Current Funding Opportunities

Research Network of Excellence in Women’s Heart and/or Brain Health

View the Request for Applications to learn more about this program and how to apply.

Brain Canada, in partnership with Heart & Stroke, is proud to announce funding for the third Research Network of Excellence in Women’s Heart and/or Brain Health, focused on rehabilitation and recovery following acute heart-brain health events such as stroke, heart attack, and cardiac arrest. 

Women recovering from heart-brain events—such as stroke, heart attack, or cardiac arrest—often encounter delays in accessing rehabilitation, lower referral rates, and reduced participation in recovery program compared to men. These inequities are further compounded by social determinants of health, including income, geography, ethnicity, disability, and caregiving responsibilities, which can limit access to culturally safe, gender-responsive care. 


The network will receive $5 million over five years to establish a Canada-wide collaboration of researchers. Its priority is to improve access to heart-brain rehabilitation and recovery programs for women, using a whole-person approach that considers physiological, psychological, emotional, social, and environmental factors. The launch of this funding opportunity marks a continued commitment to addressing systemic inequities in women’s health and driving forward research that leads to change. 

2026/27 Postdoctoral Personnel Awards for Women’s Heart and/or Brain Health (WPA-PDF)

Click here to view the Submission Guidelines.

Deadline for receipt of Applications: October 2, 2025 15:00 ET 

2026/27 Doctoral Personnel Awards for Women’s Heart and/or Brain Health (WPA-PHD)

Click here to view the Submission Guidelines.

Deadline for receipt of Applications: October 2, 2025 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.

Should you have any questions, please contact research@heartandstroke.ca

This program has been made possible by the Canada Brain Research Fund (CBRF), an innovative arrangement between the Government of Canada (through Health Canada), Brain Canada Foundation, and Heart & Stroke.

Deadline for receipt of Registration Forms

January 15, 2026

03:00 pm ET

Deadline for receipt of Full Applications

April 9, 2026

03:00 pm ET

Cardiac Arrest Team Grants

Heart & Stroke, in collaboration with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health (CIHR-ICRH) and Brain Canada, is proud to announce a joint commitment of $5 million over five years to support the Cardiac Arrest Team Grants funding opportunity.
 
This bold initiative aims to significantly improve the prediction of cardiac arrest, the survival rates and quality of life for individuals and families affected by cardiac arrest across Canada.

The Cardiac Arrest Team Grants will support multidisciplinary research teams across three key areas:

  1. Prediction and early detection: Advancing ability to predict and detect cardiac arrest in the community or in hospital by deepening understanding of its causes and biological mechanisms.
  2. Accelerating response and increasing survival: Developing sustainable, evidence-informed approaches to improve emergency response and survival — both out-of-hospital and in-hospital.
  3. Optimizing brain recovery: Supporting survivors with evidence-based rehabilitation and recovery strategies that address physical, neurocognitive, and/or mental health needs. This includes support for families, caregivers, and communities.

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 guidelines.

Registration deadline: December 16, 2025 at 3 p.m. ET

Deadline for receipt of Full Applications: March 17, 2026 at 3 p.m. ET

For more information, or if you have any questions regarding the application process, please consult this FAQ document, or contact research@heartandstroke.ca.

Funding for the Cardiac Arrest Team Grants has been made possible by Heart & Stroke, Canada’s leading health charity devoted to heart disease and stroke, the Canada Brain Research Fund (CBRF), an innovative arrangement between the Government of Canada (through Health Canada) and Brain Canada Foundation, and Canada’s federal funding agency for health research, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health.

Registration deadline:

December 16, 2025

03:00 pm ET

Deadline for receipt of Full Applications:

March 17, 2026

03:00 pm ET

Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research

View the Request for Applications to learn more about this program and how to apply.

Brain Canada is pleased to announce the launch of the 2025 Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research program, which supports early-career researchers as they pursue bold, new ideas to solve the mysteries of the brain. The purpose of the Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research program is to accelerate novel and transformative research that will fundamentally change our understanding of nervous system function and dysfunction and their impact on health. The ultimate goal is to reduce the social and economic burden of neurological and mental health illnesses through prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment. 

