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Knowledge Mobilization Grants: Mental Health of Older Persons

Brain Canada Foundation

Brain Canada Foundation (Brain Canada) is a national registered charity that enables and supports excellent, innovative, paradigm-changing brain research in Canada. For more than 25 years, Brain Canada has made the case for the brain as a single, complex system with commonalities across the range of neurological disorders, mental illnesses and addictions, and brain and spinal cord injuries. Looking at the brain as one system has underscored the need for increased collaboration across disciplines and institutions, and to ensure that Canada has a robust pipeline of talent to remain at the forefront in the field of brain research. Brain Canada’s vision is to understand the brain, in health and illness, to improve lives, and achieve societal impact.

The Canada Brain Research Fund (CBRF) is an innovative arrangement between the Government of Canada, through Health Canada, and Brain Canada Foundation, designed to encourage Canadians to increase their support of brain research and knowledge mobilization, and maximize the impact and efficiency of those investments. The Fund supports the very best Canadian neuroscience, fostering collaborative research and accelerating the pace of discovery and knowledge mobilization, in order to improve the health and quality of life of Canadians who suffer from brain disorders.

Introduction

The Knowledge Mobilization Grants: Mental Health of Older Persons program aims to accelerate the timeline between the generation of research evidence and its practical application for improving mental health for older persons. It is estimated that the time it takes for research to become embedded into clinical practice is between 14 and 17 years, resulting in delayed application or missed opportunities.

The program will help support the mobilization of research to inform the development of evidence-based tools, resources, programs, and solutions with the potential to benefit people across Canada. It is expected that these investments will result in positive societal impacts by addressing unmet needs in mental health, in any geographic region(s) within Canada.

Scope

The purpose of the 2026 Knowledge Mobilization Grants: Mental Health of Older Persons program is to support projects that generate novel and practical applications of existing research evidence to enhance the mental health and emotional well-being of older persons (60+), including those living with dementia, cognitive decline, or other neurological conditions, as well as their care partners (family caregivers and formal care providers).

For the purposes of this funding opportunity, supporting the mental health of older persons encompasses multiple and intersecting areas of mental health across aging, including the mental health needs of individuals experiencing changes in mood, behaviour, or psychological well-being related to dementia or other neurological conditions. Areas of focus may include, but are not limited to:

• Supporting early identification and response to mental health needs in older persons, including mood, anxiety, behavioural, or psychological changes associated with dementia, cognitive decline, or neurological disease;

• Advancing preventive, promotive, and supportive approaches that maintain or enhance mental health and quality of life in older age, including psychosocial, community-based, and careintegrated supports;

• Protecting and strengthening the mental health and well-being of care partners, including family caregivers and formal care providers supporting older persons.

Funded projects will address a critical barrier to the real-world adoption of transformative mental health innovations for older persons by catalyzing change among policymakers, practitioners such as health care providers, caregivers, and individuals who experience the downstream effects of policies and practices.

Teams are expected to engage and collaborate with stakeholders throughout their proposed KM project. This iterative approach to co-creation involving the intended users is expected to increase the applicability, distribution, and implementation of the project output(s) and, therefore, maximize the potential to achieve positive impact(s).

It is anticipated that funding will close the gap between the generation of research evidence and its practical application for improving mental health outcomes of older persons in Canada by enabling:

• Development and/or distribution of new KM outputs that would not otherwise exist.

• Expanded distribution of existing and effective KM outputs to a greater number of individuals within a target audience, and/or new target audiences, thereby increasing reach.

• Increased knowledge and/or skills among policymakers and practitioners.

• Improved patient and/or population health, quality of life, and/or individual health behaviours due to changes in knowledge, skills, attitudes, and/or approaches of practitioners.

• Changes, even if small, in policy or practice, including improved efficiency, service availability, accessibility or quality, that could ultimately lead to better health outcomes.

Grant Details Brain Canada, through the Canada Brain Research Fund, in partnership with the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI), have jointly allocated $300,000 CAD to the 2026 Knowledge Mobilization Grants: Mental Health of Older Persons funding opportunity to support up to four grants for one (1) year, non-renewable. Project budgets must total $100,000 CAD, with applicantsrequired to secure 25% of the funding from eligible sponsors.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Scientific excellence and innovation (Highest Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

This is the most important criterion across Brain Canada funding programs.

Competitive proposals should demonstrate:

Outstanding scientific quality
Original hypotheses
Innovative concepts
High-risk, high-reward research
Potential to transform neuroscience

Brain Canada consistently emphasizes scientific excellence as the foundation of all funding decisions.

2. Strong potential for impact (Highest Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Reviewers prioritize research that can significantly advance:

Brain health
Prevention of neurological disorders
Diagnosis
Treatment
Recovery
Mental health
Quality of life

Projects should clearly explain how their findings could improve outcomes for people affected by brain disorders.

