Current Funding Opportunities

Basics of Better Mental Health Program

Mental illness is the leading cause of disability in Canada. Evidence-based research has established that mental illness is a significant cause of limited quality of life, an important risk factor for premature mortality, and costly with respect to societal welfare.

Brain Canada, Krembil Foundation, and Women’s Brain Health Initiative (WBHI), with the support of The Erika Legacy Foundation and Power Corporation of Canada have launched the Basics of Better Mental Health Program, which will fund experimental research that will provide insight into the causes and onset of mental illnesses, explore the neuropathological changes and information-processing deficits that may eventually lead to new directions for treatments and interventions, and explore the role of sex and gender in mental health.

The inclusion of sex-specific biological considerations in mental health research is important for understanding the biological roots of mental illnesses. Mental health disorders that may be explored, but are not limited to, in this competition are; depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, personality disorders, schizophrenia, and substance use disorders.

A $3.3 M pool of funds will be available for this program to support three team grants of $1.1M each, over three years.

Evidence clearly shows that increasing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in research environments enhances excellence, innovation, and creativity. Brain Canada is committed to excellence through equity, and we encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply to our funding opportunities, which will promote the expression of diverse perspectives, approaches, and experiences, including those of underrepresented groups.

Click here to view the Request for Applications.

Click here to download the Registration Form.

Deadline for Registration Form: June 27, 2023

Deadline for Receipt of Full Applications: September 8, 2023

DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF REGISTRATION FORMS:

June 27, 2023

05:00 pm ET

ALS Canada-Brain Canada Discovery Grant Program 2023

Brain Canada and the ALS Society of Canada are pleased to announce the continuation of the Discovery Grant Program. The purpose of the 2023 Discovery Grant Program is to invest in the best possible projects that are focused on identifying causes of, or treatments for ALS and/or related neurological diseases, including primary lateral sclerosis, progressive muscular atrophy, and ALS/FTLD (frontotemporal lobar dementia), or research focused on avenues to maximize function, minimize disability and optimize quality of life through symptom management, and support to persons or families living with ALS.

Please refer to the Terms of Reference for additional details.

Discovery Grants are designed to support teams of multiple investigators and especially encourage multidisciplinary teams with individuals from outside the field who can combine their expertise in novel or innovative ways.

The ALS Canada – Brain Canada Discovery Grant Program 2023 consists of two streams, which both consist of novel or innovative research approaches, supported by sound rationale and a feasible experimental plan, and maintain the high-risk/high-reward mindset:

Stream 1: Aimed at nurturing novel ideas looking to obtain preliminary data or to pursue ideas supported by very early data signals. Preliminary data may enhance competitiveness but is not necessarily required. Up to six awards of $125,000 will be awarded in this cycle.

Stream 2: Consists of more ambitious projects that are supported with some level of preliminary data to justify the larger investment. Up to two awards of $300,000 will be awarded in this cycle.

Evidence clearly shows that increasing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in research environments enhances excellence, innovation, and creativity. Brain Canada is committed to excellence through equity, and we encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply to our funding opportunities, which will promote the expression of diverse perspectives, approaches, and experiences, including those of underrepresented groups.

Deadline for receipt of Applications: July 12, 2023 at 13:00 ET

Please refer to the Terms of Reference for additional details.

DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS:

July 12, 2023

01:00 pm ET

Personnel Awards for Indigenous Scholars

Brain Canada along with Heart & Stroke and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health (CIHR-ICRH), are excited to launch the Personnel Awards for Indigenous Scholars.

The objective of the competition is to increase the number of highly qualified Indigenous trainees from First Nations, Inuit or Métis communities, whose traditional and ancestral territories are in Canada, committed to working in heart and/or brain research. 

The multi-year awards will provide financial support for up to eight masters students for up to two years and up to five doctoral students for up to three years. 

2023 Master’s Personnel Awards for Indigenous Scholars 

The stipends awarded will be up to $50,000 CAD ($25,000 per year for up to two years), enabling Indigenous trainees (including Elders and Knowledge Keepers) to focus on their Master’s research studies and engage with mentors as part of their training. 

Click  here  to view the Request for Applications. 

