Weston Family Foundation: Rapid Response 2026: Biomarkers Program
This program is currently closed. The details below reflect the previous call and are for general information purposes only.
Sponsor’s Website
Visit the Weston Family Foundation website for more information on the Rapid Response 2026: Biomarkers program.
Internal Contacts
Katie Harriman: katie.harriman@carleton.ca
Potential applicants are also encouraged to discuss this opportunity with their Faculty Research Facilitator.
Deadlines
| Deadline | Date |
|---|---|
| Faculty deadline | Consult your Faculty Research Facilitator |
| Internal cuResearch Approval Form | March 10, 2026 |
| Submission of Letter of Intent (LOI) | March 17, 2026 by 2:00 p.m. (ET) |
| Submission of application to the Weston Family Foundation (by invitation) | August 4, 2026 |
| Notification of decision | November 2026 |
Overview
The Weston Family Foundation, through the Weston Brain Institute, has launched the Rapid Response 2026 – Biomarkers program to provide early‑stage seed funding for high‑risk, high‑reward translational research. The program aims to accelerate the validation to clinical implementation of biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases of aging (NDAs), including dementia.
Supported projects must focus on applied or translational research that moves biomarkers beyond discovery and toward real‑world use. The program prioritizes biomarker approaches that address unmet needs in diagnosis, disease staging, prognosis, monitoring of disease progression and differentiation of NDAs, with an emphasis on scalability, accessibility and feasibility across diverse care settings.
Value and Duration
Up to $300,000 per project over 18 to 24 months.
Eligibility
Projects must be supported by preliminary data generated by the applicant team.
Principle applicants must be at or above the level of assistant professor.
Information Session
The Weston Family Foundation is hosting an online information webinar for prospective applicants. The session will provide an overview of the Rapid Response 2026 – Biomarkers program, including its scope, objectives, eligibility criteria and application process.
Date: February 17, 2026
Time: 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. (ET)
Format: Virtual (registration required)
Submitting Your Application
The application process consists of two stages:
- LOI
- Full application (by invitation)
The LOI should clearly describe the project rationale, scientific approach, feasibility, team expertise and the pathway toward clinical implementation.
Only those who successfully pass both the LOI review and an internal diligence review by the Foundation will be invited to submit a full proposal.
External Submission Steps
- Submit an internal Approval Form through our central awards management database cuResearch. Consult the user’s manual for guidance.
- Submit an external application to the Weston Family Foundation through their online portal.