Subventions financées

Brain-based disabilities, such as autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy, and rare genetic conditions, affect one in five children and often lead to lifelong challenges. These conditions are complex and vary widely from child to child, making it difficult to find treatments that work for everyone. Despite years of research, we still lack the tools to understand this diversity and provide personalized care. To address this, we propose WONDER (Whole-Child Open Neuroscience Data for Empowering Research), a new national research platform that will securely connect and analyze data from across Canada.

Innovative methods that enable brain-derived proteins to be measured in blood samples are transforming the field of neurology. For example, it is now possible to use a blood test to help diagnose Alzheimer’s Disease and to monitor treatment in Multiple Sclerosis. This project will establish The University of British Columbia (UBC) Platform for Neurology Biomarker Innovation (PNBI).

Research studies help us understand neurological health and develop better treatments; however, traditional research is often too slow, too expensive, and excludes people who live far from cities or face systemic barriers. ResearchAlly is changing that.

The Neuro’s Virtual Integrated Patient Platform (NeuroVIP) is an innovative initiative designed to accelerate the discovery of new treatments for brain and nervous system disorders. Many neurological conditions such as Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, and ALS, remain poorly understood and lack effective therapies. NeuroVIP addresses this challenge by bringing together patient data, biological samples, and powerful research tools into a single, open science platform that is accessible to scientists in Canada and worldwide.

Therapeutic breakthroughs in Huntington Disease (HD), Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Parkinson Disease (PD), and other neurodegenerative disorders have been accelerated by access to generously donated human samples. The HD Biobank at the University of British Columbia focuses on neurodegenerative disorders and is a leader in the collection of HD samples globally.

Depression and bipolar disorder, known as mood disorders, significantly impact the lives of many Canadians, especially women and the LGBTQ+ community. Although many treatments are available, it is often challenging for clinicians to determine which treatment is the right one for a particular individual.

Chronic pain affects millions of Canadians and is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Neurological and psychiatric conditions more broadly represent an immense burden, affecting one in three people and costing billions each year. Yet progress in developing new treatments has been slow.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are devastating diseases in which a protein called TDP-43 ends up in the wrong part of the cell, disrupting its normal role in managing RNA.

Contribution of stress-associated neurovascular alterations in Parkinson’s disease and high rates of depression

Sofia Gentile, a Master’s Student at University of Toronto, is investigating the role of immune cell activation in a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disease called progressive supranuclear palsy.