Deadline for receipt of Applications: Friday, September 1, 2023 at 15:00 ET 

2023 Doctoral Personnel Awards for Indigenous Scholars 

The stipends awarded will be up to $90,000 CAD ($30,000 per year for up to three years), enabling Indigenous trainees (including Elders and Knowledge Keepers) to focus on their Doctoral research studies and engage with mentors as part of their training. 

Click  here  to view the Request for Applications. 

Deadline for receipt of Applications: Friday, September 1, 2023 at 15:00 ET 

Evidence clearly shows that increasing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in research environments enhances excellence, innovation, and creativity. Brain Canada is committed to excellence through equity, and we encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply to our funding opportunities, which will promote the expression of diverse perspectives, approaches, and experiences, including those of underrepresented groups. 

DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS:

September 1, 2023

03:00 pm ET

The Amazing Brain Speaking Opportunity

Deadline extended! Please read below for new updates to the eligibility requirements.

This program encourages researchers to share scientific findings with the public from the exciting, innovative, and important brain research being conducted across Canada and beyond. This is a unique opportunity to deliver a 15-minute TED-style talk to a public audience onstage at a prominent venue in vibrant downtown Montreal. Reasonable travel and accommodation expenses for selected speakers will be covered.

The Amazing Brain will take place on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at the Tanna Schulich Hall in Montreal (555 Sherbrooke St W, Montreal, Quebec).

This opportunity is open to researchers that (i) have been awarded Brain Canada funding (either currently or within the past five years) AND were early career researchers (within five years of starting their first independent academic appointment, not counting any leaves of absence) at the time they held this funding; or (ii) are McGill University-affiliated early-career researchers in the field of neuroscience, within ten years of starting their first independent research position by the deadline to submit Video Submissions.

Content of the talk is open to the applicant’s discretion but must be:
• On a topic related to their own brain-health-based research;
• Fit within one of the two session themes described in the Request for Applications
• Be consistent with what is described in the submitted Application Form and Video Submission;
• Should be of general interest to a public audience.

Evidence clearly shows that increasing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in research environments enhances excellence, innovation, and creativity. Brain Canada is committed to excellence through equity, and we encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply to our funding opportunities, which will promote the expression of diverse perspectives, approaches, and experiences, including those of underrepresented groups.

Please note that The Amazing Brain opportunity includes an Application Form and a Video Submission stage.

Click here to view the Request for Applications.

Click here to download the Application Form.

Deadline for receipt of Application Forms: June 12, 2023 at 17:00 ET

Deadline for receipt of Application Forms:

June 12, 2023

05:00 pm ET

Call for Collaborative Research Projects on the Brain

Brain Canada and CQDM are joining forces to support interprovincial collaborative translational research and development (R&D) projects on the brain. This partnership creates a unique funding opportunity that brings together experts from academia and industry to support the development of platforms, tools and biopharmaceuticals that will pave the way for new advances in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of brain disorders. 

This award is intended for research teams with a minimum of two independent researchers, a principal investigator from a research institution in Quebec and an independent researcher from a research institution in another Canadian province. They must work in close collaboration with at least one Quebec small and medium-sized enterprise (SME).  

The project’s budget must be between $500,000 and $2 million. 

Evidence clearly shows that increasing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in research environments enhances excellence, innovation, and creativity. Brain Canada is committed to excellence through equity, and we encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply to our funding opportunities, which will promote the expression of diverse perspectives, approaches, and experiences, including those of underrepresented groups. 

Click here to view the Request for Applications.  

Deadline to notify CQDM of intent to apply: July 3, 2023 

Full Application deadline: July 10, 2023 at 17:00 ET 

Full Application deadline:

July 10, 2023

04:00 pm ET

Deadline to notify CQDM of intent to apply:

July 3, 2023

04:00 pm ET

Brain Canada Rising Stars Trainee Awards

Trainees are the learners of today and the leaders of tomorrow. 

Supporting the next generation of brain researchers in Canada is needed to ensure the success of the Canadian brain research ecosystem. 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. 

2023 Trainee Award Opportunities 

Travel Awards 

Dr. Hubert van Tol Travel Fellowship  

  • Purpose: To allow full-time graduate students (M.Sc., Ph.D.) and postdoctoral fellows to attend a major international conference/symposium or training course. 
  • Amount of award: Up to $5,000 CAD per award, non-renewable. 
  • Number of awards: Up to nine awards. 

