The Canadian Association for Neuroscience welcomes the announcement by the Government of Canada of an investment of $100 million in federal funding to match private donations directed to support Canadian brain research. Canada has a unique opportunity to turn the challenge of brain disorders and their enormous economic burden on our economy and society into an opportunity for global leadership. The key to realizing this opportunity is to ensure that the community of researchers has funding of the scale and scope required to encourage research that has application across multiple diseases. The budget announcement shows that the Government of Canada recognizes the need for increased funding for brain research and they have responded with a plan for investment in Canadian neuroscience research. They recognize the excellence in the Canadian neuroscience community and the value of investing in research to reduce the burden of brain diseases on Canada.
Meeting the Challenge of Brain Disorders
The brain is the most vital and complex organ in the human body. Disorders of the brain account for a broad spectrum of conditions encompassing psychiatric diseases and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, bipolar disorders, chronic pain, depression, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia and brain and spinal cord injuries and stroke. The economic and human impact of brain disorders exceeds that of cancer and cardiovascular disease combined. These facts are not meant to diminish the gravity of other diseases. Rather they underscore the pervasiveness and nature of brain disorders.
While some brain diseases respond to treatment, there are no cures at the present time. People with a brain disorder may live for a long time with certain conditions, or with other conditions, they will slowly degenerate and lose function before dying. The resulting economic burden in Canada is estimated at $60 billion, or about 38% of the total burden of disease.
