CLEAR Foundation is proud to collaborate with partners across BC to advance innovative research in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

The Advancing Groundbreaking Research in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases - Team Award is a new, BC-led funding opportunity designed to support bold and collaborative research addressing Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and shared mechanisms across neurodegenerative conditions. The award brings interdisciplinary teams together to accelerate discovery, improve care and embed people with lived experience at the heart of research.

---

An investment in BC-led innovation

The Team Award competition is made possible through the Canada Brain Research Fund (CBRF) an innovative partnership between the Government of Canada (through Health Canada) and the following coalition partners:

Brain Canada Foundation

CLEAR Foundation

Alzheimer Society of British Columbia

Health Research BC

Branch Out Neurological Foundation

The Patrick & Dulcie Lenox Endowment

Together, these organizations are investing in BC’s research ecosystem to ensure the province remains a leader in responding to the growing impact of neurodegenerative diseases.

---

Why Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, together?

While Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases are often studied separately, researchers are increasingly discovering shared biological mechanisms across these neurodegenerative conditions. This funding opportunity strongly encourages research that explores these common pathways, opening the door to insights that may accelerate progress across multiple diseases.

Applications must focus on advancing:

• Understanding of disease mechanisms

• Early detection and diagnosis

• Treatment approaches

• Care strategies that improve quality of life

By fostering interdisciplinary teams, the competition aims to break down silos and support research that reflects the real-world complexity of neurodegeneration.

---

Embedding people with lived experience at the centre of research

A defining feature of this funding opportunity is its commitment to embedding people with lived experience, including individuals living with Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease and care partners—throughout the research process.

Successful teams will have access to:

• Up to $10,000 in top-up funding dedicated to PWLE engagement

• Additional training and supports to enable meaningful participation

• Opportunities for knowledge exchange between researchers, people living with dementia (PWLE) and knowledge users

This approach ensures that research priorities, methods and outcomes are informed by those most directly affected, strengthening relevance, impact and translation into practice.

---

Building the next generation of BC research talent

Beyond advancing scientific discovery, the Team Award is designed to grow BC’s research capacity by supporting:

• Graduate students

• Postdoctoral fellows

• Early-career researchers

BC-based interdisciplinary research teams are invited to submit their applications through the official award funding page.

Applicants are encouraged to review the guidelines carefully and consider how their proposed research advances understanding, care, and collaboration in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease research. Please note that the letter of intent deadline is February 2nd.