CBRAIN: Canadian Brain Research And Informatics Platform

Project Overview

Advances in neuroimaging over the past several years have provided researchers with unprecedented access into the inner workings of the brain. Such data can be collected non-invasively from human subjects so that dynamic changes in brain and behavior can be captured during normal development, aging, learning and plasticity. However, the collection and analysis of such detailed information requires an enormous amount of data and processing capacity. Dr. Evans and his team have developed the Canadian Brain Imaging Research Platform (CBRAIN), a web portal that provides researchers with the tools to overcome the large-scale data processing challenges of neuroimaging. The platform connects 300+ researchers in brain imaging centres across Canada and around the world, enhancing the ease with which researchers can share complex 3D and 4D brain imaging data collected from large multi-centre research projects. The platform is currently being used to uncover the underpinnings of key neurological disorders impacting society, including autism, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis. Beyond this, CBRAIN provides a framework that can be configured to accept and analyze data from any discipline, in line with Dr. Evans’ ultimate goal of establishing Canada as a global hub for “big data” research into the normal and abnormal brain.

Partners and Donors

McGill University

Genome BC

Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health

Vancouver Coastal Health

University of Calgary

Universite de Montreal

Dalhousie University

CRIUGM

CIUSSS-CHUS

Baycrest

IUSMQ (CIUSSS-CN)

Hospital for Sick Children