Montréal, Quebec – 1 May 2014
Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that our Government will be supporting five new research projects in the areas of Alzheimer prevention and Autism under its Canada Brain Research Fund. He also announced additional federal funding towards the Azrieli Neurodevelopmental Research Program, a key component of the Fund.
Prime Minister Harper was joined by members of the Brain Canada Foundation, the Azrieli Foundation and the Chagnon Family, who are partnering in these initiatives through a public-private partnership funding model.
The research projects aim to discover new treatment and prevention strategies to address Autism Spectrum Disorders, Fragile X syndrome, and Alzheimer disease and related disorders. Researchers at McGillUniversity, the University of Toronto, McMasterUniversity, and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health will lead the projects. Support is being provided through donations from the Azrieli Foundation and the National Bank, as well as the Chagnon Family and the Canada Brain Research Fund, created by the Government of Canada in 2011.
The new funding announced today will support future research projects with a special focus on Autism Spectrum Disorders and Fragile X syndrome, through the Azrieli Neurodevelopmental Research Program.
The Canada Brain Research Fund provides support to the Brain Canada Foundation, which raises matching funds from private donors and charitable contributions. The Brain Canada Foundation is a registered charity headquartered in Montréal and is the only national non-profit organization devoted to supporting all neuroscience research.
The Azrieli Foundation's mission is to support and operate a range of initiatives in various fields, including scientific and medical research; the promotion of excellence in education and access to education; tolerance and Holocaust education; and the advancement of excellence in architecture and the arts.
The Chagnon Family is committed to supporting innovative research projects to help prevent the onslaught of Alzheimer disease on the Canadian population.
