Meet Brain Canada’s new Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research

Brain Canada’s flagship Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research program is built to equip early-career researchers to take high-risk, high-reward approaches to advance brain and mental health. Since 2019, this program has supported 157 emerging scientists, bolstering Canada’s research ecosystem and giving the next generation of leaders the resources to pursue bold ideas and big discoveries.

The Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research program is made possible thanks to an anchor gift from the Azrieli Foundation, matched by Brain Canada through the Canada Brain Research Fund (CBRF), a unique arrangement between the Government of Canada (Health Canada) and Brain Canada, with the support of additional generous donors and partners.

“This was a terrific program that launched a totally new direction for my lab. Without this support we would not have started to explore the gut-brain axis, which is now a major focus of my group.”
– Annie Ciernia, Ph.D., 2021 Future Leader in Canadian Brain Research 

This year, 26 bold minds will receive $100,000 each to advance knowledge with the potential to improve brain and health outcomes for Canadians and beyond. Their research spans eating disorders, substance use disorder, neurodegeneration, neurodevelopment, chronic pain, and more to support prevention, early detection, better treatment options, and clearer pathways to recovery.

“Brain Canada is proud to invest in this latest cohort of trailblazers. The Future Leaders program is about more than individual projects. It’s a collective effort and a shared vision toward a future where brain disorders are better understood, better prevented and better treated.”
- Viviane Poupon, Brain Canada CEO and President

“Behind every scientific breakthrough are resilient researchers driven by curiosity and determination. We are delighted to welcome the newest cohort of Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research and look forward to seeing how their ideas and discoveries will help shape the future of brain research, for years to come.”
- Naomi Azrieli, Azrieli Foundation Chair

Find out more about the recipients and the awarded projects:

• Alex Wiesman – Simon Fraser University

• Ali Golestani – University of Calgary

• Ana Nikolic – University of Calgary

• Annemarie Dedek – University of Waterloo

• Antoine Godin – Centre de recherche CERVO, Université Laval

• Benjamin Davidson – Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto

• Brandon Helfield – Concordia University

• Sahara Khademullah – Centre de recherche CERVO, Université Laval

• Édith Breton – Centre Intersectoriel en Santé Durable, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi

• Faith Brennan – Queen’s University

• Jessica Rosin – University of British Columbia

• Jonathan Michaels – York University

• Ke Peng – University of Manitoba

• Leah Mayo – University of Calgary

• Mathieu Flamand – Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec , Université Laval

• Maxwell Shafer – University of Toronto

• Mohamad Khazaei – University of Toronto

• Pascal Tétrault – Université de Sherbrooke

• Sami Obaid – Université de Montréal

• Samira Ghorbani – University of Toronto

• Sandra Fucile – Queen’s University

• Serena Orr – University of Calgary

• Shady Rahayel –  Université de Montréal

• Thomas Parmentier – Université de Montréal

• Victor Tang – Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto

• Zachary Pennington – Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia