Accelerator Grants: Neurodegeneration x Immunology

Overview of the Accelerator Grants: Neurodegeneration x Immunology program:

The Accelerator Grants: Neurodegeneration x Immunology initiative is a partnership between Brain Canada and the Krembil Foundation to drive innovative, exploratory research at the intersection of immunology and neurodegeneration. With the rapidly rising incidence of diseases such as Alzheimer’s (AD), Parkinson’s (PD), and Huntington’s (HD), especially within Canada’s aging population, this program aims to support early-concept experimental studies that explore how the immune system—both centrally (in the brain) and peripherally (body-wide)—modulates these conditions. The program seeks projects that propose bold, unconventional hypotheses related to immune mechanisms like innate or adaptive immunity, neuroinflammation, or the gut-immune-brain axis. Applications should focus on uncovering novel mechanistic insights or identifying new diagnostic, preventative, or treatment pathways for these diseases. Multidisciplinary teams are highly encouraged, and early-career researchers are welcomed. Research applications must be distinct from currently funded work and offer strong potential to shift paradigms in neurodegenerative research. The ultimate goal is to produce preliminary data and tools that catalyze future investigations. All research must be conducted at Canadian academic institutions by eligible principal investigators (PIs). The program emphasizes equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in team composition and research approach. Up to 10 projects will be funded, each with a maximum budget of $300,000 over two years.

Benefits of the Accelerator Grants: Neurodegeneration x Immunology program:

• Funds bold, early-stage experimental research in neuroimmunology.
• Supports multidisciplinary collaboration across Canadian institutions.
• Promotes novel, high-risk high-reward ideas with the potential for transformative insights.
• Encourages participation from early-career researchers.
• Prioritizes EDI in research design and team structure.
• Offers knowledge mobilization support, including funding for dissemination, publication, and conference participation.
• Enables collection of preliminary data critical for larger-scale research.

Eligibility criteria of the Accelerator Grants: Neurodegeneration x Immunology program:

• Eligible applicants must:
• Be independent investigators (assistant, associate, or full professors) at eligible Canadian academic institutions.
• Be affiliated with their institution for the grants duration.
• Form multidisciplinary teams with at least two independent investigators from different institutions or research groups.
• Submit a Registration Form before applying fully.
• Not hold postdoc, adjunct, or research associate positions.
• Be able to start the project by March 2026.
• Ensure no overlap with other funded projects.