Canadian Grant to Aid Sharing of Brain Research Data
The $10.17 million grant will create the Canadian Open Neuroscience Platform, a partnership of 15 universities that will facilitate sharing of data that supports research to advance treatments for Canadians suffering from neurological diseases.
The government of Canada and Brain Canada announced a $10.17 million grant that will create the Canadian Open Neuroscience Platform. It is a partnership of 15 universities that will facilitate sharing of data that supports research to advance treatments for Canadians suffering from neurological diseases.
Health Canada reports neurological conditions affect an estimated 3.6 million Canadians, and new research is key to improving the lives of those living with brain-related diseases and disorders.
Speaking on behalf of Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor, David Lametti, parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, joined Brain Canada on Feb. 19 to announce the grant. Their announcement was made during the CONP's inaugural meeting at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital at McGill University.
"The government of Canada is committed to supporting Canadians with neurological conditions. The platform being created with this funding will be a central repository for innovative brain research. With access to such data, researchers will be better equipped to pursue medical breakthroughs that will improve the lives of Canadians living with brain diseases and disorders," said Taylor.
"Brain Canada is excited to have been the catalyst for this national platform to 'hardwire' Canadian neuroscience—to collect, link, and analyze data from across the country, to get to improved patient outcomes more rapidly," added Inez Jabalpurwala, president and CEO of Brain Canada.
The platform will allow leading neuroscientists from across Canada to pool data from diverse sources, making the information easier to access and share. IT will benefit those working to identify early signs of Alzheimer's disease, for example, and research to advance drugs that could stop neurodegeneration.
The $10.17 million in funding for the project was provided through the Canada Brain Research Fund and includes $5.08 million from the government of Canada.