3. Innovation and originality (Highest Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Innovation is an explicit review criterion.

Competitive projects often include:

Novel technologies
Artificial intelligence
Neuroimaging
Brain-computer interfaces
Precision neuroscience
Genomics
Systems neuroscience
Neuroengineering
Digital health

Brain Canada actively encourages bold, transformative research ideas.

4. Strong feasibility and rigorous methodology (Highest Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Successful applications include:

Clear objectives
Robust experimental design
Appropriate statistical analyses
Realistic milestones
Risk mitigation strategies
Feasible implementation plan

Feasibility is an explicit scoring criterion in Brain Canada's peer-review process.

5. Alignment with Brain Canada funding priorities (Very High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Competitive proposals align closely with the objectives of the specific funding opportunity, including:

Neurodevelopment
Neurodegeneration
Mental health
Brain injury
Dementia
Huntington disease
Autism
Concussion
Addiction
Knowledge mobilization
Research platforms

Strong alignment with the chosen program substantially improves competitiveness.

6. Multidisciplinary collaboration and partnerships (Very High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Brain Canada strongly supports collaborative science.

Competitive proposals often involve:

Neuroscientists
Clinicians
Engineers
Data scientists
Psychologists
Industry partners
Patient organizations
National and international collaborators

Many funding programs specifically encourage multidisciplinary teams.

7. Excellence of the principal investigator and research team (Very High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Reviewers evaluate:

Investigator expertise
Publication record
Leadership
Team composition
Institutional support
Ability to complete the proposed work

Investigator excellence is an explicit review criterion in several Brain Canada competitions.

8. Integration of sex, gender, and equity considerations (High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)

Many Brain Canada programs expect applicants to appropriately address:

Sex- and gender-based analysis (SGBA+)
Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI)
Inclusion of diverse populations where scientifically relevant

Applicants should justify their approach and integrate these considerations into the research design when applicable.

9. Knowledge mobilization and real-world translation (High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)

Competitive proposals describe how findings will:

Reach clinicians
Inform policymakers
Benefit patients and caregivers
Support implementation into healthcare
Increase public impact

Knowledge translation is especially important for Brain Canada's Knowledge Mobilization Grant programs.

10. Well-justified budget and realistic project management (High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)

Competitive applications include:

Appropriate budgets
Clear budget justification
Efficient resource allocation
Realistic timelines
Strong project management

Budgets should clearly support the proposed objectives and demonstrate value for money.

Specialties

Neurosciences

Eligibility Requirements

• Applicants can only submit one application as Principal Applicant.

• Please note that activities may be related but cannot overlap with existing funding for proposed KM activities. It is the responsibility of the applicant to notify Brain Canada immediately should overlap arise from funding awarded during the application and review process of this funding opportunity.

• The Principal Applicant must be conducting research at, and affiliated with, an eligible Canadian academic institution for the entire duration of the grant and must be considered a full-time independent researcher at their institution. Such an individual normally holds the rank of assistant, associate, or full professor; can initiate and direct their own independent lines of research as principal investigator; has full responsibility for running their laboratories; has full control of their research or other grant funds; and is permitted to supervise trainees, if applicable, as per their institution’s policy. Postdoctoral fellows, research associates, or adjunct faculty are not eligible to apply as Principal Applicant.

• Teams must include all expertise needed for successful completion of the project. This includes the experience and competencies for developing and carrying out the project’s knowledge mobilization plan, designing and facilitating co-creation of the project’s outputs, content expertise to ensure the accurate translation of the research evidence into the project’s outputs, as well as the evaluation of impact(s). Teams are encouraged to engage trainees as part of the proposed projects, where feasible.

• Applicants must be able to initiate the project in March 2027, when funding is expected to begin, and complete all proposed activities within the grant period. A no-cost extension of no more than six months may be requested, subject to approval by Brain Canada and CABHI.

The following will not be considered for funding:

• Projects that involve the generation of new research evidence1 (e.g., systematic reviews, projects that require research ethics approval for data collection, etc.).

• Projects that involve commercial product development and/or distribution.

• Proposals that focus primarily on an event or meeting, or series of meetings for the purpose of sharing research evidence one-way, such as in-person or virtual research meetings, symposia, conferences, poster sessions, Ted-style talks, Day on the Hill, webinars, etc.

• Proposals that include traditional academic outputs such as scientific publications and/or posters, or conference presentations.

• Proposals that aim to advance a sensitive technology research area, where the team members involved in the activities are supported by, affiliated with, or in receipt of funding or in-kind support, from a university, research institution, or laboratory connected to military, national defence, or state security entities that could pose a risk to Canada’s national security, in alignment with the Government of Canada’s Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern.

Eligible Countries:

Canada

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Brain Canada Foundation

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 1200 McGill College Avenue Suite 1600, Montreal, Quebec H3B 4G7

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