ARCn

ArCN is an international nonprofit consortium focused on advancing research at the intersection of cognitive neuroscience, neuroengineering, and computational methods. It coordinates multicenter studies, promotes data sharing, and provides training and resources to researchers, clinicians, and engineers.

History and scope

ArCN was established by researchers from universities, medical centers, and industry partners to enhance collaboration, reproducibility, and the translation of findings into practical applications. It operates on a global scale, with organizational structures designed to support regional communities while maintaining a cohesive set of standards and programs.

Organization and governance

The organization is governed by a Council elected for defined terms, supported by regional chapters across major regions. Committees oversee Ethics and Governance, Education and Training, Publications, and Data Standards. This structure aims to balance top-down coordination with local leadership and needs.

Activities and programs

Key activities include an annual international conference, thematic workshops, and a grants program for early-career researchers. ArCN maintains a public data repository known as the ArCN Data Commons, which houses de-identified neuroimaging, behavioral, and computational data. It also publishes a peer-reviewed journal and provides methodological guidelines to support consistency and reproducibility across studies.

Standards and impact

A central goal of ArCN is to develop and promote data-sharing standards, ethical guidelines, and best practices for neurodata management. The consortium seeks to accelerate multicenter research, broaden participation from underrepresented regions, and foster cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Challenges

Ongoing challenges include securing stable funding, ensuring equitable global participation, and addressing privacy and consent considerations in shared datasets.

See also

Society for Neuroscience; Organization for Human Brain Mapping; OpenNeuro; FAIR data principles.