To support Canada's world-class brain research
MONTREAL, March 23, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - The Brain Canada Foundation (Brain Canada) applauded the news in yesterday's federal Budget that the Government of Canada will increase its investment in the Canada Brain Research Fund (CBRF) – a partnership between Brain Canada and the Government of Canada. Finance Minister Bill Morneau's budget indicated that the Trudeau government's commitments to strengthening Canada's world-class research capacity and excellence will include up to $20M in additional matching funds to Brain Canada starting this year. This will result in up to $40M in new funding.
"This commitment to Brain Canada is very significant for our partnership with the government and will enable us to continue raising and matching funds from private donors and non-governmental organizations, to advance Canada's contributions to the global effort to understand the brain and brain disease," stated Inez Jabalpurwala, President and CEO, Brain Canada.
"We are extremely grateful that the Trudeau government has recognized the tremendous value of this partnership in maintaining Canada's leadership position in brain research, in order to produce new diagnostics, treatments and cures for the more than 1,000 neurological diseases, mental illnesses and brain injuries. Brain disorders directly impact 1 in 3 Canadians and indirectly impact millions of family members and caregivers," added Dr. Samuel Weiss, Professor and Director of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, and member of the Board at Brain Canada. "This is an important and timely statement of intent by government to the Canadian brain research community."
Since 2012, Brain Canada and its partners have generated $200M in new funding for brain research in Canada. The organization achieved its target of raising $100M 18 months ahead of schedule with every dollar being matched on a 1:1 basis by government. Funds have already been committed to more than 700 researchers across the country, and are directed to multidisciplinary team grants, operating support for research platforms, and training and mentorship.
"The additional commitment will enable Brain Canada to build on this momentum to fund a number of new initiatives as we work with the Minister of Health, Health Canada, and others to develop the next generation of our partnership for the years to come," said Rupert Duchesne, Chair of the Board, Brain Canada. ''We also look forward to participating in the comprehensive review of federal support for fundamental science which will be led by the Minister of Science over the coming year,'' concluded Mr. Duchesne.
About Brain Canada
Brain Canada is a national non-profit organization headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, which enables and supports excellent, innovative, paradigm-changing brain research in Canada. For more than one decade, Brain Canada has made the case for the brain as a single, complex system with commonalities across the range of neurological disorders, mental illnesses and addictions, brain and spinal cord injuries. Looking at the brain as one system has underscored the need for increased collaboration across disciplines and institutions, and a smarter way to invest in brain research that is focused on outcomes that will benefit patients and families. Brain Canada's vision is to understand the brain, in health and illness, to improve lives and achieve societal impact.
Funding partners include the Azrieli Foundation, Chagnon Family, Krembil Foundation, Weston Brain Institute, RBC Foundation; the ALS Society of Canada, Alzheimer's Society of Canada, Alzheimer's Association (US), Canadian Cancer Society, CIFAR, CQDM, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, Pacific Alzheimer Research Foundation; and Alberta Innovates Health Solutions, the FRQS, Genome BC, Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, NeuroDevNet, Ontario Brain Institute--and numerous institutions across Canada.
Find out more at: www.braincanada.ca
SOURCE Brain Canada
Andrea Mancini, CASACOM, [email protected], 416-346-1480
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