Since its establishment in 1989, the Azrieli Foundation has supported eight key priority areas, including basic and clinical biomedical research. Our goal is to advance discoveries and novel approaches that address the core of challenging issues in medicine and society, including for neurodevelopmental conditions.

We are pleased to announce our 2021 Request for Applications (RFA):
The Neuroimmune System and Brain Development

In this call for applications, we seek to support hypothesis-driven, mechanistic research projects that explore the role played by inflammatory and immune processes in neural development and their effects on the pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Our long-term vision is that discoveries made possible by this RFA could lead to the development of mechanism-based interventions that address the fundamental molecular and physiological features that underlie neurodevelopmental conditions.

Funding

Individual or team projects will be funded to a maximum of Cdn$150,000 per year for a maximum of three years. We expect to fund the top five applications, as determined by an external peer-review process.

Topic Eligibility

Examples of relevant research include, but are not limited to:

• Effect of infection, immune/inflammatory pathways on embryonic/fetal brain development
• Anatomic, cellular and mechanistic characterization of neuro-immune interface in brain developmental processes
• Role of immune/inflammatory pathways related to the gut-brain axis (including microbiome) on brain development
• Role of microglia in brain development (ex: synaptic pruning, connectivity, oligodendrogenesis)
• Studies of the mechanistic impact on brain of neuro-immune interactions as they relate to high confidence risk factors associated with NDDs in humans

Applications will be evaluated according to 1) significance and impact of the research to NDDs 2) quality and originality of the proposal 3) scientific and technical feasibility and 4) research environment and people.

Applicant Eligibility

Applications may be submitted by individual researchers or teams. Inter-institutional collaborative proposals are strongly encouraged. Nominated Principal Applicants, and Co-applicants (who intend to share funding) must be independent researchers at accredited Canadian Universities or Research Institutes with Registered Charitable Organization designation. Team applications can also include collaborators (who do not request funding from this RFA), from any jurisdiction.

Key Dates

• Week of March 15, 2021: Launch date
• Friday May 14, 2021: Due date for Letter of Intent
• Friday July 9, 2021: Due date for Full Application
• November 2021: Peer Review Committee adjudication
• November 2021: Award Notification