Brain Research Must Be a National Priority for Canada
Our brains define who we are, how we behave, what we strive for, and how we interact with each other and our environments. Because our brains are so integral to our capacities to live good lives, brain research bears the promise to improve the lives of all Canadians.
We are at a critical inflection point in making progress to understand the human brain. Canada must seize this opportunity to reap the societal and economic benefits and needs to be able to keep up with, connect to, and draw on the efforts of other national and pan-national brain initiatives.
The Canadian House of Commons Standing Committee on Science & Research (SRSR Committee) was created in fall 2021 to boost the attention on science from federal parliamentarians and to allow them to hear from Canadians and experts on issues of national concern on science and research. In its first project, the SRSR Committee conducted a study of the “Successes, Challenges and Opportunities for Science in Canada” to develop recommendations as to how to improve the current state of science research nationally.
The CBRS submitted a brief calling for the establishment of a Brain Research Initiative for Canada. Read an executive summary and download the full brief.
Researcher Roundtable Consultations
CBRS is crafting a series of position papers to inspire and to guide the government to invest in a major brain research initiative for Canada. To this end, we convened more than 150 neuroscience and mental health researchers across the country in a series of roundtable discussions last fall and in May 2022 to brainstorm a framework for a national strategy for brain research.
The nationwide coalition of stakeholders that the CBRS is convening agrees that national-level resources, infrastructure, and policy – well beyond the capacity of any one institution or organization – are needed to strategically amplify Canada’s current investments and achievement in brain research.
We held Researcher Roundtables on each Strategic Focus Area, bringing participants from 46 institutions across eight provinces, various career stages (from trainees to full professors) and trajectories (including research associates and researchers at non-profit organizations), with a range of backgrounds in the neurosciences and mental health fields.
Together, we shared ideas to:
• INSPIRE by highlighting the urgent and unique opportunity to advance brain research in Canada
• GUIDE the priority national level resources and activities that are needed for each Strategic Focus Area
• FORECAST the impact of a brain research initiative on the neurological and mental health of Canadians
The discussions and insights affirmed the very unprecedented opportunity we have in brain science excellence across the country in government and academic research and industry. Together, we can shape the development of neuroscience and mental health research toward a collaborative, transdisciplinary, and open approach to make transformative progress.
The journey is ongoing! We would love to hear more from our community of researchers, especially those in mental health fields and clinician scientists. Please reach out to programs@canadianbrain.ca.
Lived Experience Sessions
As we build a path forward for brain research to improve the lives of Canadians, it is critically important to CBRS that we recognize the unique expertise of people who live with or have experienced a brain condition and those who support them.
CBRS organized a series of sessions between May and June 2022 with people with lived experience (PWLE). The aim was to discuss evolving themes to advance brain research in Canada and to gain participants’ insight into the development of national strategy.
We are grateful for the overwhelming interest from more than 150 applicants across the country, and selected a diverse pool of participants reflecting a range of neurological and mental health experiences, and demographic, socioeconomic, and geographical belongings. Additionally, researcher representatives from our earlier Roundtable consultations joined the sessions to share preliminary findings and to learn about how PWLE envision the future of brain research.
Throughout the Lived Experience Sessions, PWLE were strong advocates for the significance of research in shaping care and treatment. They voiced a keen interest in learning more about all types of research and to be partners in the research process. Participants also identified each of the six CBRS Strategic Focus Areas as having importance and value, and shared their thoughts on their potential to impact brain research and the lives of PWLE.
Read more about our Lived Experience Sessions here.
Indigenous Engagement
Indigenous Initiatives are a critical part of CBRS to ensure that the unique interests and perspectives of the diverse groups of Indigenous Peoples of Canada are acknowledged, upheld, and implemented throughout all aspects of our work as we build a national strategy for brain research.
We are thrilled to announce the additional appointments of Dr. Nel Wieman (Anishinaabe, Little Grand Rapids Band) and Bryce Mercredi (Métis Elder, British Columbia) to the Indigenous Knowledges Holders Group (IKHG). Nel brings experience from working in the Indigenous Health Administration field, and Bryce has provided Traditional Knowledge to various organizations, including neuroscience projects.
Engagement of Indigenous perspectives for the national strategy to advance brain research is ongoing. We are seeking researchers (especially early career), Traditional Knowledge Keepers, and people with lived experience to participate in one of a series of 90-min Focus Groups for CBRS Indigenous Initiatives. These began in July and will continue through August and mid-September 2022. Individuals need not to be directly involved in brain research, but they should be able to provide insight and feedback from an Indigenous perspective regarding our six Strategic Focus Areas.
We will be hosting a one-day capacity building conference for brain scientists and Indigenous peoples in the fall. We will be looking at ways to build relationships between Indigenous communities and researchers, teaching Western researchers the importance of Traditional Knowledge, as well as exploring possibilities of how future partnerships could look between brain researchers and Indigenous communities.
For questions and to take part, please reach out at indigenous@canadianbrain.ca.
Read further on priorities for our Indigenous Initiatives here.
Consultation Timeline
CBRS Secretariat Updates
As CBRS grows in its mission and scope, we are happy to share that our secretariat has new additions of extremely talented and bright individuals facilitating our brain strategy initiative.
We welcome Joseph Olajide, PhD as Program Manager, Andrew Manitowabi (Mamaateshiins), BA, BBA as Indigenous Strategy Consultant for Brain Wellness, and Haniya Javed, MS as Science Communicator.
We would also like to express our thanks and gratitude to Ashley Lawson for her seminal role as Knowledge Translation and Communications Specialist. Ashley is moving on to attend medical school at UBC and we look forward to following her future success!
Read more about our team here.
