Philanthropists pour millions into Quebec and Ontario neuroscience research projects

Brain Canada is "exactly on target" in its goal to match the federal government's $100-million commitment to neuroscience research. The Montreal-based organization has $35 million in solid commitments from philanthropists, corporations and non-governmental organizations and is on track to raise as much as $60 million by the end of the year.

In recent weeks, Brain Canada has received follow-on commitments from the Azrieli Foundation and the Chagnon family. The Azrieli Foundation has now contributed $15 million to Brain Canada, which has established the Azrieli Neurodevelopmental Research Program targetting Alzheimer's disease, autism and fragile X syndrome.

The Chagnon family has committed a total of $25 million over 10 years to support a program called Interventions for Prevention of Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders.

In Ontario, the W Garfield Weston Foundation has donated $50 million to establish the Weston Brain Institute Fund. The donation boosts the activities of the Weston Brain Institute, which was established in 2010 to accelerate the gap between basic neuroscience and clinical trials. Individual projects will receive up to $1.5 million to study neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Te foundation has previously provided $13 million in grants for 28 brain-related research projects.