registered in joint publications and projects, has served to reinforce the irrefutable solidity of the programme. The extent of collaboration with other national and international research groups guarantees the internationalisation of the programme, thus widening the possibilities of research and training.

The aims of the Programme are as follows:
1. To offer a broad and more comprehensive vision of Neuroscience, making full use of the prime and complementary scientific research conducted in the ULisboa.
2. To provide core knowledge to students, focusing on the basic aspects of neuroscience and to ensure reciprocal translational and technological-based interactions.
3. To develop highly specialised and internationalised individual curricula.
The central concepts of this PhD programme are as follows:
1. MULTIDISCIPLINARITY and INTERDISCIPLINARITY. Given the close proximity to clinical practice, translational medicine research projects are encouraged. The important inclusion of advanced technologies in diagnosis will serve to stimulate technological innovation.
2. CURRICULUM FLEXIBILITY, tailored to the prior training of individual students, providing them with the tools required for productive research..
3. PERSONALISED DEVELOPMENT by means of a stimulating learning environment.
4. SPECIALISED SUPERVISION, a dynamic approach to promote inter-institutional and international cooperation.
5. SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH and training with a broad variety of options, designed to qualify students and to equip them to become leaders in the field.

The above-mentioned concepts will be developed through the following lines of intervention:
1. Adaptation of individual curricula. Each student, under supervisory guidance, will design a school curriculum according to his/her previous training background and requirements in terms of the personal research project. A core curriculum on Foundations, Methods and Ethics in Research and scientific writing and communication will be compulsory content for all.
2. A large variety of curricula options. Taking advantage of the broad spectrum of Neuroscience research and postgraduate education in the participant institutions, the programme will integrate a multiplicity of already existing curricula units. By making them available to NeurULisboa students, specialised multidisciplinary training will be promoted, thus ensuring the necessary critical mass for effective learning.
3.Direct contact with multiple research topics involving different approaches. With the advantage of frequent meetings and debates of a clinical, basic research and technological nature on a weekly basis within the various research groups, the students will be exposed to the specific activities of the various groups. Participation in seminars focusing on topics/methodologies that differ from the host group will be encouraged, with a view to promoting inter-group multidisciplinarity and enrichment.