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Major $2M investment in next generation of Canadian neuroscientists

Brain Canada awards 20 grants to up-and-coming researchers to fund game-changing ideas and push innovation forward

For a second year in a row, Brain Canada is joining forces with private foundations to award $100,000 each to 20 early-career researchers from across the country. Backed by the听Azrieli Foundation, the听Arrell Family Foundation听and the听Alvin Segal Family Foundation, Brain Canada鈥檚听Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research Program听is designed to fund the boldest and brightest ideas at the most critical juncture of a researcher鈥檚 career 鈥 the beginning.

鈥淏y providing this early-career support, we are giving promising researchers the jump-start they need to explore daring, innovative and high-potential lines of research that could help us find solutions to diseases such as Parkinson鈥檚, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and more,鈥 says Brain Canada President and CEO, Dr. Viviane Poupon. 鈥淚t is an investment today that is sure to yield breakthrough discoveries for the challenges of tomorrow.鈥

This program allows researchers in need of seed funding to pursue novel ideas while establishing sustainable resources to maintain independent and career-long research positions. Brain Canada will launch open funding competitions under this program every year, ultimately supporting 100 early-career researchers.

鈥淩eceiving funding from organizations such as Brain Canada will really assist me in launching my independent research career and growing my team,鈥 says Dr. Galen Wright, assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics at the University of Manitoba and a 2020 Future Leader in Canadian Brain Research. 鈥淥ur research should lead to a better understanding of how DNA repair processes are implicated in the neurodevelopmental disorder, Rett syndrome.鈥

This year, the 20 recipients are investigating an array of clinical, translational and basic science to gain insight into a variety of brain disorders, diseases and brain function. From studying pediatric brain tumours, to the effects of isolation on our mental health, to the root of bipolar disorder, these rising stars are poised to strengthen the research landscape and improve the lives of all people in Canada.

鈥淭his project is maybe one of the biggest risks I鈥檝e ever taken,鈥 says Benoit Laurent, assistant professor at Universit茅 de Sherbrooke and a 2020 Future Leader in Canadian Brain Research. 鈥淎dvances in Science come from audacity and imagination. If we do not take risks, we do not have rewards.鈥澨听听

Funding for the听Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research听program has been made possible with the financial support of Health Canada, through the Canada Brain Research Fund, an innovative partnership between the Government of Canada (through Health Canada) and Brain Canada, and the Azrieli Foundation, the Arrell Family Foundation and the Alvin Segal Family Foundation.

To learn more about this year鈥檚 cohort of Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research and to read about their projects, visit听

2020 Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research

Brain Canada鈥檚 rigour in its scientific review process ensures projects are chosen based on excellence and innovation. For this competition, a total of 180 candidates from coast to coast submitted letters of intent which were evaluated by a peer review panel. Fifty-seven researchers were subsequently invited to submit full, comprehensive grant applications, with the 20 grant recipients chosen after a second round of peer review.

骋谤补苍迟听搁别肠颈辫颈别苍迟蝉:

  1. Dr. Simon Chen, University of Ottawa
  2. Dr. Nader Ghasemlou, Queen鈥檚 University
  3. Dr. George Ibrahim, The Hospital for Sick Children
  4. Dr. Julia Kam, University of Calgary
  5. Dr. Shannon Kolind, University of British Columbia
  6. Dr. Jasmin Lalonde, University of Guelph
  7. Dr. Benoit Laurent, Universit茅 de Sherbrooke
  8. Dr. Yun Li, The Hospital for Sick Children
  9. Dr. Luka Milosevic, University Health Network
  10. Dr. Bratislav Misic, The Neuro, 91社区
  11. Dr. Sue-Ann Mok, University of Alberta
  12. Dr. Wilten Nicola, University of Calgary
  13. Dr. Vijay Ramaswamy, The Hospital for Sick Children
  14. Dr. Derya Sargin, University of Calgary
  15. Dr. Chantelle Sephton, Universit茅听Laval
  16. Dr. Greg Silasi, University of Ottawa
  17. Dr. Trevor Steve, University of Alberta
  18. Dr. Tamara Vanderwal, University of British Columbia
  19. Dr. Anne Wheeler, The Hospital for Sick Children
  20. Dr. Galen Wright, University of Manitoba听听

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The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital)听is a bilingual academic healthcare institution. We are a听91社区 research and teaching institute; delivering high-quality patient care, as part of the Neuroscience Mission of the 91社区 Health Centre.听We are听proud to be a Killam Institution, supported by the Killam Trusts.

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