August 5, 2025 – 2024 marked a year of meaningful progress for the Weston Family Foundation, and we are proud to celebrate the collective achievements made possible through collaboration with our staff, advisors, grantees, and partners across Canada.
Grounded in our mission to champion learning and innovation in support of the well-being of all Canadians, the Foundation continues to serve as a catalyst for change through its focus on healthy aging and healthy ecosystems. In 2024 alone, the Foundation donated more than $66 million across these funding priorities. This impact reflects the dedication and vision of our entire community, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who made it possible.
This year, instead of a traditional year-end letter, we’re excited to share our first-ever Year in Review video. It offers a glimpse into the work the foundation supports—bold ideas brought to life through collaboration, all with a focus on lasting impact.
“Our work may appear diverse, but it is all aligned under one vision: the well-being of Canadians, this video highlights just a few examples of the progress made in 2024 and the many incredible organizations and individuals we partnered with along the way.” says Garfield Mitchell Chair, Weston Family Foundation
As the Foundation continues to evolve its funding strategy, these moments serve not just as milestones, but as powerful reminders of the impact of purpose-driven work—and of the Canadians who make it possible.
Letter of Intent deadline: March 18, 2025, at 2:00pm ET
The Weston Family Foundation aims to catalyze and scale science-based approaches to significantly improve the health and well-being of Canadians. The Foundation takes a leadership role in tackling large problems that are under-addressed by supporting research that is particularly relevant to the health of Canadians and that empowers Canadians to improve their health and well-being.
The Foundation through its Weston Brain Institute is pleased to announce the launch of our flagship Rapid Response program designed to provide seed funding to catalyze novel, high-risk, high-reward translational research that accelerates the development of therapeutics or tools for neurodegenerative diseases of aging.
Five projects were awarded in the Rapid Response 2024 program, to learn more about these projects, click here.
Program details:
Eligible projects should:
Be translational research that can accelerate therapeutic or tool development for neurodegenerative diseases of aging (NDAs), as defined by the Institute.
Therapeutics should address unmet needs in the prevention, treatment and/or symptomatic management of NDAs.
Tools should address challenges in translational research to accelerate the development and/or clinical implementation of therapeutics for NDAs (e.g., biomarkers, drug delivery systems). Projects covering only the discovery/identification of a tool are considered out of scope.
Have preliminary data to support the hypothesis and feasibility of the project.
Funding available per project: Up to $300,000 over 18-24 months.
Important dates:
Program information session: February 11, 2025 at 1pm ET – Register Here
Letter of Intent deadline: March 18, 2025, at 2pm ET
Award announcement: November 2025
For more information about this program, including details on project and applicant eligibility, institute definitions (for translational research, NDAs, therapeutics, tools), program review criteria and expected project outcomes, please see the relevant documents below.
We welcome you to contact us with any program-related inquiries including questions about the eligibility or fit of your project. Please send your questions to info@westonbrain.org
Letter of Intent deadline: April 30, 2024, at 2:00pm EST
The Weston Family Foundation aims to catalyze and scale science-based approaches to significantly improve the health and well-being of Canadians. The Foundation takes a leadership role in tackling large problems that are under-addressed by supporting research that is particularly relevant to the health of Canadians and that empowers Canadians to improve their health and wellbeing.
The Foundation, through its Weston Brain Institute is pleased to announce the re-launch of our flagship Rapid Response program designed to provide seed funding to catalyze novel, high-risk, high-reward translational research that accelerates the development of therapeutics or tools for neurodegenerative diseases of aging.
Program details:
Eligible projects should:
Be translational research that can accelerate therapeutic or tool development for neurodegenerative diseases of aging (NDAs), as defined by the Institute.
Therapeutics should address unmet needs in the prevention, treatment and/or symptomatic management of NDAs.
Tools should address challenges in translational research to accelerate the development and/or clinical implementation of therapeutics for NDAs (e.g., biomarkers, drug delivery systems). Projects covering only the discovery/identification of a tool are considered out of scope.
Have preliminary data to support the hypothesis and feasibility of the project.
Funding available per project: Up to $300,000 over 18-24 months.
Important dates:
Program information session: April 2, 2024 at 1pm ET
Proposal deadline: August 12, 2024
Letter of Intent deadline: April 30, 2024
Award announcement: November 2024
For more information about this program, including details on project and applicant eligibility, institute definitions (for translational research, NDAs, therapeutics, tools), program review criteria and expected project outcomes, please see the relevant documents below.