The 2025 competition will support up to 20 grants of $100,000 each, over two 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 encourages 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 Letter of Intent: November 7, 2025 at 5 p.m. ET  

Deadline for receipt of Full Applications: February 20, 2026 at 5 p.m. ET  

For more information, or if you have any questions regarding the application process, please contact Brain Canada at futureleaders@braincanada.ca.    

This program has been made possible by the Canada Brain Research Fund (CBRF), an innovative arrangement between the Government of Canada, through Health Canada, and Brain Canada Foundation, designed to increase support of brain research on behalf of Canadians, and maximize the impact and efficiency of those investments. The Fund supports the very best Canadian neuroscience, fostering collaborative research and accelerating the pace of discovery, in order to improve the health and quality of life of those who suffer from brain disorders.  

DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF LETTER OF INTENT:

November 7, 2025

05:00 pm ET

DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF FULL APPLICATIONS:

February 20, 2026

05:00 pm ET

The Indigenous Stream – Call for Proposals

View the Call for Proposals to learn more about this program and how to apply.

Brain Canada is proud to support Kids Brain Health Network (KBHN) for the Indigenous Stream – Call for Proposals.  

This funding opportunity will support impactful projects to improve outcomes for Indigenous children and youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities, while recognizing and honouring the knowledge, priorities, and leadership of Indigenous Peoples.

We invite academics in partnership with Indigenous communities to bring forward projects that:

  • Create Impact to measurably improve outcomes for Indigenous children and youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their caregivers.
  • Are grounded in community-identified priorities, Indigenous knowledge, languages, and strengthen culturally appropriate approaches to care, support, and inclusion.
  • Builds capacity, including non-western knowledge capacity, of Indigenous academics and the communities being served.
  • Have clearly identified goals, activities, and expected outcomes that can be measured and shared with communities.
  • Demonstrate feasibility and sustainability so that projects implemented and their benefits are maintained beyond the funding period.

This program is made possible by Kids Brain Health Network and the Canada Brain Research Fund, an innovative arrangement between the Government of Canada, through Health Canada, and Brain Canada

Application Deadline

December 5, 2025

06:00 pm ET

Alzheimer’s Association International Research Grant Program  

Brain Canada is excited to partner with the Alzheimer’s Association on the International Research Grant Program.  
 
The Alzheimer’s Association International Research Grant Program (IRGP) funds research that will advance our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease, identify new treatment strategies, improve care for people with dementia and further our knowledge of brain health and disease prevention. 
 
 
Through a partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association, Brain Canada will be funding Canadian-led teams who meet peer review recommendations. 

Alzheimer’s Association Clinician Scientist Fellowship for All (AACSFA)
Open to clinician scientists, which are as defined as an individual already trained, licensed and practicing in a clinical field that includes patient contact or patient-related diagnostic studies, this program supports the training of clinician scientists in the field of Alzheimer’s and all other dementias.

Alzheimer’s Association Research Fellowship for All (AARFA)
This program is designed to nurture the next generation of scientists by providing funding to postdoctoral researchers who have completed their doctoral training and are actively working in Alzheimer’s or dementia-related research under the mentorship of established investigators.

Alzheimer’s Association Research Grant For All (AARGA)
With the aim of providing newly independent investigators with funding that will allow them to develop preliminary or pilot data, to test procedures and to develop hypotheses, this program supports early-career researchers who have been in the position of an Assistant Professor or the equivalent for no more than seven years.

Deadline for receipt of Letters of Intent

September 4, 2025

05:00 pm ET

Deadline for receipt of Full Applications

November 10, 2025

05:00 pm ET

2025 Knowledge Mobilization Grants

View the Request for Applications to learn more about this program and how to apply. 

*Please note that the original deadlines and timeline for the 2025 Knowledge Mobilization Grants have been extended.

Brain Canada is thrilled to announce the launch of the 2025 Knowledge Mobilization Grants!  

