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.