Resources for Researchers
From Research to Impact
Understanding and sharing the difference your Brain Canada-funded research makes
Every discovery contributes to a larger story about how brain research improves lives. By sharing the outcomes and impacts of your Brain Canada-funded research, you help us demonstrate the value of investing in Canadian brain research to donors, partners, governments, and the public. These stories help secure future investment that supports the next generation of researchers and discoveries.
As part of this effort, Brain Canada asks funded researchers to share the outcomes and impacts of their work through progress reports and post-grant impact surveys.
Research impact is the positive change that occurs because of research. It may happen during your grant, years later, or through the work of others who build on your discoveries.
We recognize that the nature and timing of impact varies across projects and disciplines. Fundamental discovery research, translational research, clinical research, and implementation research all create impact in different ways.
When completing reports, consider questions such as:
What was made possible because of this funding?
What new knowledge, tools, methods, or capabilities resulted?
Who has used, benefited from, or built upon your work?
Has your research influenced future studies, clinical care, policy, technology development, commercialization, or public understanding?
What do you see as the next step toward real-world impact?
Here are some examples of research impact:
Advancing knowledge: Expanding our understanding of the brain and brain disorders, including new discoveries, datasets, methods, technologies, and research tools.
(Example: Shifting paradigms, informing solutions)
Enabling solutions: Informing the development of new approaches to prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, care, or health technologies.
(Example: Basic discovery brings hope to those facing eating disorders)Influencing decisions: Informing clinical practice, policy, guidelines, public health, education, or decision-making.
(Example: rTMS Access Expanded Across Ontario)
Creating economic and social value: Supporting commercialization, partnerships, new companies, social innovation, or broader societal benefits.
(Example: "One Brain" research for better brain health)Improving health and lives: Contributing to better health outcomes, quality of life, health equity, or more effective health systems.
(Example: The JoyPop Trial)
Not every project will demonstrate every type of impact, and that's expected. Some projects generate new knowledge that enables future discoveries, while others may directly influence clinical practice, policy, or patient care. We encourage you to share the impacts that are appropriate to your research and its stage of development.
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Impact can take many forms. Examples include:
A new experimental method adopted by other laboratories
Data or software made openly available and reused
Findings cited in clinical guidelines or policy documents
A patent, licence, start-up, or industry partnership
A clinical trial informed by earlier discoveries
A diagnostic tool, therapy, or technology progressing toward implementation
Improved patient care or health outcomes
What makes a compelling impact story?
Be specific
Explain why the finding matters.
Focus on change made possible by the research.
Whenever possible, describe who benefits and how.
Need help describing your impact?
These resources offer practical guidance and examples of how to identify and communicate research impact:
Research Impact Canada: What is a research impact narrative? (video)
Julie Bayley, Lincoln Impact Literacy Institute, University of Lincoln, UK: Training on Impact Literacy (video)
University library resources and services: e.g., the University of Alberta Library’s Research Impact Team (webpage)