Brain Canada Rising Stars Trainee Awards
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
Award Name | Anticipated Number of Awards (up to) | Amount per Award (CAD) |
STIPEND AWARDS | ||
Rising Stars Awards in ALS Research | Six (6) | $10,000 |
Rising Stars Award in Mental Health Research, in memory of Vivian Distler | Seven (7) | $10,000 |
Rising Stars Award in Brain Cancer Research | Two (2) | $10,000 |
Rising Stars Award in Aging and Neurodegeneration | Four (4) | $10,000 |
Top-up for stipend awards: Sex and/or gender considerations in brain research | Nine (9) | $2,000 |
TRAVEL AWARDS | ||
Dr. Hubert van Tol Travel Fellowship | Six (6) | Up to $2,500 |
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.