Project Overview
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. It’s a Canadian-built digital platform that allows people to participate in neuroscience and health research from anywhere using their phones, wearables like Fitbits, and simple online tools. With support from Brain Canada, the ResearchAlly Platform will expand its capabilities to better support neuroscience research into brain health, mental illness, and neurological conditions. This includes smart tools powered by AI, new features for low-bandwidth areas, Indigenous language options, and culturally responsive interfaces designed with community partners. By using the ResearchAlly Platform, researchers will be able to gather data in real-time, detect changes to neurological health earlier, and include a broader and more diverse group of participants than ever before. Over the next three years, the ResearchAlly Platform will be deployed nationally to run studies focused on mental health, prevention of cognitive decline, and improving care for Indigenous, racialized, and underserved communities. We’ll also train young scientists, community leaders, and healthcare workers to use digital tools for neuroscience research and enable implementation into healthcare settings. Everything we build will be shared openly: the tools, training, results, and lessons learned. Our goal is to make neuroscience research more inclusive, faster, and more useful for patients, families, and healthcare providers. By connecting science with real people in real time, the ResearchAlly Platform will help Canada lead the way in a new era of neuroscience research, one that is intelligent, inclusive, and built for everyone.
Partners & Donors
University of Calgary's Research Computing Services (RCS)
Hotchkiss Brain Institute
Libin Cardiovascular Institute
Health Equity & Systems Transformation Innovation Lab (HEST-IL) at the University of Calgary
