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A boost for research

In 2019, thanks to a generous anchor gift from the Azrieli Foundation, Brain Canada launched its flagship Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research program, a unique program designed to fund promising researchers at the most pivotal point in their career – the beginning.

To date, with the support of Health Canada and generous private donors, the program has awarded 88 grants of $100,000 each to Canadian researchers on a quest to pursue their most innovative ideas.

To celebrate Brain Awareness Week 2024, five years since the first cohort of researchers received funding, let’s take a look at what some of these auspicious scientists have accomplished so far.

Dr. Aaron Phillips
Dr. Caroline Ménard
Dr. Ryan Yuen

Dr. Chantelle Sephton
Dr. Robert Laprairie
The portable MRI scanner that Dr. Kolind and team work with can be controlled using a smartphone
Dr. Shannon Kolind

THE FACTS

  • Engaged 138 trainees (including BSc, MSc and PhD students and Post-Docs) and 57 highly-qualified personnel (e.g., technicians, lab managers)
  • A total of 98 collaborations with other researchers, health care practitioners, and decision-makers​
  • Over 243 patients and people with lived experience engaged as participants​
  • A total of 198 oral and poster presentations to researchers, 31% made by trainees​
  • A total of 25 awards and recognitions, including various prestigious awards from national professional associations (e.g., Canadian Association for Neuroscience, Canadian Psychological Association)​
  • More than $64 million in additional funding to amplify investment in Future Leader projects
  • At least 8 patents filed for discoveries resulting from Future Leader projects ​
  • A total of 11 consultations and briefings with decision-makers, patients, other researchers
Brain Canada | Future Leaders