Brain Canada, Weizmann Canada and Weizmann Institute of Science Fund Five New Collaborative Research Teams To Accelerate Brain Discovery

MONTREAL, Oct. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brain Canada, Weizmann Canada, and the Weizmann Institute of Science are pleased to announce the selection of five recipient teams for the Brain Canada & Weizmann Institute of Science Team Grants. Building on the success of the inaugural 2023 cohort, this program continues to support bold, collaborative neuroscience research that brings together leading investigators from Canada and Israel to advance our understanding of the brain.

Brain Canada, Weizmann Canada, and the Weizmann Institute of Science are committed to deepening our understanding of the brain through innovative, collaborative research. By bringing together leading investigators in Canada and Israel, this program supports bold scientific ideas that have the potential to transform our understanding of neurological and mental health conditions while strengthening international partnerships.

As a leading national convenor and enabler of innovative and bold neuroscience, Brain Canada brings together donors and partners to invest in transformative research that helps us better understand how to prevent, diagnose, treat, and cure brain diseases, disorders, injuries, mental illnesses, and addictions. Through its One Brain approach, Brain Canada recognizes the shared mechanisms that connect conditions across the brain and nervous system.

The Weizmann Institute of Science is one of the world's leading multidisciplinary research institutions, recognized internationally for excellence in biomedical and health sciences and for fostering discoveries that advance human health and well-being. In 2025, the Weizmann Institute was ranked sixth globally for research quality and impact in the prestigious Leiden ranking. In the biomedical and health sciences, it was ranked fifth.

About the recipient teams of the Brain Canada & Weizmann Institute of Science Team Grants:

Jean-Claude Béïque, University of Ottawa and Takashi Kawashima, Weizmann Institute of Science
Project Title: From threat to state switches: Circuit and brain-wide mechanisms of serotonergic control
This project will investigate how serotonin-related brain circuits help individuals adapt their behaviour in response to threat, which may provide new insights into anxiety, depression, and addiction.
Learn more.

Yves de Koninck, CERVO/Université Laval and Ofer Yizhar, Weizmann Institute of Science
Project Title: Novel opsins for optogenetic-based analgesia
The team will develop next-generation optogenetic tools that make targeted nerve cells sensitive to light that could enable highly targeted, non-opioid approaches for chronic pain treatment.
Learn more.

Michael Hayden, University of British Columbia and Rivka Dikstein, Weizmann Institute of Science
Project Title: Investigating the impact of small molecule SPT5 inhibition on somatic instability in Huntington disease
Researchers will explore a promising new therapeutic strategy that could address both the genetic cause and progression of Huntington disease.
Learn more.

Paul Marcogliese, University of Manitoba and Sarel Fleishman, Weizmann Institute of Science
Project Title: From fold to phenotype: AI-enabled structural biology and drosophila functional genetics to solve rare brain disorders
Combining artificial intelligence, structural biology, and functional genetics, this project aims to improve diagnosis and understanding of rare neurodevelopmental disorders associated with variants in the IRF2BPL gene.
Learn more.

Masha Prager-Khoutorsky, McGill University and Tali Kimchi, Weizmann Institute of Science
Project Title: Internal physiological states shape social and solitary behavior via oxytocin and vasopressin neurons
This research will examine how internal physiological states such as hunger and thirst influence social behaviour, offering new perspectives on neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions.
Learn more.

“We are delighted to announce the recipients of the Brain Canada & Weizmann Institute of Science Team Grants. These exceptional teams exemplify the power of international collaboration in advancing brain research and bringing together complementary expertise to address some of the most important questions in neuroscience today,” said Dr. Viviane Poupon, President and CEO of Brain Canada.

“At the Weizmann Institute of Science, we believe that groundbreaking discoveries are driven by scientific excellence and collaborations. Our partnership with Brain Canada brings together the Institute’s strengths in fundamental research and pioneering scientific approaches with the expertise of leading Canadian researchers. Together, we are advancing our understanding of the brain, opening new avenues for discovery, and demonstrating the power of international collaboration to address some of humanity’s most pressing health challenges,” said Prof. Alon Chen, President of the Weizmann Institute.

“We are deeply grateful to the philanthropic partners whose generosity makes this ambitious research possible and to the remarkable scientists who are bringing their creativity to these collaborations. We are proud to help create opportunities for research that can make a meaningful difference in people’s lives,” said Susan Stern, CEO of Weizmann Canada.

Weizmann Canada and Brain Canada also gratefully acknowledge the visionary support of Dr. Daniel C. Andreae in making this program a reality.

“The success of this program's first cohort made clear the value of connecting exceptional researchers across borders, and I am delighted to support a second cohort of teams as they embark on ambitious new projects. These partnerships exemplify how collaboration can fuel innovation and accelerate progress for people affected by neurological and mental health conditions,” said Dr. Andreae.

This program is made possible by the Canada Brain Research Fund (CBRF), an innovative arrangement between the Government of Canada (through Health Canada) and Brain Canada, and Weizmann Canada.

About Brain Canada
Brain Canada plays a unique and invaluable role as a national convenor of those who support and advance brain research. A greater understanding of how the brain works contributes to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of disorders of the brain, ultimately improving the health outcomes of people in Canada and around the world. Visit Braincanada.ca and @BrainCanada.

About Weizmann Canada
Since 1964, Weizmann Canada has partnered with individuals, families, foundations and the business community to support the Weizmann Institute of Science and its world-leading research. From coast to coast, Weizmann Canada connects Canadians with the Institute’s scientists and discoveries through engaging programs and events, shares the impact of the Institute’s research, and builds philanthropic partnerships that help advance science with the potential to change lives—and the world. Visit weizmann.ca and @WeizmannCanada.

About the Weizmann Institute of Science
The Weizmann Institute of Science, located in Israel, is one of the world’s leading multidisciplinary institutions of basic research. Weizmann Institute scientists have made a global impact in a variety of areas ranging from health and medicine to alternative energy and security and technology. Our specific impact includes being credited for inventing amniocentesis, developing a blockbuster drug for multiple sclerosis, and developing encryption technology to power the Internet and smart cards. Visit weizmann.ac.il.

Media Contacts:
Naghmeh Shafiei, Senior Advisor, Strategic Communications
Brain Canada
450-813-7792
naghmeh.shafiei@braincanada.ca

Rebecca Cuneo Keenan, Senior Communications Officer
Weizmann Canada
647-462-4725
rebecca@weizmann.ca