We welcome you to contact us with any program-related inquiries including questions about the eligibility or fit of your project. Please send your questions to Teenu Sanjeevan, Senior Program Manager, at teenu.sanjeevan@westonfoundation.ca
The Weston Family Foundation is proud to have supported the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) “Brain Health and Reduction of Risk for Age-related Cognitive Impairment: Knowledge Synthesis and Mobilization Grant” which is part of the Brain Health and Cognitive Impairment in Aging (BHCIA) Research Initiative led by the CIHR Institute of Aging.
Launched last year, a total of 16 projects awarded will share more than $1.5 million in funding to assess the current state of knowledge and identify strengths and gaps in research areas related to the promotion of brain health and risk reduction for dementia and other age-related cognitive impairment. You can learn more about all the projects funded here.
Through the “Lifestyle Approaches to reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases of aging (LAR)” pool, the Foundation is excited to support the work of Dr. Cindy Barha, Dr. Zahra Goodarzi, and Dr. Laura Middleton.
The Weston Family Foundation, through the Weston Brain Institute, supports research that accelerates the development of therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases of aging (NDAs). The Institute provides seed-funding to high-risk, high reward ideas through its core “Spark-phase” programs. However, given the long development timeline to real-world impact of medical innovations for NDAs, additional investments are needed to scale successful projects coming out of the seed-funding programs towards clinical impact.
The Follow-on Funding (FOF) program was created to provide additional funding to current or past Institute grantees to kick-start the scaling of innovations and technologies that have been previously identified and validated.
In 2023, two projects were awarded approximately $1.5 million each under the FOF program.
Pedro Rosa Neto, MD, PhD (Principal Investigator); Yasser Iturria-Medina, PhD (Co-Principal Investigator)
Project Title: Tracking the progression of neuroinflammation and tau aggregates in Alzheimer’s Disease
Dr. Pedro Rosa Neto is an Associate Professor of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry at McGill University, affiliated to the Douglas Research Centre.
Dr. Yasser Iturria-Medina is an Assistant Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery at McGill University.
Through a previous Weston Family Foundation grant, Dr. Rosa Neto and his team found that inflammatory responses suspected to accelerate brain damage in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), play a crucial role in the spreading of tau pathology across brain regions, leading to cognitive decline. Further details about this conclusion can be found in the following publications: Nature Medicine 2023 and JAMA Neurology 2023.
For his Follow-on Funding project, Dr. Rosa Neto aims to better characterize the natural history of these neuroinflammatory responses by conducting an additional 3-year follow-up of participants recruited in his previous research grant. Clinical, imaging, and fluid biomarker data will be collected and analyzed using advanced artificial intelligence techniques, in collaboration with co-PI Dr. Iturria-Medina. The study will provide important insights on how to design effective therapeutic interventions to mitigate the progression of AD.
Susan Fox, MD (Principal Investigator), Jonathan Brotchie, PhD (Co-Principal Investigator), Patrick Howson, PhD (Co-Principal Investigator)
Project Title: Development of the combination of trehalose and tannic acid as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease
Dr. Fox is Head of the Division of Neurology at UHN and Sinai Health System. She holds the Krembil Family Chair in Neurology, is the Professor of Neurology at the University of Toronto and is the Associate Director of the Movement Disorders Clinic, Toronto Western Hospital.
Dr. Jonathan Brotchie is the Chief Executive Officer of Atuka Inc. He was previously a Senior Scientist at UHN from 2002 – 2023.
Dr. Patrick Howson is the Chief Innovation Officer at Atuka Inc.
Previous studies have suggested that trehalose, a sugar compound, can effectively target toxic proteins in several animal models of Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, larger doses of trehalose to treat people with PD may increase the risk of metabolic disorders, such as diabetes. Through a previous Weston Family Foundation grant, Dr. Brotchie and his team investigated whether it would be possible to increase trehalose levels in the blood and brain by inhibiting trehalase, the enzyme that breaks down trehalose. Their results showed that this approach is both safe and efficacious.
For the Follow-on Funding project, the research team aims to determine the appropriate dose of trehalose and tannic acid (trehalase inhibitor) and validate the safety of the selected dose. This study embarks on the critical first steps to move trehalose forward as a potential treatment for PD and possibly other neurodegenerative diseases.
