Current Funding Opportunities

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

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.

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. 

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

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 

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.