Brain Awareness Travel Award 

  • Purpose: To allow full-time graduate students (M.Sc., Ph.D.) and postdoctoral fellows to attend a major international conference/symposium or training course. 
  • Amount of award: $1,000 CAD per award, non-renewable. 
  • Number of awards: Two awards. 

Stipend Awards 

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

  • Purpose: 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.   
  • Amount of award: $10,000 CAD per award for one year, non-renewable. 
  • Number of awards: Up to two awards. 

Pierre Auger Morissette Capacity-Building Award in ALS Research 

  • Purpose: 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.  
  • Amount of award: $7,500 CAD per award for one year, non-renewable.  
  • Number of awards: Up to two awards. 

Henry and Berenice Kaufmann Foundation Trainee Award in Brain Cancer Research 

  • Purpose: 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. 
  • Amount of award: $10,000 CAD per award for one year, non-renewable. 
  • Number of awards: Up to two awards.  

Dr. Matthew Galati Brain Changer Award 

  • Purpose: 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. 
  • Amount of award: $10,000 CAD per award for one year, non-renewable. 
  • Number of awards: Up to two awards.  

Brain Canada Next Gen Award in Parkinson’s Disease Research 

  • Purpose: 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.    
  • Amount of award: $10,000 CAD per award for one year, non-renewable. 
  • Number of awards: Up to two awards.  

Recognizing the importance of research to support women’s brain health 

  • To provide further support and recognition to trainees whose research considers sex and/or gender, successful applicants to any of the available Stipend Awards will have the opportunity to receive a top up of $2,000.00 CAD if their research projects incorporate sex- and/or gender-based analysis-driven research hypotheses. 

Evidence clearly shows that increasing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in research environments enhances excellence, innovation, and creativity. Brain Canada is committed to excellence through equity, and we encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply to our funding opportunities, which will promote the expression of diverse perspectives, approaches, and experiences, including those of underrepresented groups. 

For more information on the Brain Canada Rising Stars Trainee Awards, please consult the Request for Application  

Should you have any questions, please contact programs@braincanada.ca. 

Deadline for receipt of Applications:

June 15, 2023

04:00 pm ET

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Personnel Awards for Black Scholars

Brain Canada along with Heart & Stroke and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health (CIHR-ICRH), are excited to launch the Personnel Awards for Black Scholars. The objective of the competition is to increase the number of highly qualified Black trainees across Canada committed to working in the fields of heart and brain research. 

By investing in Black researchers, we hope to strengthen representation in the Canadian research community.  

The multi-year awards will provide financial support for up to eight masters students for two years and up to five doctoral students for three years.   

2023 Master’s Personnel Awards for Black Scholars 

The stipends awarded will be up to $50,000 CAD ($25,000 per year for up to two years) enabling Black trainees to focus on their Master’s research studies and engage with mentors as part of their training. 

Click here to view the Request for Applications. 

Deadline for receipt of Applications: May 1, 2023 15:00 ET 

2023 Doctoral Personnel Awards for Black Scholars 

The stipends awarded will be up to $90,000 CAD ($30,000 per year for up to three years), enabling Black trainees to focus on their Doctoral research studies and engage with mentors as part of their training. 

Click here to view the Request for Applications. 

Deadline for receipt of Applications: May 1, 2023 15:00 ET 

Evidence clearly shows that increasing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in research environments enhances excellence, innovation, and creativity. Brain Canada is committed to excellence through equity, and we encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply to our funding opportunities, which will promote the expression of diverse perspectives, approaches, and experiences, including those of underrepresented groups. 

Deadline for receipt of Applications:

May 1, 2023

03:00 pm ET

ALS Canada-Brain Canada Trainee Program 2023

Brain Canada is pleased to partner with the ALS Society of Canada (ALS Canada) to launch the ALS Canada-Brain Canada Trainee Program 2023. Brain Canada and ALS Canada share a strong belief that it is crucial that promising young investigators are nurtured in the early stages of their careers so they can strive to promote discovery and advancement.

The intent for this award is to attract the brightest young minds to ALS research, which will contribute to a succession plan for the Canadian ALS research community. This program is designed to nurture and support innovative ideas and compelling breakthroughs across the spectrum of ALS research.