The Knowledge Mobilization Grants program offers funding for knowledge mobilization (KM) centred on brain research towards the achievement of meaningful societal impacts. The purpose of the Knowledge Mobilization Grants 2025 funding opportunity is to support projects that generate novel and practical applications of existing research evidence for enhanced brain health. Funded projects will address a critical barrier to the real-world application of research evidence by catalyzing change among policymakers, practitioners such as health care providers, and individuals who experience the downstream effects of policies and practices such as patients and their caregivers.

Please note that the current program is only open to researchers who have been involved in a Brain Canada-funded grant, and proposed KM projects must be related to the research supported by Brain Canada

Brain Canada, through the Canada Brain Research Fund, has allocated $200,000 CAD to the 2025 Knowledge Mobilization Grants program, to be matched by funding provided by sponsors secured by the applicants, for a total possible funding envelope of $400,000 CAD. Grant amounts are flexible to accommodate a broad range of KM projects but overall project budgets must be a minimum of $25,000 CAD and up to $100,000 CAD maximum. 

Projects must focus on one or more of the following and include engagement, evaluation and sustainability planning:

  • Development of KM outputs
  • Dissemination to increase reach and use of KM outputs
  • Implementation of existing research evidence

Teams are expected to engage and collaborate with stakeholders throughout their proposed KM project. This iterative approach to co-creation involving the intended users is designed to increase the applicability, distribution, and implementation of the project output(s), and, therefore, maximize their potential to achieve positive impact(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.

Deadline for receipt of Registration Forms: September 16, 2025 at 17:00 ET  

Deadline for receipt of Full Applications: October 21, 2025 at 17:00 ET   

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

This program has been made possible by the Canada Brain Research Fund (CBRF), an innovative arrangement between the Government of Canada (through Health Canada) and Brain Canada Foundation.

Deadline for receipt of Registration Forms

October 7, 2025

05:00 pm ET

Deadline for receipt of Full Applications

November 18, 2025

05:00 pm ET

Recently Closed Competitions

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2026 Alzheimer Society Research Program 

View the Request for Applications and visit ASC’s website to learn more about this program and how to apply.

Brain Canada is proud to be supporting the Alzheimer Society of Canada for the 2026-2026 Alzheimer Society Research Program (ASRP).

Brain Canada will be co-funding two types of grants.  

  • New Investigator Operating Grants are designed to help launch the careers of outstanding researchers who are within the first six (6) years of their initial academic appointment. 
  • Proof of Concept Grants are designed to fund innovative, potentially high-challenge, and high-reward research that pushes the boundaries of our existing understanding of dementia. 

The ASRP provides grants and awards to support research in Canada that promise new insights into causes, risk reduction, diagnosis, treatment and management of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. 

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. 

This program has been made possible by the Canada Brain Research Fund (CBRF), an innovative arrangement between the Government of Canada (through Health Canada), Brain Canada Foundation, and the Alzheimer’s Association. 

Deadline for receipt of Full Applications

November 3, 2025

05:00 pm ET

Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research – Momentum Grants

View the Request for Applications to learn more about this program and how to apply.

Brain Canada is pleased to announce a new cycle of the Momentum Grants program to leverage the strengths of the Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research Program, which anchored by a generous gift from the Azrieli Foundation, provides funding to early-career researchers to build a foundation of research excellence and innovation in Canada. 

The 2025 Momentum Grants program aims to enable researchers to build upon their previously funded initial projects and explore new dimensions of their research with the potential to generate breakthroughs in our understanding of the brain.

This funding opportunity is open to previous recipients of Azrieli Foundation-Brain Canada Early-Career Capacity Building Grants or Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research Grants. It has a funding envelope of $1,000,000 CAD to support up to five grants of $200,000 over two years. Through the Momentum Grants, we aim to provide researchers with funding to sustain and accelerate their ongoing research, allowing them to capitalize on the initial momentum generated through their seed funding.

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.

