Accelerator Internal Granting Program

*Since the last round the application has been amended to include an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) section. Please ensure you are using the current guidelines and application. DUE DATE SEPTEMBER 30 2018

We are excited to be offering this internal funding opportunity arising from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) supported BrainsCAN Initiative. CFREF invests approximately $200 million per year to support Canada’s postsecondary institutions in their efforts to become global research leaders.

The Accelerator Program is purposefully designed to push the limits of cognitive neuroscience and transform its landscape by supporting high-risk/high-reward research programs that could not be funded through traditional channels.

Once you’ve identified your transformational research concept, you can proceed with the targeted Stimulus Phase. A Stimulus project should be focused on the aspect of the overall research program that is both foundational and high-risk. It is the aspect with the most uncertainty. As such, it is expected that many of the funded Stimulus projects will not proceed beyond this phase. However, those projects showing success at the Stimulus phase are ideally positioned to expand their research to a scale capable of producing substantial impact in the field of cognitive neuroscience, via the Full Accelerator program.

In summary, the Stimulus project is the key obstacle that needs to be proven to demonstrate the feasibility and allow a larger, transformative program to proceed. The Full Accelerator builds on this successes to develop research programs to raise the calibre of Western neuroscience to the highest international level, radically transform our understanding of the brain, significantly reduce the impact of cognitive disorders, and influence clinical practice and public policy through top-quality evidence.