A $315,000 pool of funds will be available for this program. Each Doctoral Award would be funded at $25,000 per year for up to three years, and each Postdoctoral Fellowship would be funded at $55,000 per year for up to three years. The funds awarded through this fellowship will be utilized to support the stipend/salary of the awardee(s).

Evidence clearly shows that increasing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in research environments enhances excellence, innovation, and creativity. Brain Canada is committed to excellence through equity, and we encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply to our funding opportunities, which will promote the expression of diverse perspectives, approaches, and experiences, including those of underrepresented groups.

Click here to view the Terms of Reference

Deadline for receipt of Applications: April 11, 2023 13:00 ET

Deadline for receipt of Applications:

April 11, 2023

01:00 pm ET

ALS Canada-Brain Canada Clinical Research Fellowship

Brain Canada is pleased to partner with the ALS Society of Canada once again to continue to support the next generation of clinical researchers pursuing specialized training in the field of ALS.

The ALS Canada-Brain Canada Clinical Research Fellowship 2023 is designed to support the further training of a clinician to develop the skills necessary to become a specialist in ALS and provides training in clinical or basic research relevant to the field. Specialized training of young MDs in both clinical care and research skills related to ALS is crucial to building better clinical infrastructure across Canada.

One fellowship of up to $200,000 CAD total is available for up to two years. The funds awarded through this fellowship will be utilized to support the stipend/salary of the awardee.

Evidence clearly shows that increasing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in research environments enhances excellence, innovation, and creativity. Brain Canada is committed to excellence through equity, and we encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply to our funding opportunities, which will promote the expression of diverse perspectives, approaches, and experiences, including those of underrepresented groups.

Click here to view the Terms of Reference

Deadline for receipt of Applications: March 15, 2023 at 13:00 ET

Deadline for receipt of Applications:

March 15, 2023

01:00 pm ET

Brain Changes Initiative Award for Traumatic Brain Injury

In partnership with Brain Changes Initiative and Branch Out Neurological Foundation, Brain Canada is pleased to launch the Brain Changes Initiative Award for Traumatic Brain Injury.

This funding opportunity encourages innovative, unorthodox, and exploratory research with potential for significant impact on our understanding of brain recovery after.

With an overall envelope of $50,000 CAD to support one grant over one year, the purpose of this funding opportunity is to improve our understanding of the potential for nonpharmacological interventions to improve brain recovery after injury.

Evidence clearly shows that increasing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in research environments enhances excellence, innovation, and creativity. Brain Canada is committed to excellence through equity, and we encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply to our funding opportunities, which will promote the expression of diverse perspectives, approaches, and experiences, including people of racialized ethnicities and underrepresented groups.

Applicants must submit a Registration Form to be eligible to submit a Full Application.

Click here to view the Request for Applications

Deadline for receipt of Registration Forms: January 20, 2023 at 5 p.m. ET

Deadline for receipt of Full Applications: April 21, 2023 at 5 p.m. ET

For more information, or if you have any questions regarding the application process, please contact Branch Out Neurological Foundation at research@branchoutfoundation.com

Deadline for receipt of Registration Forms:

January 20, 2023

05:00 pm ET

Deadline for receipt of Full Applications:

April 21, 2023

05:00 pm ET

Student Event Sponsorship Opportunities

Fuelling tomorrow’s brilliant brain breakthroughs

Supporting the next generation of brain researchers as they explore their passion for science and innovation will lead to a better and more brilliant tomorrow for all. Brain Canada believes that by sponsoring events and activities that are designed to inspire young leaders to dream big, we will be one step closer to unlocking the secrets of the brain.

To be considered for support from Brain Canada, you must:

  • Be a registered student at a Canadian post-secondary institution
  • Demonstrate alignment with relevant themes such as brain research and/or neuroscience
  • Offer opportunities for Brain Canada’s presence (marketing, community engagement,
    participation etc.)
  • Submit your request a minimum of 30 days before the expected sponsorship

Click here to download the request form and apply today!

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Funding Alerts

By funding brain research, you are helping to transform cutting-edge ideas into better health outcomes for all people in Canada. To achieve maximum impact, Brain Canada leverages every dollar donated to brain research with matching government, partner, or donor funds.