Brain Canada and the Weizmann Institute of Science are committed to pushing the boundaries of brain research for the benefit of all people, in an era when advancements in neuroscience are critical to human health.

This program is intended to further expand our growing knowledge of the human brain, while simultaneously driving scientific discovery and fostering international collaboration.

As a leading national convenor and enabler of innovative and bold neuroscience, Brain Canada brings together donors and partners to invest in big, audacious ideas to help us better understand how to prevent, diagnose, treat, and cure brain diseases, disorders, injuries, mental illnesses, and addictions. For more than 25 years, Brain Canada’s purpose has been to understand the brain, in health and illness, with a One Brain approach – where the brain is a single, complex system with commonalities across neurological disorders, mental illnesses, and brain injuries, rather than as a collection of siloed diseases.

The Weizmann Institute of Science maintains a top ten spot in the prestigious global Leiden Ranking for research quality. In the biomedical and health sciences, more than 20 per cent of the Weizmann Institute’s scientific papers were ranked in the top 10 per cent of the most influential scientific publications.

Recipient teams of the Brain Canada & Weizmann Institute of Science Team Grants include:

• • • Prof. Minh Dang Nguyen, University of Calgary and Prof. Eran Elinav, Weizmann Institute of Science
      Project Title: Deciphering the link between gut bacteria and glymphatics in neurodegeneration
    • Prof. Nahum Sonenberg, McGill University and Prof. Ido Amit, Weizmann Institute of Science
      Project Title: Harnessing mRNA translation to increase the neuroprotective potential of disease-associated microglia in neurodegenerative diseases
    • Prof. Etay Hay, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and Prof. Ilan Lampl, Weizmann Institute of Science
      Project Title: Linking reduced cell-specific inhibition to abnormal brain activity in chronic stress

“We are delighted to announce the recipients of these team grants. The selection of these remarkable teams, through our rigorous, independent peer review process, exemplifies the power of international collaboration in advancing our knowledge of the brain,” says Dr. Viviane Poupon, President and CEO of Brain Canada. “By uniting diverse expertise and perspectives, these projects are well-positioned to make strides in unraveling the complexities of the brain.”

This program is made possible by the Canada Brain Research Fund (CBRF), a collaborative effort between the Government of Canada (through Health Canada) and Brain Canada, and Weizmann Canada.

“I am proud to highlight the enduring connections that Weizmann scientists have built with their esteemed Canadian counterparts. Our team grants will further enhance these partnerships, fostering collaboration in a time when all-encompassing research into the brain’s complex systems, its functions and disorders is crucial,” notes Prof. Alon Chen, a neuroscientist and President of the Weizmann Institute.

Weizmann Canada and Brain Canada recognize the invaluable contributions of Dr. Daniel C. Andreae and the Larry and Judy Tanenbaum Family Foundation for their pivotal roles in bringing this pilot program for scientific research to fruition. Larry Tanenbaum is Vice-Chair at Brain Canada and Founder of the Tanenbaum Open Science Institute (TOSI) at the Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital).

“I want to express deep gratitude to our funding partners whose support has brought these grants to life, and to the talented researchers who have brought forward their invaluable expertise. Together we are driving meaningful progress in a field that holds immense potential for improving lives,” adds Susan Stern, CEO of Weizmann Canada.

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Quick facts

• • • This program encourages innovative, unorthodox, and exploratory research that may be in the early and conceptual stages of project development but has potential for significant impact on our understanding of the brain. The research topics focus on hypothesis-driven inquiries on the brain and nervous system, and may span the range of basic, translational, and clinical approaches.
    • McGill University and the University of Calgary have previously co-published with the Weizmann Institute of Science dozens of times combined, over the past several years. This will be the first Weizmann collaboration with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).

Contact:
Cindy Sherwin
[email protected]