Twenty-one grants awarded to support trainees across Canada

The Brain Canada Rising Stars Trainee Awards aim to broaden the funding opportunities available to trainees in Canada

In an effort to support the next generation of brain researchers in Canada, Brain Canada is thrilled to present the 21 trainees who have received grants to help launch their academic careers and pursue their professional goals. The Brain Canada Rising Stars Trainee Awards aim to recognize the excellent research being conducted at Canadian institutions by graduate students (M.Sc., Ph.D.), postdoctoral fellows, and medical residents in all fields spanning neuroscience research.

“Supporting trainees through specialized programs designed for the next generation of scholars is a fundamental aspect of Brain Canada’s mission,” says Dr. Viviane Poupon, President and CEO of Brain Canada. “We are delighted to announce the expansion of our support through the Brain Canada Rising Stars Trainee Awards this year, demonstrating our commitment to nurturing the next era of exceptional brain researchers.” 

The 2023 Rising Stars Trainee Awards, which include seven categories of grants available to graduate students (MSc, PhD), postdoctoral fellows, and residents conducting neuroscience research at a Canadian institution, are made possible through the generous support of the Seger-van Tol Family, the BistroBrain Association, the M. Wayne and J. Coleman Family Fund / the Canadian Consortium for the Investigation of Cannabinoids (CCIC), Linda Auger Morissette and Friends, the Henry and Berenice Kaufmann Foundation, S. Galati & Associates Inc. / Brain Changes Initiative, alongside The Mireille & Murray Steinberg Family Foundation and Growling Beaver Brevet. This year, thanks to generous donations from The Wells (DL&K) Family Fund and Barrett Family Foundation, trainees granted a stipend award whose research considered sex and gender were offered an additional financial top-up to further support and recognize their efforts in incorporating sex- and gender-based analysis (SGBA) in their research projects. 

Having been a trainee myself at one time, the growing response and enthusiasm for the Brain Canada Rising Stars Trainee Awards program has been inspiring. Brain Canada’s support of trainees and early career researchers is clearly responding to a need, and the continued commitment to enable capacity-building programs is more important now than ever.”  

Melissa Russo, Program Manager of the Brain Canada Rising Stars Trainee Awards

The projects supported by Brain Canada include: 

Travel Awards 

Dr. Hubert van Tol Travel Fellowship – To allow full-time graduate students (M.Sc., Ph.D.) and postdoctoral fellows to attend a major international conference/symposium or training course. 

Recipients of the Dr. Hubert van Tol Travel Fellowship were awarded up to $5,000 to attend a major international conference/symposium or training course. 

• Michael Fiorini, McGill University 
• Catherine Hume, PhD, University of Calgary 
• Jesse Lacasse, PhD, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health 
• Jimmy Li, MD, Université de Montréal 
• Christopher Morrone, PhD, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health 
• Yi Ren, University of Calgary 
• Aedan Rourke, McMaster University 
• Anne-Sophie Sack, University of British Columbia 
• Ahmad Samara, University of British Columbia 

Brain Awareness Travel Award – To allow full-time graduate students (M.Sc., Ph.D.) and postdoctoral fellows to attend a major international conference/symposium or training course. 

• $1,000 awarded to Laurence Dion-Albert, Université Laval (CERVO Brain Research Center) 
• $1,000 awarded to Elizabeth Gregory, University of British Columbia 

Stipend Awards 

Canadian Consortium for the Investigation of Cannabinoids (CCIC) Neuroscience Fellowship in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research – To provide 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.    

• $12,000 awarded to Karina Thiessen, University of British Columbia
  • Karina received a $2,000 top-up in support of SGBA considerations in their research 
• $12,000 awarded to Haley Vecchiarelli, PhD, University of Victoria 
  • Haley received a $2,000 top-up in support of SGBA considerations in their research 

Pierre Auger Morissette Capacity-Building Award in ALS Research – To provide 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.    

• $7,500 awarded to Ana Novacic, PhD, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (ICRM) 
• $7,500 awarded to Jaskaran Singh, Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) 

Henry and Berenice Kaufmann Foundation Trainee Award in Brain Cancer Research – To provide 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. 

• $12,000 awarded to Annika Benson, Dalhousie University  
  • Annika received a $2,000 top-up in support of SGBA considerations in their research 
• $10,000 awarded to Xin Wang, MD, University Health Network 

Dr. Matthew Galati Brain Changer Award – To provide 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.  

• $10,000 awarded to Bianca Bondi, York University 
• $12,000 awarded to Noor Al Dahhan, The Hospital for Sick Children 
  • Noor received a $2,000 top-up in support of SGBA considerations in their research 

Brain Canada Next Gen Award in Parkinson’s Disease Research – To provide 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 Nooshin Bahador, PhD, University Health Network 
  • Nooshin received a $2,000 top-up in support of SGBA considerations in their research 
• $12,000 awarded to Emilie Legault, Université de Montréal 
  • Emilie received a $2,000 top-up in support of SGBA considerations in their research 

The awards funded through this program have been made possible by the Canada Brain Research Fund (CBRF), an innovative arrangement between the Government of Canada (through Health Canada) and Brain Canada Foundation, the Seger-van Tol Family, the BistroBrain Association, the M. Wayne and J. Coleman Family Fund / the Canadian Consortium for the Investigation of Cannabinoids (CCIC), Linda Auger Morissette and Friends, the Henry and Berenice Kaufmann Foundation, S. Galati & Associates Inc. / Brain Changes Initiative, The Mireille & Murray Steinberg Family Foundation and the Growling Beaver Brevet, alongside The Wells (DL&K) Family Fund and Barrett Family Foundation.  

For more information, visit our directory of funded grants.