Funding, News and Announcements

High-impact research in neuroscience and mental health has always required skill, imagination, determination, and insight. Platforms also play a critical role in fostering innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration. As such, access to platforms is essential to address the evolving needs of research. 

Brain Canada has identified support for research platforms as a gap in the neuroscience research funding environment and the Platform Support Grants (PSG) program aims to continue addressing this critical gap. 

Brain Canada, through the Canada Brain Research Fund, has allocated $13 million dollars of federal funding to the 2024 Platform Support Grants program, to be matched by funding provided by sponsors secured by applicants for a total possible funding envelope of $26 million dollars. With this sponsored PSG funding opportunity, Brain Canada aims to assist sponsoring organizations, agencies, institutions, and individuals who wish to build capacity and develop or enhance research platforms in specific thematic and/or geographic areas. 

The Platform Support Grants program supports major research platforms at a local, regional, or national scale with the goal of providing enhanced technical and research capabilities to multiple investigators in the neurosciences. Through the 2024 Platform Support Grants program, researchers can apply for funding through one of two streams. 

• Stream 1 - Will support platforms that are in development or already existing but that have never been funded through Brain Canada’s Platform Support Grants program. 
• Stream 2 - Will support platforms that have previously received funding through Brain Canada’s Platform Support Grants program. 

Grants will be over three and a half (3.5) years, including a six (6) month administrative period; non-renewable. Total grant amounts are flexible to accommodate the needs of each platform. Historically, research grants awarded through the PSG program have ranged from $138,000 - $6.1 million (including matching funds) across the grant duration. 

Evidence clearly shows that increasing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in research environments enhances excellence, innovation, and creativity. Brain Canada is committed to excellence through equity, and the foundation encourages applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply to its funding opportunities, which will promote the expression of diverse perspectives, approaches, and experiences, including those of underrepresented groups. 

For more information on the Platform Support Grants program, please consult the Request for Applications.   



Registration Deadline: July 24, 2024 at 6pm AST
Application Deadline: September 20, 2024 at 6pm AST 

External Contact: platformgrant@braincanada.ca.  

The grants facilitator for your faculty can be found on the staff contact page. For additional resources, click here for guidance on internal deadlines and submission processes.