Bell And Brain Canada Announce $1 Million Research Training Fund

• Bell Mental Health Research Training Awards to support 7 young researchers for 3 years
• Funding provided by Bell Let's Talk and the Canada Brain Research Fund

MONTRÉAL, Feb. 8, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Bell and Brain Canada are pleased to announce a new partnership in support of brain research in Canada - the Bell Mental Health Research Training Awards.

The Training Awards are designed to promote the most talented next-generation of Canadian mental health researchers by providing them with guidance, mentorship and training under the direction of world-leading researchers. A significant investment in Canada's most promising researchers, these funds will accelerate their progress and contribution to our understanding of the brain.

" Brain Canada is delighted to be partnering with Bell on the Mental Health Research Training Awards, to provide some of our most talented young scientists with high-quality research training in Canadian labs.  Bell's leadership in mental health is unprecedented in this country--reducing the stigma associated with these disorders, and supporting world-class research and care programs," said Inez Jabalpurwala, President of Brain Canada.

Brain Canada's goal is to build on Canada's excellence and leadership in the field of neuroscience, supporting the most promising areas of brain research. Advances in mental health research are leading to better prevention strategies, new treatments, technologies and improved healthcare and social support services that will have a fundamental impact on the health and well-being of millions of Canadians.

"I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to all the award recipients," said Clara Hughes, Canada's six-time Olympic medallist and national spokesperson for Bell Let's Talk. "This is an important milestone in our campaign to increase both awareness of mental health and understanding of mental illness."

In 2011, the Government of Canada committed up to $100 million to establish the Canada Brain Research Fund. The fund supports research programs that are considered to be critical to advancing brain research with a dollar-for-dollar match of funds raised by Brain Canada from private sources over the next five years.

The Bell Mental Health Training Awards are made possible by Bell's $500,000 contribution to the fund being matched by the Government of Canada for a total of $1 million through this program.

"Through the Canadian Brain Research Fund, the Government of Canada is delivering on its commitment to support much needed research to improve the health and quality of life of Canadians suffering from brain disorders," said the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health. "I would like to thank Brain Canada and its partner, Bell Canada, for their on-going support of mental health and brain research. I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the funding recipients today. I wish them every success with their important work."

"Bell is proud to be supporting the next generation of brain research through the Bell Mental Health Research Training Awards," said Mary Deacon, Chair of the Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative. "Supporting research into mental illness is one of the action pillars of Bell Let's Talk and, in partnership with the Government of Canada, we are celebrating a significant milestone in our campaign to help people suffering with mental health issues."

The Training Awards will provide four research studentships valued at $30,000 per year for three years and three postdoctoral fellowships valued at $50,000 per year for three years (each award includes an additional $5,000 per year career development supplement). Recipients were selected through a nation-wide open competition with rigorous Canadian and international review.

The Bell Mental Health Training Awards recipients are:

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