History
The Asian Pacific Society for Neurochemistry was formed at the Sydney meeting of the International Society for Neurochemistry in 1991 in order to promote neurochemistry in the Asian Pacific region. The first elected president was Emeritus Professor Graham Johnston, Professor of Pharmacology and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Sydney, Australia. It is modeled on the American and European regional neurochemistry societies, holding meetings every two years in the years when an ISN meeting is not held.
Membership of the APSN is open to individual scientists, scientific societies with a significant interest in neurochemistry and to corporations based in the Asian Pacific region. APSN aims to promote research in neurochemistry in particular by dissemination of information, by arrangement of meetings and to encourage contact between its members.
Individuals, societies and corporations interested in joining APSN are encouraged to contact us directly. The Asian Pacific region holds special challenges given the extreme breadth of cultural, economic and scientific diversity in the region. Countries already involved with the APSN include Australia, China / Beijing, China / Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. APSN hopes to include other countries in the Asian Pacific region, such as Fiji, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan and Papua New Guinea, in the future.
The emphasis on different aspects of neurochemistry, including biochemical, clinical, chemical, molecular biological and pharmaceutical aspects, in the different countries promises to be one of the strengths of APSN.
For a more detailed account of APSN’s history, please read The Official History of the Asian-Pacific Society for Neurochemistry.
(This document was prepared by Professor Akio Wanaka.)
Message from the Historian (September, 2026)
I am Akio Wanaka, recently appointed Historian of the APSN. Many of you are working at the forefront of research day in and day out, yet I hope you will occasionally pause to reflect on the aims and activities of our Society over the years. It may prove an enjoyable exercise, and perhaps a useful guide when considering the direction of your own work.
I have myself served as President, as have the colleagues I have invited to join the Historian team: Graham Johnston, Alfreda Stadlin, Andrew Lawrence, Ying Shing Chan and Woong Sun. Each has devoted themselves to the development of the APSN. For now, our goals are to contribute to the APSN Newsletter and to hold a History Session (working title) at the 2028 Qatar conference.
We warmly welcome your feedback and invite you to write to us by e-mail at any time. With best wishes for the progress of your research.