If you have any questions regarding the application process, please contact Brain Canada at futureleaders@braincanada.ca.

This program has been made possible by the Canada Brain Research Fund (CBRF), an innovative arrangement between the Government of Canada (through Health Canada), Brain Canada Foundation, and the Azrieli Foundation as well as other generous donors.

Deadline for Receipt of Registration Forms:

September 26, 2025

05:00 pm ET

Deadline for Receipt of Full Applications:

November 3, 2025

05:00 pm ET

Personnel Awards for Women’s Heart and/or Brain Health

Brain Canada and Heart & Stroke are pleased to launch the 2026/27 Personnel Awards for Women’s Heart and/or Brain Health

The objective of this competition is to increase the number of researchers and clinician-scientists in Canadian universities and research institutions devoted specifically to women’s heart and/or brain health and, in so doing, expand research initiatives in this field. Women include cisgender and transgender women, and trans and non-binary people with shared health experiences but who may not identify as women.

In the context of this award, heart and/or brain health research encompasses research addressing conditions, including neurological, that affect the cardiovascular and/or cerebrovascular health of people living in Canada. This could include research focused on prevention, treatment, and/or recovery related to heart conditions, stroke, vascular cognitive impairment, and mental health in relation to these conditions. 

2026/27 Postdoctoral Personnel Awards for Women’s Heart and/or Brain Health (WPA-PDF)

Click here to view the Submission Guidelines.

Deadline for receipt of Applications: October 2, 2025 15:00 ET 

2026/27 Doctoral Personnel Awards for Women’s Heart and/or Brain Health (WPA-PHD)

Click here to view the Submission Guidelines.

Deadline for receipt of Applications: October 2, 2025 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.

Should you have any questions, please contact research@heartandstroke.ca

This program has been made possible by the Canada Brain Research Fund (CBRF), an innovative arrangement between the Government of Canada (through Health Canada), Brain Canada Foundation, and Heart & Stroke.

Deadline for receipt of Applications

October 2, 2025

03:00 pm ET

Accelerator Grants: Neurodegeneration x Immunology 

View the Request for Applications  to learn more about this program and how to apply. 

Brain Canada and Krembil Foundation are excited to announce the launch of the Accelerator Grants: Neurodegeneration x Immunology program! 
  
This team grant aims to support innovative, bold, and exploratory research to understand the role of the immune system in neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and/or Huntington’s disease. The program will fund experimental research, in the early conceptual or fundamental stages, with potential to provide insights on disease pathogenesis, progression, diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment. Preference will be given to projects with novel hypotheses or unconventional approaches that, if successful, could shift existing paradigms and open newlines of inquiry for the field.  

Projects must explore the role of immune mechanisms and how they contribute to and/or modulate neurodegeneration. Examples of immune mechanisms include, but are not limited to, the role of innate or adaptive immunity, neuroinflammation, central or peripheral immune responses, interaction between the nervous system and immune system in aging, or the gut-immune–brain axis. 
 
Recognizing that groundbreaking ideas require diverse perspectives, this opportunity will support multidisciplinary research teams that bring together needed expertise in neuroscience and immunology along with other fields of study. Early career researchers are encouraged to apply, and researchers studying the immune system in other neurological diseases are invited to transfer their expertise to the neurodegenerative diseases covered in this funding opportunity. It is anticipated that this funding will catalyze new insights and support the generation of preliminary data and/or tools to provide teams and the field with new research directions.   
 
Evidence clearly shows that increasing equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in research environments enhances excellence, innovation and creativity. We are committed to excellence through equity and encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply to this funding opportunity, which will promote the expression of diverse perspectives, approaches, and experiences, including those of underrepresented groups. 
 
 
Deadline for receipt of Registration Forms:  September 16, 2025 at 17:00 ET 
 
Deadline for receipt of Full Applications: October 21, 2025 at 17:00 ET 

Deadline for receipt of Registration Forms

September 16, 2025

05:00 pm ET

Deadline for receipt of Full Applications

October 21, 2025

05:00 pm ET

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.