The Weston Family Foundation, through the Weston Brain Institute, supports research that accelerates the development of therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases of aging (NDAs). The Institute provides seed-funding to high-risk, high reward ideas through its core “Spark-phase” programs. However, given the long development timeline to real-world impact of medical innovations for NDAs, additional investments are needed to scale successful projects coming out of the seed-funding programs towards clinical impact.
The Follow-on Funding (FOF) program was created to provide additional funding to current or past Institute grantees to kick-start the scaling of innovations and technologies that have been previously identified and validated.
In 2023, two projects were awarded approximately $1.5 million each under the FOF program.
Pedro Rosa Neto, MD, PhD (Principal Investigator); Yasser Iturria-Medina, PhD (Co-Principal Investigator)
Project Title: Tracking the progression of neuroinflammation and tau aggregates in Alzheimer’s Disease
Dr. Pedro Rosa Neto is an Associate Professor of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry at McGill University, affiliated to the Douglas Research Centre.
Dr. Yasser Iturria-Medina is an Assistant Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery at McGill University.
Through a previous Weston Family Foundation grant, Dr. Rosa Neto and his team found that inflammatory responses suspected to accelerate brain damage in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), play a crucial role in the spreading of tau pathology across brain regions, leading to cognitive decline. Further details about this conclusion can be found in the following publications: Nature Medicine 2023 and JAMA Neurology 2023, among others.
For his Follow-on Funding project, Dr. Rosa Neto aims to better characterize the natural history of these neuroinflammatory responses by conducting an additional 3-year follow-up of participants recruited in his previous research grant. Clinical, imaging, and fluid biomarker data will be collected and analyzed using advanced artificial intelligence techniques, in collaboration with co-PI Dr. Iturria-Medina. The study will provide important insights on how to design effective therapeutic interventions to mitigate the progression of AD.
Susan Fox, MD (Principal Investigator), Jonathan Brotchie, PhD (Co-Principal Investigator), Patrick Howson, PhD (Co-Principal Investigator)
Project Title: Development of the combination of trehalose and tannic acid as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease
Dr. Fox is Head of the Division of Neurology at UHN and Sinai Health System. She holds the Krembil Family Chair in Neurology, is the Professor of Neurology at the University of Toronto and is the Associate Director of the Movement Disorders Clinic, Toronto Western Hospital.
Dr. Jonathan Brotchie is the Chief Executive Officer of Atuka Inc. He was previously a Senior Scientist at UHN from 2002 – 2023.
Dr. Patrick Howson is the Chief Innovation Officer at Atuka Inc.
Previous studies have suggested that trehalose, a sugar compound, can effectively target toxic proteins in several animal models of Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, larger doses of trehalose to treat people with PD may increase the risk of metabolic disorders, such as diabetes. Through a previous Weston Family Foundation grant, Dr. Brotchie and his team investigated whether it would be possible to increase trehalose levels in the blood and brain by inhibiting trehalase, the enzyme that breaks down trehalose. Their results showed that this approach is both safe and efficacious.
For the Follow-on Funding project, the research team aims to determine the appropriate dose of trehalose and tannic acid (trehalase inhibitor) and validate the safety of the selected dose. This study embarks on the critical first steps to move trehalose forward as a potential treatment for PD and possibly other neurodegenerative diseases.
The Weston Family Foundation, through the Weston Brain Institute, aims to catalyze and scale science-based approaches to significantly improve the health and well-being of Canadians. There is growing evidence that making key lifestyle changes may reduce the risk of brain diseases of aging and slow cognitive decline.
The Institute is pleased to announce the launch of a new funding opportunity. The Brain Health: Sleep 2023 program seeks to reduce the risk and/or slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases of aging by accelerating the development of healthy lifestyle approaches relating to sleep.
Project Eligibility:
Observational or interventional studies that accelerate the development of sleep-based strategies to improve brain-related outcome measures relevant to (or associated with) neurodegenerative diseases of aging. Projects should generate the evidence-base for the future implementation of better therapeutic interventions, guidelines, and recommendations on sleep.
Funding available per project: Up to $1,200,000 over 3 years.
