A powerful new partnership is bringing together two innovative national organizations working to advance brain health

The Kids Brain Health Network (KBHN) and Brain Canada Foundation are announcing a new collaboration to identify, support, and fund new research projects that strive to make a difference in the lives of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families across Canada.

“KBHN has a strong community of partners, network members, investigators, and highly qualified people that stretches across Canada. Our collaboration with Brain Canada began in 2015 with a funding partnership to help build the next generation of neurodevelopmental scientists. Now, our collaboration is expanding to fund research into the early detection and effective treatment of disorders of brain development. Together we are working to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and the families that need it most.” – Nicola Lewis, CEO, Kids Brain Health Network

“We are pleased to join forces once again with Kids Brain Health Network to invest in brain research that aims to improve the lives of children in Canada with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families. Understanding the brain in health and in illness will not only change how we treat and detect neurodevelopmental disorders, but it will also have implications for our understanding of all diseases and disorders of the brain.” – Dr. Viviane Poupon, President and CEO of Brain Canada

Competitions

The partnership supports two new KBHN initiatives: the Strategic Investment Fund, and the Early Career Investigator & Mentorship Awards.

Under this new agreement, four projects have received Strategic Investment Fund awards, with KBHN contributing up to $417,000, and Brain Canada contributing up to $373,000, for a total of $790,000 in total funding. An additional three projects have received funding from the Early Career Investigator & Mentorship Awards, with Brain Canada and KBHN each contributing up to $75,000 in total funding.

These amounts have also been matched by funding from additional knowledge user partners outside of any federal government sources. The Strategic Investment Fund was established to advance innovative solutions that demonstrate a strong, near-term potential to make a difference in the lives of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families across Canada. The Fund leverages KBHN resources and Network expertise in new ventures with knowledge user partners in either the private or public sector who are well positioned to adopt and implement these solutions. The expected outputs include changes in practice or policy, establishing new technologies or new applications for existing technologies, and expanding or scaling direct innovations for children and families.

The Early Career Investigator & Mentorship Awards are intended to strengthen an Early Career Investigator’s research program that addresses a real-world problem and focuses on solutions and implementation in either early screening and identification, evidence- based interventions/treatment and family support. These awards support the recruitment of trainees and increasing connections to community partners. The Awards provide $50,000 per year for two years (total $100,000) to support a postdoctoral fellow.