The INECO Group is a network of medical institutions based in Argentina, exemplifying how an initiative driven by passion, vision, and dedication can have a global impact on cognitive neuroscience, brain health, and mental health from South America. INECO’s evolution into an internationally recognized neuroscience center demonstrates the power of mission and commitment. INECO has grown to establish itself as a global leader, promoting healthcare, scientific research, professional training, and neuroscience education for society. It has not only influenced the cognitive neuroscience research agenda but also transformed social perceptions of brain health in the region. INECO’s journey is not just a story of medical and scientific excellence; it is an inspiring narrative of how determination and innovation can create a lasting and global impact on science and health.
The Creation of the Institute of Cognitive Neurology (INECO): A Paradigm Shift in Argentina and Latin America
In a country with a strong tradition of psychodynamic approaches, INECO transformed paradigms by focusing on cognitive neuroscience, behavioral neurology, neuropsychiatry, and evidence-based clinical psychology. Founded in 2005, INECO’s vision was clear from the start: to create an institution that provided excellent medical care in cognitive neurology, neuropsychology, and neuropsychiatry, while also developing multidisciplinary research with an international impact in human cognitive neuroscience, a field then largely unexplored in the region.
INECO was conceived as a center for interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together clinicians—including neuropsychologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, neurosurgeons, physical therapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, and neurologists—alongside experts from the basic sciences, such as biologists, engineers, statisticians, mathematicians, and physicists. This collaborative approach fostered an intellectual environment fundamental to the institute’s success, creating a dynamic atmosphere that attracted prominent professionals from Latin America and around the world.
Today, INECO is a leading center for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of neurological, cognitive, and neuropsychiatric disorders, with an international reputation. Its decentralized structure, consisting of multiple centers across Argentina (INECO CABA, Instituto de Neurociencias de la Fundación Favaloro, CITES-INECO, INECO Neurociencias Oroño Rosario, INECO Temperley, INECO Ramos Mejía, INECO Quilmes, INECO Junín, INECO San Juan), enables it to address a wide range of brain-related disorders throughout a significant part of the country. INECO is currently expanding into Paraguay and other Latin American countries.
INECO’s focus on original research in human cognitive neuroscience and neuropsychiatry, combined with its interdisciplinary perspective, has allowed it to carve out a unique niche in Latin America at a time when the field was relatively underdeveloped. Its “Patients First” philosophy promotes a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach, enabling INECO to comprehensively address brain conditions and explore the complex architecture of cognitive and mental functions.
The close integration of clinical work and research creates an optimal environment for staying at the forefront of both fields. INECO has demonstrated remarkable agility in adopting emerging technologies. The interdisciplinary nature of the research conducted at INECO is a key factor in its global impact, supported by a network of international collaborators, all leaders in their respective fields.
This effort has also led to the development of clinically relevant cognitive instruments, which are now widely used around the world.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, INECO emerged as a leading center in the use of evidence-based approaches to mental health care. This includes cutting-edge pharmacological treatments as well as the implementation of cognitive-behavioral therapies for a wide variety of conditions.
During the pandemic, with the health crisis affecting not only physical but also mental health, INECO and Fundación INECO supported the population through community programs designed to help people cope with that challenging time. Since then, they have collaborated with schools, organizations, and companies to foster a healthier culture that protects brain health and mental well-being.
INECO has a Clinical Trials Unit with the specific purpose of conducting high-quality clinical research studies. To achieve this, INECO relies on three fundamental aspects: a) qualified staff with years of clinical trial experience, b) constant training and updating in compliance with current regulations, c) facilities suitable and adaptable to the requirements of each sponsor. In the Clinical Trials Unit, we are committed to rigorously following clinical research protocols, which are essential for ensuring the quality and integrity of the studies. Participant safety is our priority.
Finally, as INECO’s visibility and influence have grown, “the brain” and neurosciences have become part of the public discourse, and cognitive psychotherapy has emerged as the most recommended therapeutic practice. This shift is reflected not only in the media and social networks but also in the way people understand and explain their mental health challenges. INECO’s influence has empowered society with scientific tools to better understand their lives and mental well-being, replacing outdated and biased perspectives with modern, evidence-based explanations.
Alliance with the Favaloro Foundation and Favaloro University
Quickly becoming a leader in the field, INECO needed a partner that could provide the infrastructure, expertise, and resources required to expand its reach and establish a comprehensive center for the diagnosis and treatment of neurological, psychiatric, and neurosurgical conditions in adults and children. The Favaloro Foundation, with its established hospital and university, became the ideal strategic partner. This collaboration enabled both institutions to combine their strengths and extend their impact.
The alliance between INECO and the Favaloro Foundation, initiated in 2006, marks a significant medical milestone. The Favaloro Foundation Hospital, named in honor of the renowned Argentine cardiovascular surgeon Dr. René Favaloro—who developed the coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) technique at the Cleveland Clinic, revolutionizing the treatment of coronary artery disease—has long been a leader in clinical care, medical education, and research, and is one of the most prestigious healthcare institutions in Latin America.
