Sponsor
Brain Canada Foundation
Program
Canada Brain Research Fund: Platform Support Grants (PSG)
For More Information
- 2025 Platform Support Grants - Request for Applications
- 2025 Platform Support Grants - Sponsored Opportunity Package
Description
High-impact research in neuroscience and mental health has always required skill, imagination, determination, and insight. Today, research additionally requires access to shared resources, including equipment, facilities, services, databases, patient repositories, and biobanks; collectively referred to as “platforms”. Such platforms are complex, highly sophisticated, and expensive, but are now recognized as important enablers of capacity building and a cost-effective means to make cutting-edge equipment, technology, and services available – beyond what any researcher could develop on their own. Platforms also play a critical role in fostering innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration. As such, access to platforms is essential to address the evolving needs of research.
Brain Canada has identified support for research platforms as a gap in the neuroscience research funding environment and the Platform Support Grants (PSG) program aims to continue addressing this critical need.
The Platform Support Grants program supports major research platforms at a local, regional, and/or national scale with the goal of providing enhanced technical and research capabilities to multiple investigators in the neurosciences. Through the 2025 Platform Support Grants program, researchers can apply for funding through one of two streams.
Stream 1: Will support platforms that are in development or already existing but that have never been funded through Brain Canada’s Platform Support Grants program.
Stream 2: Will support platforms that have previously received funding through Brain Canada’s Platform Support Grants program. Platform Support Grants that are currently ongoing must be completed by August 31, 2026, including any No-Cost Extensions
Platform Support Grants must be utilized to directly support platforms that provide the research community with access to resources, technology, and services to conduct neuroscience research. Given this, proposals should be broader than a single research project designed to address specific research questions and instead, serve multiple investigators and research projects over time. In addition, Platform Support Grants are not intended to replace current sources of funding or merely sustain current levels of platform service and capability.
Eligibility
This competition is open to groups of investigators working in neuroscience research.
- One of the platform team members will be designated the Principal Investigator (PI), nominated by the platform team, to be the individual responsible for submitting the application and for all communications with Brain Canada. The PI must be conducting research at, and affiliated with, a Canadian institution for the entire duration of the grant. A PI can only submit one application to either Stream 1 or Stream 2 but can be a team member or collaborator on multiple applications.
- All investigators must be considered independent researchers at their institution.
- Only one application per proposed platform can be submitted to this funding opportunity.
- For Stream 1: Previous Platform Support Grants recipients can apply to Stream 1, but their PSG end date must be no later than August 31, 2026, including any No-Cost Extensions.
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For Stream 2: Please note that Platform Support Grants that are currently ongoing must have ended by August 31, 2026, including any No-Cost Extensions.
- Stream 2 applicants with ongoing PSGs will need to demonstrate a track record of progress. Progress will be assessed administratively by Brain Canada through a review of previously submitted financial and scientific progress reports as well PSG 2025 Full Application components
- For Stream 2: Only one application per previously funded platform will be considered. Any team member previously involved in the funded platform, and meeting the eligibility criteria, can serve as Principal Investigator; however, they must notify the other team members of their intention to apply.
Please see the 2025 Platform Support Grants - Request for Applications for more details.
Funding Availability
Brain Canada, through the Canada Brain Research Fund, has allocated $13 million CAD of federal funding to the 2025 Platform Support Grants program, to be matched by funding provided by sponsors secured by the applicants, for a total possible funding envelope of $26 million dollars.
Brain Canada will aim to have a 50:50 distribution of funding awarded through Stream 1 and Stream 2. The final ratio of applications funded in each stream will ultimately be determined by the number of applications received to each stream and the results of the peer review process.
Maximum Project Value
Brain Canada's contribution is calculated on the basis of cost sharing with external sponsor organizations. Brain Canada will deduct a 5% operating expense fee from the sponsor(s)’ total contribution and will match the remaining funds for the platform.
Total grant amounts are flexible to accommodate the needs of each platform. Historically, grants awarded through the PSG program have ranged from $138,000 - $6.1 million (including matching funds) across the grant duration.
Applicants and sponsors are invited to review the Sponsored Opportunity Package summarizing important details about the sponsored opportunity.
Indirect Costs
There are no indirect costs on the funding provided directly by Brain Canada. Other sponsor funding will be subject to the Full Cost of Research Policy.
Project Duration
3 years
Special Notes
Platform team members must resolve IP ownership issues with sponsors before submitting the application. Where the sponsor is a for-profit entity, Brain Canada must be consulted to determine if the IP arrangements are acceptable as this will be a component of the Joint Funding Agreement.
Deadlines
If College-level review is required, your College will communicate its earlier internal deadlines.
| Type | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
External Deadline | Registration Form Applicants must submit a Registration Form along with letter(s) of support from potential sponsor(s) through Brain Canada's electronic grant management system. Applicants must submit a Registration Form to be eligible to submit a Full Application. Registration Forms submitted by the deadline will undergo an administrative check and relevance review by Brain Canada to ensure alignment with the scope of this funding opportunity and all eligibility criteria are met. Eligible applications will be invited to the Full Application stage by August 1, 2025; ineligible applications will be withdrawn from the competition. | |
Internal Deadline | Full Application Applicants invited to the Full Application stage must submit a copy of the Full Application and OR-5 form to research.services@uoguelph.ca. | |
External Deadline | Applicants must submit a full application to the sponsor using through Brain Canada's electronic grant management system. |
How to Apply
Please note that this funding opportunity includes a Registration Form and a Full Application stage. It is the sole responsibility of the Principal Investigator to ensure their submission adheres to the requirements and is received by the deadlines outlined above. There will be no appeal for late submissions. Brain Canada will acknowledge receipt of the Registration Forms and Full Applications within two business days.