The Weston Brain Institute has allocated more than $30 million in funding for Canadian research projects onneurodegenerative diseases of aging.

The lack of treatments for neurodegenerative diseases of aging, including Alzheimers and Parkinsons, has been called the biggest unmet need in modern medicine, saysAlexandra Stewart, executive director at the Weston Brain Institute, in a release. The funding weve committed to these incredible Canadian scientists focuses on projects with the potential to make the greatest impact in this field.

The funding is a part of the larger $100 million announced in 2016 by the Weston Brain Institute for high-risk, high-reward translational research projects with the potential to help speed up the development of treatments for neurodegenerative diseases of aging.

The institute grants through a number of programs, enabling researchers to receive funding and support based on the stage of the project and funding needed. This announcement highlights the more than $30 million directly granted since 2012 toward its Early Phase Clinical Trials, Rapid Response, Transformational Research, and targeted programs. This brings the total funds allocated to date for Canadian researchers to more than $45 million.

The Institutes Scientific Advisory Committee provides guidance to the Institute regarding overall strategy, program development, and program design. Grantees are selected by committees composed of these advisors plus additional experts selected based on the applications under discussion. Both these groups are comprised of world-class international researchers.

The Early Phase Clinical Trials Program (up to $1.7 million) supports Phase I and IIa clinical trials. This is an innovative funding opportunity whereby applicants have optional access to clinical trials design experts to help improve their study designs. Grantees include:

The Rapid Response Program (up to $200,000) provides seed funding for novel projects. This program runs with the quickest granting process to enable researchers to promptly explore high-risk, high-reward ideas and catalyze future projects. Grantees include:

The Transformational Research Program (up to $1.5 million) supports high-potential, larger, longer projects with excellent preliminary data. Grantees include:

Targeted programs provide support for outstanding translational research in ALS, frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Given these diseases share related pathologies, work here is likely to advance research in other neurodegenerative diseases of aging. Grantees include:

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Weston Brain Institute Awards $30 Million+ in Grants to Fight Diseases of Aging - Sleep Review