The collaboration between these two institutions has created a powerful synergy, combining INECO’s expertise in brain sciences with the Favaloro Foundation’s tradition in cardiovascular health, along with its robust infrastructure and commitment to medical excellence. This alliance has also been instrumental in the creation of the Heart and Brain Institute, as well as the Institute of Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience, aimed at integrating fundamental neuroscience research in animal and human models with clinical applications, while also establishing an innovative research environment for PhD students, postdoctoral fellows, and developing researchers from Argentina and Latin America.
Additionally, its School of Psychology offers an undergraduate curriculum that emphasizes up-to-date knowledge, evidence-based practices, and research, all integrated with related sciences, particularly neuroscience.
The Institute’s Neurology and Neurosurgery services have established residency programs that have trained generations of specialists, who are now leaders in various fields. Some continue their work at the institution, while others have joined prestigious centers worldwide.
The Genesis of the INECO Foundation: A Neuroscience Center in Argentina
The primary goal of the INECO Foundation is to support research programs on brain function and neurological and psychiatric disorders, advance the scientific training of professionals in the region, and provide education to the community in the fields of neuroscience, neurology, and psychiatry.
Promoting academic and scientific education for members of the INECO ecosystem, as well as teaching for professionals in the region and the community, requires significant resources. It is essential to secure diverse sources of funding to sustain its pioneering research and clinical programs. In Argentina, national funding for cognitive neuroscience and neuropsychiatry is very limited. Economic challenges have exacerbated the lack of public funds, highlighting the need for innovative strategies and financial sustainability.
Over the past 17 years, professionals associated with the foundation have published more than 800 original scientific articles in international peer-reviewed journals, as well as over 30 scientific and popular books. These advances in understanding brain function and disorders such as Alzheimer’s, frontotemporal dementia, autism, bipolar disorder, ADHD, depression, anxiety, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, strokes, and traumatic brain injury have been made possible through collaborations with both local and leading global institutions.
The foundation actively translates its innovative findings into scientific training for professionals and community education. Since its inception, INECO has delivered more than 1,000 community talks, television programs, and workshops for patients’ families.
It has trained nearly 12,000 professionals through over 670 training sessions, conferences, and symposia, welcoming more than 300 international scientists to Argentina. Each year, the INECO Foundation conducts regional and national awareness campaigns aimed at achieving widespread dissemination of topics related to brain function and neurological and psychiatric diseases. One example is “Corrientes Street Trembles,” an initiative launched by INECO to raise awareness about Parkinson’s disease on April 11, World Parkinson’s Day. The campaign seeks to highlight the importance of early detection and appropriate treatment, with several theaters along Avenida Corrientes distributing graphic materials with information about the disease.
Another initiative, “Threads of Memory,” focuses on raising awareness about Alzheimer’s disease by showcasing objects created by patients and their families. The exhibition seeks to create an emotional connection that brings the public closer to the experiences of those living with the disease, fostering empathy and understanding.
The INECO Foundation has also established the Institute of Neuroscience and Public Policy to influence public policies. This institute, in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), played a key role in creating Latin America’s first “Nudge Unit” within the Argentine government. This unit conducts large-scale randomized trials to apply behavioral science principles to public policy issues.
Additionally, it developed the “Socio-Emotional Development Program” with the IDB, which aims to strengthen children’s socio-emotional skills through their parents, and the “Adolescent Emotional Well-Being Program,” which addresses risk and protective factors for emotional health in adolescents.
In the educational realm, INECO is dedicated to ensuring that teachers receive the best training, providing access to high-quality education for all students in Argentina, regardless of where they live. Moreover, the foundation has two other institutes: the Institute of Neuroscience and Law, and the Institute of Neuroscience and Education, which reflect its commitment to applying neuroscience to tackle complex challenges and improve quality of life.
Through its laboratories, INECO has achieved significant milestones, such as identifying brain areas involved in human decision-making and social cognition, characterizing the role of the insula in cognitive and emotional processes, and studying the neural basis of racial prejudice. It has developed brain connectivity methods for the early detection of neurodegenerative diseases. The brain areas involved in social emotions such as envy and schadenfreude have been characterized. Neurocognitive evidence of interoception (awareness of internal bodily states) and its relationship with emotions has been studied. Our laboratory demonstrated the critical role of the amygdala in the ultra-rapid detection of the intention to harm others (a basis for moral judgment and empathy). INECO has made advances in the neuropsychological description of the dissociation between intelligence and social skills and the detection of early and preclinical markers of neurodegenerative diseases based on embodied language tasks. We have developed pioneering theories about the brain networks that integrate cognitive, motor, and interpersonal processes in context. These achievements include advances in early dementia diagnosis and discoveries about the influence of the amygdala on moral judgment and empathy.
INECO’s multi-level approach to memory and cognition examines mechanisms from the molecular level to processes of consolidation and forgetting, as well as social interaction. The Laboratory of Mind, Body, and Brain Dynamics explores how factors such as narratives and music influence brain activity, using computational models and momentary ecological assessments.
The INECO Foundation, recognized with the Konex Award as one of Argentina’s leading health entities from 2008 to 2018, is also an affiliated institution of Cochrane, an international network for evidence evaluation in health sciences.
