Sponsor

Brain Canada

For More Information

Please refer to the 2024 Platform Supports Grants Document [1] for full program information and application instructions. 

Description

High-impact research in neuroscience and mental health has always required skill, imagination, determination, and insight. Today, research additionally requires access to shared resources, including equipment, facilities, services, databases, patient repositories, and biobanks; collectively referred to as “platforms”. Such platforms are complex, highly sophisticated, and expensive, but are now recognized as important enablers of capacity building and a cost-effective means to make cutting-edge equipment, technology, and services available – beyond what any researcher could develop on their own. 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 need.

The Platform Support Grants program supports major research platforms at a local, regional, and/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. Please note that for Platform Support Grants that are currently ongoing, no more than 5% of the total research grant amount from the existing grant can remain unspent as of March 1, 2025. In addition, this amount must be completely spent down, including any No-Cost Extensions, within the first six (6) months of the March 1, 2025 start date.

Eligibility

This competition is open to groups of investigators working in neuroscience research. Broadly, this encompasses all areas of neuroscience and any disciplines that are being applied to the study of the nervous system in health and disease, including neurological and mental health disciplines, as well as associated social, biological, chemical, physical, engineering, mathematics, and computer sciences areas that have a primary objective of advancing our understanding of the brain, nervous system, and special senses, or to resolve problems arising from their dysfunction. 

• One of the platform team members will be designated the Principal Investigator (PI), nominated by the platform team, to be the individual responsible for submitting the application and for all communications with Brain Canada. The PI is generally the individual responsible for the overall management of the platform. If the platform is a physical entity, it would generally be located at the PI’s institution. The PI must be conducting research at, and affiliated with, a Canadian institution for the entire duration of the grant. Academic appointments must have started by the deadline for Full Application submission.
• Investigators must be considered independent researchers at their institution. Such individuals normally hold the rank of assistant, associate, or full professor; can initiate and direct their own independent lines of research as Principal Investigator; have full responsibility for running their 6 laboratories; have full control of their research funds; and are permitted to supervise trainees (if applicable, as per their institution’s policy).
• A mandatory six (6) month administrative period will be implemented to allow sufficient time to ensure all necessary institutional agreements (e.g., sub-site agreements) and approvals (e.g., research ethics board approval) are put in place within the first six (6) months of the March 1, 2025 start date.
• **Brain Canada’s current Contribution Agreement with the Government of Canada, through Health Canada, for the Canada Brain Research Fund, requires that Year 1 federal funding from Brain Canada must be disbursed by March 31, 2025. Applicants, sponsors, and the Host Institutions are expected to work with Brain Canada to ensure a Joint Funding Agreement and Research Grant Agreement are executed in a timely manner, by the March 1, 2025 start date, subject to the risk of forfeiting the awarded grant.** 
• Only one application per proposed platform can be submitted to this funding opportunity.
• For Stream 2: Please note that for Platform Support Grants that are currently ongoing, no more than 5% of the total research grant amount from the existing grant can remain unspent as of March 1, 2025. In addition, this amount must be completely spent down, including any No-Cost Extensions, within the first six (6) months of the March 1, 2025 start date.
• For Stream 2: Any team member previously involved in the funded project, and meeting the eligibility criteria, can serve as Principal Investigator; however, they must notify the other team members of their intention to apply.

Maximum Project Value

Total grant amounts are flexible to accommodate the needs of each platform. Historically, 8 grants awarded through the PSG program have ranged from $138,000 - $6.1 million (including matching funds) across the grant duration. 

Indirect Costs

0%

Project Duration

Grants will be over three and a half (3.5) years, including the six (6) month administrative period; nonrenewable.

How to Apply

Please note that this funding opportunity includes a Registration Form and a Full Application stage. Applicants must submit a Registration Form to be eligible to submit a Full Application. It is the sole responsibility of the Principal Investigator to ensure their submission adheres to the requirements and is received by the deadlines outlined above. There will be no appeal to late submissions. Brain Canada will acknowledge receipt of the Registration Forms and Full Applications within two business days.

Attachment(s)

Attachment	Size
2024-PSG-RFA_Final-ENG.pdf [4]	516.9 KB
2024-PSG_Registration-Form_Final-ENG-3.docx [5]	57.99 KB