Brain Research Must Be a National Priority for the Social, Health, and Economic Advancement of Canada
The Canadian Brain Research Strategy and its broad network of stakeholders recommends the following:
Recommendation 1: That the Government of Canada make research on the brain and mental health a national priority by establishing a Canadian Brain Research Initiative
Our brains define who we are, how we behave, what we strive for, and how we interact with each other and our environments. In 2016, science academies from 14 nations, including Canada, declared that the human brain is civilization’s most precious resource. Investment in brain science, therefore, is an investment in the future of society, and nations must cooperate to understand, protect, and foster optimal development of the brain7. The brain is the most complex biological system in the known universe. Understanding the brain and how it gives rise to such a range of human health and life necessitates large-scale collective efforts that span countries and political boundaries.
Canada needs to establish a Canadian Brain Research Initiative as part of a stand-alone neurological health policy that reflects the diverse realities of our country.