Finally, the approach to dementia, particularly in Alzheimer’s and frontotemporal dementia, is a priority for INECO. The foundation has positioned itself at the forefront with the development of the INECO Frontal Screening (IFS), an essential tool for the early detection of cognitive impairment.
The foundation has also influenced public policy by participating in the drafting of the “Law for the Promotion of Integral Human Development and Mental Capital,” focused on the development of mental capital, mental health, and well-being. This law, the first of its kind globally, aims to promote individual potential and social progress.
Development of the CITES INECO Center
In 2019, INECO partnered with CITES, a scientific and technological project incubator of the Sancor Seguros Group. Today, the CITES INECO Center has established itself as a hub for knowledge, health, education, and innovation, where research, medicine, and scientific-technological entrepreneurship converge.
The facilities at the CITES INECO Center include a 300-square-meter auditorium with a capacity for 350 people, multifunctional classrooms, and state-of-the-art technology, where scientific meetings, symposia, and national and international lectures are held. The center serves as a generator and transmitter of innovative and socially relevant knowledge about human cognition and behavior. To educate, inform, and raise social awareness about general brain function, its relationship with health, and its promotion, the center offers free and open talks for the community.
Neurorehabilitation: The CITES INECO Center is a specialized hub for brain pathology rehabilitation. It has highly specialized professionals trained at the world’s top centers, who work collectively according to international standards and utilize the latest technology for the rehabilitation of brain pathologies, the leading cause of disability worldwide, in both adults and children. Each patient receives a personalized therapy aimed at reintegration into family, social, and work environments. The Neurorehabilitation area is equipped with exoskeletons with virtual reality for training the affected upper limb, allowing therapy in a wide three-dimensional range and achieving high training intensity, as well as exoskeletons for the assistance and training of lower limbs. The center also features a robotic device for training walking, balance, and mobility in an organized and structured manner, improving patient stability and reducing the risk of falls.
Philanthropy and Funding
Philanthropy plays a fundamental role in ensuring the success of INECO’s scientific initiatives. The foundation relies heavily on individual donations, fundraising activities, and special events to generate the necessary funds. One of INECO’s most important events is its annual gala, which, along with other sponsored events, serves as a valuable fundraising opportunity. These events not only provide much-needed financial support but also raise awareness about the foundation’s mission and the importance of brain health.
These funds are strategically allocated to cover support clinical programs, and foster innovative research. This financial model exemplifies a successful collaboration to drive groundbreaking clinical programs and research.
Thanks to this approach, INECO has been able to maintain its leadership in neuroscience and neuropsychiatry, despite the challenging funding environment in Argentina. By cultivating a strong support network and leveraging multiple income sources, the foundation continues to make significant advances in the understanding and treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders, improving the lives of patients in Argentina and worldwide.
A key funding strategy has been the creation of the Institute of Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience (INCYT; INECO-Favaloro-CONICET). In association with Favaloro University and the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), the country’s most prestigious scientific institution with three Nobel Prizes (two in Medicine and one in Chemistry), INCYT has successfully connected the INECO Foundation with Argentina’s most renowned research network. As an Executing Unit of CONICET, INCYT has integrated into the national research network, securing funding for doctoral and postdoctoral researchers and obtaining local resources.
INCYT’s philosophy is based on the integration, synergy, and application of cognitive neuroscience and mental health sciences. Currently, INCYT brings together various basic and applied research groups focused on areas such as memory and cognition, experimental psychopathology, neuropsychology, language, and neuromotor disorders. Since 2016, INCYT has published more than 225 original articles in peer-reviewed journals and has trained over 25 doctoral students. Among its notable achievements, INCYT has expanded collaborations with leading scientific centers worldwide and secured multi-million dollar funding on two occasions, including an R01 grant from the NIH (USA) in 2018 for the study of dementias and support from the Wellcome Trust (UK) in 2023, aimed at understanding the neuropsychological foundations of interventions for anxiety and depression. These high-impact projects have significantly influenced both the scientific community and society at large.
Conclusion: A Legacy of Impact
INECO has grown into a world-renowned institution, leading the fight against dementia and other neurological diseases. Through pioneering research, professional training, and community education, the INECO Group has significantly influenced public health policy and raised awareness in Argentina and beyond.
INECO’s success highlights the crucial role that private initiatives can play in driving scientific innovation and improving public health, even in regions with limited resources. Its achievements demonstrate how world-class neurological care and research can be realized through an integrative approach that combines clinical excellence, innovative research, and community outreach. The foundation’s work has not only placed Argentina on the global neuroscience map but also set a standard for similar initiatives throughout Latin America.
INECO’s approach offers valuable lessons on how to integrate brain health into broader public health strategies. Its advocacy for legislative action and collaborative efforts with international institutions underscore the importance of global partnerships in advancing brain health research. INECO’s story is an inspiring model, showcasing how innovative healthcare can be applied in diverse settings, potentially guiding future efforts to address the challenges of brain health.
As INECO continues to expand its reach and influence, it stands as a beacon of hope and a testament to the transformative power of science, education, and compassionate care in addressing the urgent challenges of aging and brain health.