Weston Brain Institute

Brain imaging software on a computer monitor

What We Do

Neurodegenerative diseases of aging are among the least understood and most undertreated diseases today. Diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s are placing a large and increasing burden on society and, without intervention, the costs to manage these diseases will rise ten-fold within a generation.

As a part of our Healthy Aging Strategy, we aim to reduce the burden of neurodegenerative diseases of aging on Canadians by supporting the investigation of novel lifestyle approaches, and accelerating the development of therapeutics. To achieve this, we address gaps and inefficiencies in scientific research by supporting high-risk, high-reward projects while leveraging world-class business and scientific expertise. We also aim to foster innovation in funding processes, to increase philanthropic impact in health grantmaking in Canada.

What We Fund

Although our work is continuously evolving, currently we have two priorities for our funding:

  1. Improved lifestyle approaches
    Reducing incidence and progression of neurodegenerative diseases of aging through improved lifestyle approaches
  2. Novel medical interventions
    Reducing incidence and progression of neurodegenerative diseases of aging through novel medical interventions

For current funding opportunities, please see our Grant Calls.

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Featured Projects

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Weston Family Focused Ultrasound Initiative

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Follow-on Funding 2023 Program

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Rapid Response 2025

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Healthy Aging

The Challenge

Canada has an aging population: it is estimated that by 2030 there will be 9.5 million Canadians over the age of 65—a 28% increase from 2020. Statistics Canada reports that almost 75% of Canadian seniors have at least one chronic health condition. In fact, although Canadians aged 65 and above make up only 20% of the population presently, they incur nearly 50% of the country’s health care costs, and those amounts will continue to increase as our aging population grows.†

Three researchers at a laboratory at the University of Toronto

Our Goal

To catalyze and scale science-based approaches to significantly improve the health and well-being of Canadians as they age. Specifically, we aim for:

  • More Canadians maintaining optimal health with aging
  • Decreased economic burden of diseases of aging in Canada
  • More Canadians equipped with knowledge and strategies to maintain optimal health and independence

Our Approach

The Foundation’s support of innovative health research dates back to the early 1960s when Garfield Weston donated $1M to the Banting and Best Institute at the University of Toronto. Since that time, we have supported hundreds of translational research projects through the Weston Brain Institute and the Weston Family Microbiome Initiative. And we have learned a few things along the way. Our funding approach reflects those learnings and continues to evolve to help us reach our goals.

After nearly a decade of supporting research into therapeutics and intervention for brain diseases of aging, we are increasing our emphasis on lifestyle approaches and prevention.

We are using a funnel approach by establishing sequential programs to spark new ideas, shepherd promising findings, and scale ambitious projects. This will enable us to support multiple high-quality, proof-of-concept projects with those showing significant promise receiving additional funding and being advanced to scaling opportunities.

† Sources: Gibbard, Robyn. Meeting the Care Needs of Canada’s Aging Population—July 2018. Ottawa: The Conference Board of Canada, 2018; Statistics Canada; Canadian Institute for Health Information

Our Healthy Aging Initiatives

Brain imaging software on a computer monitor

Weston Brain Institute

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Weston Family Microbiome Initiative

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New $7M Brain Health Program now accepting Letters of Intent from researchers

The Foundation has announced that it is accepting letters of intent from Canadian researchers for a new program: Brain Health: 2021 – Lifestyle Approaches and Microbiome Contributions. The $7M program is designed to support projects examining the impact of lifestyle and the microbiome on the maintenance of optimal brain health.

Press release: New $7M Brain Health Program Now Accepting Letters of Intent from Researchers

Announcing the Weston Family Focused Ultrasound Initiative at Sunnybrook

The Weston Family Foundation (formerly The W. Garfield Weston Foundation), through its Weston Brain Institute, has announced a landmark $16.7-million philanthropic grant to establish the Weston Family Focused Ultrasound Initiative at Sunnybrook. This initiative is set to revolutionize the treatment of brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, brain cancer and ALS.

Press Release: Announcing the Weston Family Focused Ultrasound Initiative at Sunnybrook