Two UBC Faculty of Medicine researchers have been awarded Brain Canada 2025 Platform Support Grants to support powerful new brain research platforms that promise to change how neurological conditions are studied, diagnosed and treated by making research faster, more inclusive and more directly connected to patients.
The projects span blood‑based diagnostics for dementia, led by Dr. Cheryl Wellington, and a national biobank for neurodegeneration, led by Dr. Michael Hayden. Together, they represent over $2.9 million in total platform funding, strengthening UBC and the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health’s (DMCBH) role as a hub for brain health innovation with benefits extending nationwide.
Making brain disease diagnosis as simple as a blood test
Dr. Wellington is leading the Platform for Neurology Biomarker Innovation (PNBI) – a nationally recognized effort to develop and deploy blood tests that detect proteins from the brain that are linked to diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and other forms of dementia.
Once reliant on expensive brain imaging or invasive procedures, diagnosing and monitoring many neurological conditions can increasingly be done through simple blood samples. PNBI has already grown into the largest academic neurology biomarker research program of its kind in North America, and this new support will expand access to its expertise and infrastructure for clinicians and researchers across Canada.
“Earlier and more accessible diagnosis changes everything for patients, and their families, and even for our healthcare systems,” said Dr. Wellington, Professor and Vice Chair of Research in UBC’s Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. “By prioritizing blood‑based tools, we can reduce costs and ensure that where you live does not determine the quality of care you receive.”
Learn more about Platform for Neurology Biomarker Innovation
Preserving irreplaceable samples to accelerate treatments
Dr. Michael Hayden is leading the expansion of the HD Biobank, one of the world’s most important collections of human tissue samples for neurodegenerative disease research, including Huntington, Alzheimer and Parkinson disease.
Built on decades of partnerships with Canadian families who generously donate samples, the Biobank enables discoveries that would not otherwise be possible. New Brain Canada support will expand nationwide sample collection, modernize infrastructure, lower access barriers for researchers, and strengthen ethical sharing of samples across Canada and globally.
“Every donated sample represents hope, hope that research today will lead to better treatments tomorrow,” said Dr. Hayden, UBC Killam Professor in the Department of Medical Genetics. “This support ensures that Canadians’ contributions continue to drive global progress against devastating brain diseases.”
National impact through shared platforms
Brain Canada’s Platform Support Grants invest in shared resources including tools, infrastructure, and expertise, that empower thousands of researchers and accelerate discoveries for years to come.
“Shared platforms are essential to accelerating brain research at a national scale,” said Viviane Poupon, President and CEO of Brain Canada. “By supporting infrastructure that is open, inclusive, and collaborative, we are strengthening Canada’s ability to deliver earlier diagnoses and more effective treatments for brain disorders.”
