Brain Canada Rising Stars Trainee Awards support next generation of neuroscience research leaders 

31 awards for scientific excellence will help launch the academic careers of graduate students, post-doctoral fellows at Canadian institutions  

Brain Canada is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2024 Rising Stars Trainee Awards, an inspiring talent pool of young Canadian neuroscientists and clinical researchers who are the learners of today and the leaders of tomorrow. 

The awards provide travel fellowships and stipends to recognize exceptional trainees who are conducting research on the brain as part of their graduate (M.Sc., Ph.D.), postdoctoral, or medical residency education. 

Supporting the next generation of brain researchers in Canada is an important part of Brain Canada’s mandate. This investment will help retain researchers in the field of neuroscience, support scientific discovery and clinical advances, and enable Rising Stars to achieve their professional goals. 

Dr. Viviane Poupon, President and CEO of Brain Canada.

Funding is especially critical for trainees due to the increasing competitiveness of the Canadian research landscape and the limited financial support from granting agencies and institutions, making it difficult for brilliant young scientists to find the resources they need to excel.  

The 2024 Brain Canada Rising Stars Trainee Awards include nine categories of grants, which have been made possible through the generous support of: 

• Naomi Azrieli, François Blanc & Family; 
• M. Wayne and J. Coleman Family Fund; 
• Henry and Berenice Kaufmann Foundation; 
• Allan Kliger, Aviva Rajsky & Family; 
• Linda Auger Morissette & Friends; 
• Seger-van Tol Family; 
• Richard Sloan; 
• Mireille & Murray Steinberg Family Foundation; 
• Naomi Azrieli, O.C.; 
• Brain Changes Initiative and the Galati family; 
• Canada Brain Research Fund, an innovative arrangement between the Government of Canada (through Health Canada) and Brain Canada Foundation.  

In addition, through the important support from the Barrett Family Foundation and the Wells (DL&K) Family Fund, stipend award recipients whose research considers sex and gender received a $2,000 top-up in recognition of the vital work they are doing to incorporate SGBA-driven research hypotheses in their research.  

The projects supported by Brain Canada and its partners include: 

Travel Awards

Dr. Hubert van Tol Travel Fellowship allows full-time graduate students (M.Sc., Ph.D.) and postdoctoral fellows to attend a major international conference/symposium or training course. Recipients receive up to $5,000.

Awardees:

• Alison Wilson, master’s student at University of Calgary
• Beatrice Acheson, master’s student at University of Toronto
• Donna Gift Cabalo, doctoral student at McGill University
• Elahe Memari, doctoral student at Concordia University
• Esther Choi, master’s student at Western University
• Jacquie Baker, post-doctoral fellow at University of Calgary
• Jennifer Cooper, doctoral student at University of British Columbia
• Jordan Lee, post-doctoral fellow at University of Calgary
• Kendra Loedige, master’s student at Western University
• Marina Rincon Sartori, post-doctoral fellow at University of Calgary
• Raul Rodriguez Cruces, post-doctoral fellow at McGill University
• Vincent Bazinet, doctoral student at McGill University

Stipend Awards

Canadian Consortium for the Investigation of Cannabinoids (CCIC) Neuroscience Fellowship in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, supported by the M. Wayne & J. Coleman Family Fund, provides financial support to full-time graduate students (M.Sc., Ph.D.), postdoctoral fellows, and medical residents conducting neuroscience research at a Canadian institution in the cannabis/cannabinoid field.  

• $10,000 awarded to post-doctoral fellow Hayley Thorpe, Western University
• $10,000 awarded to doctoral student Olivier Dionne, Université de Sherbrooke

Pierre Auger Morissette Capacity-Building Award in ALS Research provides financial support to full-time graduate students (M.Sc., Ph.D.), postdoctoral fellows, and medical residents conducting research at a Canadian institution in the field of ALS.  

• $12,000 awarded to master’s student Isabel Rea, University of Calgary
• $12,000 awarded to doctoral student Zaki Alasmar, McGill University

Rising Star Award in ALS Research, in memory of Madeleine Blanc provides financial support to full-time graduate students (M.Sc., Ph.D.), postdoctoral fellows, and medical residents conducting research at a Canadian institution in the field of ALS. 

• $10,000 awarded to doctoral student Amrita Verma, University of British Columbia 
• $10,000 awarded to master’s student Jenny Zhang, University of Ottawa

Olivier Goy Rising Star Trainee Award in ALS Research, lovingly powered by Allan Kliger, Aviva Rajsky & Family provides financial support to full-time graduate students (M.Sc., Ph.D.), postdoctoral fellows, and medical residents conducting research at a Canadian institution in the field of ALS.

• $10,000 to doctoral student Jaskaran Singh, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS) 
• $12,000 to doctoral student Josephine Esposto, Trent University 
• $12,000 to postdoctoral fellow Sahana Talanjeri Gopalakrishna, University of Toronto 

Henry and Berenice Kaufmann Foundation Trainee Award in Brain Cancer Research provides financial support to full-time graduate students (M.Sc., Ph.D.), postdoctoral fellows, and medical residents conducting research in brain cancer, with a focus on glioblastomas. 

• $10,000 awarded to master’s student Sumaiyah Saleek, McGill University 
• $12,000 awarded to postdoctoral fellow Tuany Eichwald, Queen’s University 
• $12,000 awarded to doctoral student Zaleena Akheralie, University of Toronto 

Dr. Matthew Galati Brain Changer Award provides financial support to full-time graduate students (M.Sc., Ph.D.), postdoctoral fellows, and medical residents conducting clinical implementation research at a Canadian institution in the field of acquired brain injury.  

• $12,000 awarded to doctoral student Armaan Malhotra, University of Toronto 
• $10,000 awarded to doctoral student Matthew Kolisnyk, Western University 
• $12,000 awarded to doctoral student Sebastian D’Amario, Queen’s University 

Next Gen Award in Parkinson’s Disease Research provides financial support to full-time graduate students (M.Sc., Ph.D.), postdoctoral fellows, and medical residents conducting research at a Canadian institution in the field of Parkinson’s disease. 

• $12,000 awarded to doctoral student Jacopo Cristini, McGill University
• $12,000 awarded to doctoral student Michelle Wang, McGill University  

Rising Star Award in Mental Health Research, in memory of Vivian Distler provides financial support to full-time graduate students (M.Sc., Ph.D.), postdoctoral fellows, and medical residents conducting research at a Canadian institution in the field of mental health.

• $12,000 to doctoral student Elizabeth Gregory, University of British Columbia 
• $12,000 to doctoral student Julia Gallucci, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health 

Congratulations to the recipients. For more information, visit our directory of funded grants.