The 2027 Brain Health Care (BHCare) Postdoctoral Trainee Awards

Call for Proposal Submissions

Application Deadline: Oct 30, 2026

The BHCare Training and Capacity Building Program invites postdoctoral applicants to submit proposals for research projects that contribute to brain health research. Applicants will have the opportunity to propose projects aimed at improving brain health, through:

  1. Risk reduction and protective factors
  2. Care and support of people living with cognitive impairment
  3. Care and support of care providers and caregivers

Awardees will be given the opportunity to enhance their research skills and contribute meaningfully to the field of brain health and dementia care. This award is intended to help postdoctoral researchers build valuable experience and professional expertise within their field.

Award Amount: 

  • The BHCare Postdoctoral Trainee Awards are valued at $22,500 (with at least $22,500 matching funds from the supervisor(s)) for each postdoctoral fellow
  • Two postdoctoral fellows will be awarded in January 2027.

Use of Award Funds:
These awards are intended to support trainee stipends and may also be used for the following:

  • Data collection and analysis
  • Travel funds to meet with trainee co-applicant(s), community partners, or Elders
  • Publication and conference fees
  • Skills acquisition
  • Data access fees
  • Knowledge Translation and Exchange product or activity
  • Costs associated with research participant compensation e.g., honorariums, thank you gifts, parking fees
  • Supplies, software, and other materials.

Eligibility:

  • Applicants must hold a PhD or MD at the time of award selection (Dec 31st, 2026). Final transcripts or a certification of completion should be provided if the degree was recently completed.
  • Affiliation with a Canadian institution for the duration of the project.
  • One investigator/supervisor must agree to participate and ensure that the eligibility criteria are met and that the trainee applicants fulfill the Trainee Award guidelines. The supervisor must agree to hold the funds at their institution and assist the trainee applicants with managing the account.
  • Applicants must be under the supervision of a BHCare co-investigator.
  • BHCare co-investigators must be faculty members in a Canadian institution in the field of brain health care.
  • Supervisors who are not already BHCare members/co-investigators must register to become members for their trainees to be eligible to apply, click here to register. Membership requirements include the following commitments to actively support BHCare’s collaborative goals:
    • Participation in Working Groups: Engaging in one or more of our working groups (e.g., EDI, mentorship, online curriculum, or experiential learning).
    • Stipend/Award Peer Review: Serving as a reviewer for the stipend/award peer review process.
    • Webinar Contribution: Hosting or presenting in one BHCare webinar annually to share expertise and insights with our community.
  • Proposed projects must align with BHCare’s key focus areas, specifically targeting brain health care. This includes research aimed at improving brain health through risk reduction and protective factors, enhancing care for individuals living with cognitive impairment, or developing support for caregivers of those with cognitive impairments.
  • Supervisors must commit to provide matching funds for the stipend of the awardee (at least $22,500).
  • Award recipients will become members of CCNA Societies and the BHCare Trainee Network and will be required to complete a series of core mandatory modules and courses.

Application Guidelines 

Required Components:

  • Plain Language Summary of the Research: (Maximum 250 words): Applicants should provide a plain language summary describing the proposed research in everyday, non-scientific language at a Grade 8 reading level. The summary should be accessible to a general audience, including patients, caregivers, and community members. For guidance on structuring this summary, please refer to the following resources:
  • Research Proposal
    • Project Proposal (Maximum 1,000 words): Include the scientific rationale, hypothesis, objectives, methodology (including sex and gender considerations), analysis and reporting plan, project timeline, the applicant’s role, budget, and knowledge translation plan for the proposed research. Include an appendix for references, figures, and tables only.
    • Mentorship & Training Plan (Maximum 250 words): The applicant and supervisor should submit a joint letter outlining a comprehensive plan for the applicant’s research, academic training, and mentorship. This plan should include:
        • The supervisor’s and institution’s commitment to supporting the research with adequate space, resources, facilities, and personnel.
        • The technical and professional skills the applicant will develop during the award and how these skills will support their long-term career goals
    • Personal Statement (Maximum 500 words): Explain why you are the ideal candidate to carry out this project. Applicants should describe their relevant experiences—lived, academic, and/or community—that have shaped their career goals. Include details on any leaves of absence as applicable.
  • Applicant’s CIHR Standardized CV & Supervisor’s CIHR Standardized CV(s)
  • Certificate of Completion of Sex and Gender-Based Analysis Plus (SGBA+) Modules: Applicants must complete at least one CIHR-ICRH Sex and Gender Training Module that is most relevant to their research and submit the Certificate of Completion.
  • Certificate of Completion of CIHR’s TCPS2: CORE-2022 Course on Ethics The TCPS2 Tutorial Course on Research Ethics
  • Certificate of Completion of CIHR’s Bias in Peer Review Training Modules Bias in Peer Review
  • Completion of: CIHR’s Global Health Research Training module, Research Involving Indigenous Peoples module, Ethics in Research module, and Research Data Management module
  • Letter of Reference: A letter from the applicant’s supervisor is required, confirming commitment to the project. If there are co-supervisors, they may co-sign the single letter (Maximum 1 page).
  • Certification of PhD or MD: Applicants must provide certification of PhD or MD completion. For recently completed degrees, an attestation of completion or a final transcript may be submitted. Note that if a supervisor has committed to matching funds, the time between PhD completion and the start of the postdoctoral position does not impact eligibility.

Evaluation Criteria:
Applicants must achieve at least 60% of the total evaluation criteria to be eligible for the award.

  • Personal Component (30%)
    1. Letters of Reference (20%)
      • Provides insights into the applicant’s character, research potential, personal experiences, and commitment to brain health research.
    2. Personal Statement (10%)
      • Articulates how the applicant’s background relates to the proposed research project and career goals, as well as their motivation and leadership.
  • Research Component (50%)
    1. Mentorship & Training Plan (20%)
      • Assesses the support provided by the supervisor/institution, alignment with research goals, and integration of EDI/SGBA+ considerations.
    2. Research Summary (30%)
      • Evaluates the project’s rationale, methodology, feasibility, and potential impact on brain health.
  • Academic Component (20%)
    1. CIHR Standardized CV
      • Assesses the applicant’s academic record, research funding history, contributions, and professional development.

 Important Deadlines:

  • September 1, 2026: Competition launch.
  • October 30, 2026: Application Deadline. Applicants will receive acknowledgment of receipt within one week of submission. Late submissions will not be accepted.
  • January, 2026: Selection of recipients. Letters of notification will be sent to awardees.

For inquiries, please contact the BHCare Training Program Coordinator: Kelly Baines at bhcaretrainingplatform@gmail.com.

Click here to apply.