Brain Canada is excited to announce the 2026 Rising Stars Trainee Awards. Trainees are the learners of today and the leaders of tomorrow and we are committed to supporting the next generation of researchers to help ensure the success of the Canadian brain research ecosystem.   

This program aims to recognize the excellent research being conducted at Canadian institutions by graduate students (M.Sc., Ph.D.), postdoctoral fellows, and medical residents in all fields spanning neuroscience research. With the goal of helping trainees launch their academic careers and pursue their professional goals, the Rising Stars Trainee Awards aim to broaden the funding opportunities available to trainees and support their efforts to impact the future of brain research. 

This year, Brain Canada is offering five award opportunities to trainees across Canada.  

2026 Trainee Award Opportunities 

Our hope is that these awards will continue to aid in the development of the next generation of Canadian scientists and their critical mission of understanding the brain.   

For more information on the Brain Canada Rising Stars Trainee Awards, please consult the Request for Applications.

Deadline for receipt of applications: June 26th 2026 at 17:00 ET 

Should you have any questions, please contact programs@braincanada.ca.  

Specific Priorities grants support research to address operational need and help answer key questions in occupational health and safety and workers' compensation. The purpose of this RFP is to solicit research proposals relating to the impact of Class A and Class B fuel types during live fire training on firefighter exposures to carcinogens.

Specific Priorities grants support research to address operational need and help answer key questions in occupational health and safety and workers' compensation. The purpose of this RFP is to solicit research proposals relating to analytical sampling methods for substances with an American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV).

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is launching a new call for applications for a funding opportunity to engage experts in environmental science and advance projects that address critical environmental issues, such as climate change and nature.

Applicants can apply to the following streams for projects that will start in the fiscal year April 2026 – March 2027:

• Stream 1: Research, modelling & risk assessment​
• Stream 2: Nature research
• Stream 3: Research & analysis to support Canada’s path to net zero

Brain Canada and the ALS Society of Canada are thrilled to announce the launch of the 2026 Discovery Grant Program. The purpose of the 2026 Discovery Grant Program is to invest in high-impact projects focused on identifying causes of, or treatments for, ALS and/or related neurological diseases, including primary lateral sclerosis, progressive muscular atrophy, and ALS/FTLD (frontotemporal lobar dementia) or advancing research aimed at maximizing function, minimizing disability, and optimizing quality of life through symptom management and support for individuals or families living with ALS.

Calling all Canadian healthcare and community-based organizations! Bring innovation into your care setting with the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI), powered by Baycrest, and its Discover + Adopt (D+A) program.

The D+A program, now accepting applications, offers up to $150,000 CAD in funding and tailored support services to help Canadian healthcare and community-based organizations identify, test, and implement solutions that improve quality of care and quality of life for older persons and their care teams.

Funding is available from the Environmental Damages Fund’s (EDF) Climate Action and Awareness Fund (CAAF) to support projects that can take place anywhere in Canada. This funding opportunity is offered as Stream 3 of ECCC’s Canada Environmental Science Opportunity for research and analysis projects to support Canada’s path to net zero.

In partnership with the Canadian Cancer Society, Cancer Research UK (CRUK) has launched a new funding opportunity for UK-Canada Research teams working in primary prevention. Up to £1.2M per grant will be awarded to UK- and Canada-based teams.

The Biology to Prevention Award supports projects harnessing biological and mechanistic insights to provide new targets and approaches for cancer primary prevention.