Important dates:
Program information session: April 25 or June 6, 2023
Letter of Intent deadline: July 11, 2023
Award announcement: March 2024
For more information about this program, including details on project and applicant eligibility, institute definitions, program review criteria and expected project outcomes, please see the relevant documents below.
We welcome you to contact us with any program related inquiries. Please send your questions to Rene Prashad, Senior Program Manager, rene.prashad@westonfoundation.ca
Marina Thornbury (she/her) joined the Weston Family Foundation in April 2022. As a Grants Coordinator, she is a member of the Operations team and primarily supports the Foundation’s Neuroscience Committee.
Prior to joining the Foundation, Marina worked as an Operations and Volunteer Engagement Assistant with the Society for Neuroscience (SfN), an international membership organization in Washington, DC. Marina holds a Bachelor of Science from St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY, where she studied Neuroscience and Public Health.
As part of its commitment to decreasing neurodegenerative diseases of aging and improving the well-being of Canadians, the Weston Family Foundation is pleased to announce nearly $8 million in funding for brain-health research.
In November 2020, the Foundation launched Brain Health: 2021 – Lifestyle Approaches and Microbiome Contributions. The program, jointly run by the Weston Brain Institute and the Weston Family Microbiome Initiative, was designed to support projects examining the impact of lifestyle and the microbiome on the maintenance of optimal brain health, and specifically the prevention or delay of neurodegenerative diseases of aging, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Applications for the program were reviewed by a panel of international experts and four projects were selected to receive funding:
Dr. Alex Parker (Université de Montréal) – $1.6M
Project description: Conducting a clinical study to assess the benefit of a probiotic in treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia.
Dr. Manuel Montero Odasso (St. Joseph’s Health Care London/Lawson Research Institute) – $1.5M
Project description:Testing whether an at-home, personalized intervention targeting specific lifestyle risk factors for dementia can improve brain health in older adults suffering from mild cognitive impairment.
Dr. Simon Bacon (Concordia University) – $1.5M
Project description:Examining bariatric surgery patients and how dramatic changes in diet can influence brain structure and function, towards identifying patterns that can improve cognitive health as well as those associated with risk of cognitive decline.
Dr. Thien Thanh Dang Vu (Concordia University) – $1.5M
Project description:Testing whether an online cognitive-behavioural intervention program can improve the sleep quality and ultimately the cognitive performance of patients with cognitive complaints who are suffering from insomnia.
In addition to the above grants, an additional $1.8 million was awarded to six grantees through the Weston Family Microbiome Initiative Proof-of-Principle program. The awarded projects seek to leverage the microbiome to improve diverse aspects of brain health, including combatting Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Multiple Sclerosis, improving mental health, and supporting cognitive development in early-life.
These grants follow on the footsteps of $12 million in Foundation funding to the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) for a new brain-health initiative announced in November 2021.
The Healthy Brains, Healthy Aging Initiative will augment the CLSA platform, and marks the first time a national study of aging in Canada has introduced both brain imaging and microbiome analyses to investigate cognitive aging in the population over time. Read more about the Healthy Brains, Healthy Aging Initiativehere.
The Weston Family Foundation is pleased to announce $12 million in funding to the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA), hosted at McMaster University, for a new initiative that will shed light on the many factors that influence brain health as we age, including lifestyle and the human microbiome.
The Healthy Brains, Healthy Aging Initiative will feature a cohort of 6,000 research participants who are currently enrolled in the CLSA. It marks the first time a national study of aging in Canada has introduced both brain imaging and microbiome analyses to investigate cognitive aging in the population over time.
The goal of the six-year initiative is to enhance the CLSA platform with longitudinal data from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and microbiome analyses of the gut, to help researchers examine how diverse lifestyle, medical, psychosocial, economic, and environmental factors as well as changes in the microbiome correlate with healthy aging outcomes.
The Weston Family Foundation mission
As part of its overall giving strategy, the Weston Family Foundation dedicates funding to catalyze and scale science-based approaches to improve the health and well-being of Canadians as they age. Specifically, the Foundation aims for more Canadians maintaining optimal health with aging; decreased economic burden of diseases of aging in Canada; and more Canadians equipped with knowledge and strategies to maintain optimal health and independence.
Potential breakthroughs as a result of data gathered by the Healthy Brains, Healthy Aging Initiative will not only improve the health of Canadians as they age, but will generate research evidence to inform policy and programs that increase the agency of Canadians on their own health outcomes.
