Funding Programs

Alberta Neuroscience (ABNeuro) was developed to increase the connectedness, scope, scale, success, and impact of neuroscience and mental health research, education, and translation in Alberta. ABNeuro’s best avenues for impact are through bringing people together to develop and enhance collaborations.

NeuroConnect Program

Program Description

The NeuroConnect Program is designed to foster clinical and research collaborations across Alberta, expanding beyond our traditional partners (University of Alberta, University of Calgary, and University of Lethbridge) to also include smaller institutions such as polytechnics and colleges with relevant neuroscience, mental health, and related departments.

The exchange visitors may engage in activities such as:

  • Delivering academic seminars or invited lectures
  • Meeting with research groups to initiate or participate in collaborative projects
  • Preparing manuscripts and grant proposals
  • Engaging with graduate and undergraduate students
  • Supporting graduate studies activities (e.g., committee meetings, thesis examinations)

Although a formal seminar is encouraged, it is not required. Applications from postdoctoral fellows or students traveling for job interviews may also be considered, subject to available funds.

A key feature of the program is to encourage hosts to bring visitors to their institutions to connect with students, residents, and practitioners, thereby fostering community and knowledge exchange throughout the province. The program supports visitors from various neuroscience related fields, including basic, clinical, rehabilitation, and behavioral neuroscience and mental health.

Eligible Costs

NeuroConnect funds are designated to support travel costs and expenses for student-focused connections and collaborations. Please note that honoraria or entertainment expenses are not eligible for funding and must be covered by other sources. Overnight accommodations are generally not supported through this grant but may be considered in proposed budgets for exchanges involving long distances.

Maximum Budgets

  • 0 to 200 km: Up to $300
  • 201 to 500 km: Up to $500
  • 501 km and above: Up to $750

The maximum budgeted amount is capped at $750 per exchange.

**All approved funds will be paid out as an honorarium in appreciation of your contribution to collaborative research, education, and/or
translation in Alberta, and may subject to a 15% withholding tax by the government at the time of payment

Canadian Neuroanalytics Scholars Program

Campus Alberta Neuroscience, in partnership with the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, the Tannenbaum Open Science Initiative at the Montreal Neurological Institute, and the Ontario Brain Institute, with support from The Hilary & Galen Weston Foundation are proud to launch the Canadian Neuroanalytics Scholars Program (Programme Canadien de Recherche Neuroanalytique). This program addresses the need to effectively utilize existing open neuroscience data in Canada and the increasing demand for professionals in the artificial intelligence and machine learning space by training scholars with advanced analytical skills and hands-on experience, leveraging and linking the infrastructure, resources, and expertise of research and industry partners across Canada.

Hope for Tomorrow Research Competition

Campus Alberta Neuroscience (CAN), in partnership with the Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories (AS AB/NT), is pleased to announce the launch of the Hope for Tomorrow Research Competition, focused on research that has the potential to make a significant impact on the quality of life of patients, families, and caregivers through exploration into the causes, prevention, treatment, and cure of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

Entrepreneurship Seed Grant Program

Campus Alberta Neuroscience offers small grants to support entrepreneurship and commercialization in the fields of neuroscience and mental health in Alberta.

Are you an entrepreneur in the neuroscience and mental health field in search of funding?

Great news! CAN will be launching a new program – the NeuroSpark Innovation Grants – starting in July 2023. More details can be found here!

Entrepreneurship Seed Grant Program

This program ran from 2019-2021.

The Entrepreneurship Seed Grant provided funding and collaborative support for early-stage innovation projects with solutions that address neuroscience and mental health related challenges in Alberta. This unique program was designed to help early-stage founders and researchers to scale their innovation or company by providing financial support and access to CAN’s extensive network of over 1,000 members including founders, industries, consultants, partners and investors. The projects chosen for funding have compelling plans for the creation of a product or service (e.g., devices, therapeutics, software, etc.) with a demonstrated application to impact neuroscience and/or mental health fields.

Check out past entrepreneurship seed grant recipients:
Aaron Phillips StimSherpa.com
Peter Stys & George Templeton Amira Medical Technologies Inc.
Simba Nyazika Lenica Research Group / Peak Cognition App
Lukas Grasse & Matthew Tata Reverb Robotics
Michael Overduin SMALP Network
Tuan Trang & Darren Derksen AphioTx
Alim Mitha Fluid Biomed
Jacqueline Hebert Gaze and Movement Analysis Inc., GaMA
Simonetta Sipione
David Westaway
Majid Mohajerani Neurocage Systems, Inc.
Deborah Kurrasch Path Therapeutics, Inc. 
Christopher D’Esterre Andromeda Medical Imaging
Aaron Gruber & Wilten Nicola Synaptrain Technologies Inc.
Gerald Zamponi Zymedyne Therapeutics
V. Wee Yong Anthobio, Inc.
Ming Chan Adonis Medical Technologies
Pierre Wijdenes Neuraura Biotech
Eden Redman 8 Bit Cortex / RemBRAINdt
Samsoon Inayat AI Kinetic Systems, Inc.
Jaideep Bains SenseSi Technology, Inc.
Satyabrata Kar
Robert Sutherland Synaptag Technology, Inc.
Nathanial Maeda Cognitive Projections
Richard Wilson AazeinTx
Ryan Rosentreter Cortian Medical Technologies
Preeti Kar
Geoff Frost Raft Digital Therapeutics
Samuel Pichardo NovusTx Devices
Abdullah Sarhan Retinalogik Biotech, Inc.
Wendy Muise Breast Buds, Inc.