Brain Canada & Weizmann Institute of Science Team Grants

Eligibility

Thisfunding opportunity is open to research teams of two or more members and must include a minimum of two independent investigators. At least one independent investigator must be conducting research at, and affiliated with, an eligible academic institution in Canada, and one at the Weizmann Institute of Science, designated as co-Principal Investigators. Additional team members and collaborators may be included, as needed, to ensure the required expertise is present to carry out the proposed research.

Teams are encouraged to include early-career researchers, as co-Principal Investigator and/or as team members. Researchers in Canada are encouraged to visit the Faculties and Departments page from the Weizmann Institute of Science where they can consult the directory of faculty members from the departments of brain sciences, molecular neuroscience, and more. 

The co-Principal Investigators must be: 

• Considered full-time independent researchers at their respective institutions. 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; have full responsibility for running their laboratories; have full control of their research funds; and are 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 one of the co-Principal Investigators. 
• Conducting research at their respective institutions for the entire duration of the grant, and academic appointments must have started by the deadline for Full Application submission. 
• Able to initiate the project September 2026, when funding is expected to begin.

Summary

The Brain Canada & Weizmann Institute of Science Team Grants program aims to leverage strengths and foster international collaboration between researchers in Canada and the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. The program is intended to support innovative, unorthodox, and exploratory research that may be in the early and conceptual stages of project development but has potential for significant impact on our understanding of the brain and brain disorders. The research topic will focus on hypothesis-driven inquiries on the brain and nervous system, and may span the range of basic, translational, and clinical approaches, including the study of disease pathogenesis, progression, diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment. 

The Brain Canada & Weizmann Institute of Science Team Grants program has an overall funding envelope of $2,500,000 CAD to support up to five grants of $500,000 CAD each over two years.

Overhead

Overhead costs are not supported. 

Pre-application deadlines

Pre-application program deadline

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsotrainee@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.

RESOURCES

Reminder: The sooner the researcher engages with Research Services, the more help we can be!

Contact the following Research Service units for support with:

Projects Involving Indigenous Research:

Support with incorporating wise practices in Indigenous research, community engagement, and Indigenous data management is available through the Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST).

Applicants can reach out by email to IRST at IRST@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information about IRST, please visit the IRST webpage.

Knowledge Mobilization, Research Impact Assessment, DORA:

Support for knowledge mobilization/engagement/translation, community partnerships, research impact, responsible research assessment (DORA), and open science, is available through the Knowledge to Impact team.

Applicants can reach out by email to the KI team at knowledge.impact@ucalgary.ca.

For more information and access to resource archives, please visit the KI team webpage.

Research Data Management:

For information on research data management plans, processes, or best practices for your research program, please contact research.data@ucalgary.ca.

EDI in Research:

RSO can provide resources and support to research teams on the integration of equitable and inclusive practices in research design and research practice.

Contact edi.rso@ucalgary.ca for more information.

Research Security:

The Research Security Division is available to ensure researchers adhere to research security guidelines and policies, including the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP) and the policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC).

Visit the Research Security website to learn more or contact researchsecurity@ucalgary.ca.

Pre-Award Submissions:
RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application