Bold Minds: A New Podcast

The human brain is one of the most complex structures in the universe, and we still know remarkably little about it. Across Canada, a new generation of scientists is working to change that. Brain Canada’s new podcast, Bold Minds: Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research, brings their stories to you.

What is Bold Minds?  

Bolds Minds is a podcast featuring the daring ideas of early-career researchers pushing the boundaries of brain science. In each episode, host, Fiona Sanderson, sits down with newly awarded grantees of the Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research program to explore how their discoveries could redefine our understanding of the brain. 

These trailblazers are venturing into the uncharted territory of brain science, tackling:  

• Childhood brain development 

• Cutting-edge cancer treatments 

• Precision mental health 

• The hidden codes of neurological disease 

• And so much more.  

Premiering March 3, the series will release new episodes every other Tuesday. 

Listen to Episode 1: Repair from Within now 

Each episode brings you into the minds and labs of researchers whose work could redefine our understanding of the brain, Episodes feature newly-awarded grantees of the  Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research program in conversation with host Fiona Sanderson. 

About Brain Canada’s Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research Program 

Launched in 2019, this annual grant program provides funding at the most critical point in a researcher’s career and gives budding scientists the courage to dream big and be brilliant. Through this revolutionary funding model, we are establishing Canada’s pipeline of future leaders, and laying a foundation of research excellence and innovation.

The Future Leaders program is made possible thanks to an anchor gift from the Azrieli Foundation, which is matched by Brain Canada through the Canada Brain Research Fund (CBRF), a unique public-private partnership between the Government of Canada (Health Canada) and Brain Canada, with the support of additional generous donors—each of whom helps pull us closer to a brighter horizon

Meet the host of Bold Minds

Fiona is a Senior Program Manager at Brain Canada, managing research funding programs including the Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research program. She holds a doctorate degree from the University of Toronto and The Hospital for Sick Children, where she investigated the parallels between brain development and the initiation and progression of malignant brain tumours. As an advocate for brain research and avid listener of podcasts, she’s excited to have these interests collide in hosting Bold Minds. 

The human brain is one of the most complex structures we know of in the universe…it’s at the root of who we are as humans. And yet, we know so little about it. Across Canada, researchers are working on the next big breakthrough in brain science. What if we could bring these bold minds together to share their discoveries and build on each other’s success?

Fiona Sanderson, Senior Program Manager at Brain Canada

As someone who has lived the research process firsthand, Fiona brings both scientific fluency and genuine curiosity to each conversation.

Listen and Subscribe 

Listeners can stream and subscribe to Bold Minds: Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to your podcasts.  

Listen to the first episode 

Enjoyed the first episode? Share it with someone who should know about the future of brain research, or follow Brain Canada on social channels for updates on new episodes and the researchers behind them.