2024 Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research

The 2024 Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research program, offered by Brain Canada Foundation, aims to support early-career researchers in pioneering studies that advance the understanding of the brain and nervous system, with potential applications for improved diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of neurological and mental health conditions.

Brain Canada Foundation

Overview of the 2024 Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research program:

This program funds transformative research by early-career scientists poised to make substantial contributions in Canadian neuroscience. Focused on projects that explore brain and nervous system function, the program encourages high-risk, high-reward studies that may lack the preliminary data often required by traditional funding sources. The program specifically aims to bridge the funding gap that many new researchers face when seeking their first major grant. Research proposals are encouraged to be innovative, hypothesis-driven, and distinct from other funded projects. Eligible projects may range from basic scientific research, including the study of biological mechanisms, to translational or clinical applications aimed at developing new therapies. Brain Canada prioritizes equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in this program, inviting applicants from underrepresented backgrounds to apply.

Benefits of the 2024 Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research program:

Financial support to advance independent, innovative research projects.
Eligibility for future grant opportunities through preliminary data and foundational results.
Access to a network of fellow researchers and leaders in Canadian neuroscience, promoting knowledge sharing and potential collaborations.

Eligibility criteria of the 2024 Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research program:

Eligible applicants must:
Be within five years of starting their first independent research position by the Full Application deadline (March 14, 2025), with allowances for maternity, parental, and sick leave.
Be employed as an independent researcher at an eligible Canadian institution, generally at the assistant or associate professor level.
Devote at least 50% of their professional time to research activities.
Ensure their project is distinct from other funded research and notify Brain Canada if overlap with other projects arises.
Applicants must first submit a Letter of Intent to be eligible for the Full Application stage. Prior recipients of Brain Canadas Future Leaders or Azrieli Foundation Early-Career Capacity Building grants are not eligible.