Tuesday, October 15, 2024

MONTREAL, QC –

CQDM and Brain Canada are proud to announce the funding of three collaborative research projects, for a total of $7.4 million which includes financial support from various industry partners, aimed at addressing unmet needs in the treatment of brain disorders. These projects are made possible by a contribution of $1,796,387 in funding from the government of Quebec via CQDM and $2,271,500 from the Brain Canada Foundation via the Canadian Brain Research Fund (CBRF), an innovative arrangement between the Government of Canada (through Health Canada) and Brain Canada Foundation.

Functional brain deficits, resulting from traumatic brain injury or disease, affect a significant portion of Canada’s population. These deficits are not only associated with significant costs but also have a profound impact on the lives of those affected and their loved ones. For example, dementia alone accounted for $8.3 billion in healthcare costs in 2011, and these are expected to double by 2031.¹

« Our government is particularly proud to contribute nearly $1.8 million to the realization of these three neuroscience projects. With partnerships like the one between CQDM and the Brain Canada Foundation, we are helping Quebec further distinguish itself as a global leader in research and innovation. But more importantly, the benefits of our investments will help patients with cognitive diseases by improving their quality of life. » said Minister Christopher Skeete, Quebec Minister for the Economy, Minister responsible for the Fight against Racism, and Minister responsible for the Laval region.

« This funding is the latest effort in a long-standing partnership with Brain Canada, 10 years of co-funding to accelerate research and improve the diagnosis and treatment of brain disorders. By joining forces, this collaborative initiative will accelerate the development of tools, therapies and treatments for common neurological disorders, bringing tangible benefits to Quebec and Canadian patients while generating economic spin-offs for the companies involved.» says Diane Gosselin, President and CEO of CQDM.

« We take pride in supporting high-risk high-reward projects,» says Viviane Poupon, President and CEO of Brain Canada. « Our longstanding collaboration with CQDM reflects our joint commitment to drive tangible progress in understanding and addressing complex neurological challenges. Together, we strive to improve the quality of life for people living with brain conditions in Canada and around the world. »

PROJECTS BENEFITING FROM THIS FUNDING

A revolutionary organoid platform to dissect the role of microglia in degenerative conditions and to enable the identification of new targets and therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer’s treatment

This project, led by Prof. Thomas Durcan, Director of EDDU (The Early Drug Discovery Unit) of the Neuro, a McGill University research institute, in collaboration with Merck scientists, was awarded a Quantum Leap grant of close to $2.6 million. It is made possible by $407,814 in funding from the government of Quebec via CQDM and $500,000 in funding from Brain Canada. Merck Canada is also contributing $1,576,702 to continue its existing collaboration with Prof. Durcan on microglia and 3D stem cell models towards identifying novel targets. Find out more

A novel immunotherapy based on genetically modified hematopoietic stem cells as a new hope for treating glioblastoma, an aggressive cancerous tumor of the brain.

Led by Dr. Elie Haddad from CHU Sainte-Justine in collaboration with Immugenia, this project includes an inter-provincial research collaboration with Prof. Scott McComb and Prof. Anna Jezierski of the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and the University of Ottawa who are advancing research innovations through the NRC’s Disruptive Technology Solutions for Cell & Gene Therapy Challenge program. Awarded through the CQDM-Brain Canada Joint Call for Collaborative Research Projects on the Brain program, the total grant of close to $2.5 million, is notably made possible by $829,262 in funding from the government of Quebec via CQDM, in addition to $1 million in funding from Brain Canada and a commitment of $580,345 from Immugenia. The project will enable Immugenia to accelerate its R&D program and enhance its portfolio of drug candidates while investigating new immunotherapies to treat glioblastoma, a type of cancer that originates in the brain. Find out more

Cognitive training platform to revolutionize healthcare for people with concussions

Led by Prof. Jocelyn Faubert from the Université de Montréal in collaboration with Neurotracker, this project includes an inter-provincial research collaboration with Prof. Brian Christie and Prof. Jodie Gawryluk from the University of Victoria. Awarded through the CQDM-Brain Canada Joint Call for Collaborative Research Projects on the Brain program, the total grant of close to $2.1 million is made possible by $559,312 in funding from the government of Quebec via CQDM alongside $771,500 in funding from Brain Canada and a commitment of $860,816 from Neurotracker. Prof. Faubert and team will explore the use of the NeuroTracker remote training platform to help diagnose and facilitate recovery in people with a history of concussion. Find out more

Reference:
1. Prevalence and Financial Costs of Cognitive Impairment in Canada, Alzheimer Society of Canada

About CQDM

Biopharma innovation facilitator
CQDM is a not-for-profit biopharmaceutical research consortium whose mission is to support and facilitate multi-stakeholder collaborative research and development aimed at accelerating the translation or transformation of innovative technologies into solutions for unmet medical needs, while generating significant spin-offs for the Quebec and Canadian economies. For more information, visit cqdm.org and join us on Twitter/X @CQDM_Canada and LinkedIn.

About Brain Canada

Brain Canada plays a unique and invaluable role as a national convenor of those who support and advance brain research. A greater understanding of how the brain works contributes to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure of disorders of the brain, ultimately improving the health outcomes of people in Canada and around the world. To learn more, visit Braincanada.ca @BrainCanada

For further information:

Julia Serafino
Marketing Communication Manager
CQDM
438 543-9498
jserafino@cqdm.org

Kate Shingler
Senior Director, Strategic Communications
Brain Canada
514-550-8308
kate.shingler@braincanada.ca