Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Krembil Foundation

The Krembil Foundation is a private Canadian philanthropic foundation dedicated to advancing health and medical research through strategic grantmaking. Based on a long history of family philanthropy, the foundation focuses its resources on high-impact research that can transform understanding, diagnosis and treatment of serious brain and immune-mediated diseases.

The foundation is one of the largest private funders of neurodegeneration research in Canada. Its primary funding priorities are basic science projects that deepen knowledge of brain mechanisms and immune system pathways, especially in areas such as Alzheimer’s disease, other neurodegenerative disorders, psoriatic arthritis and related immune conditions. A smaller portion of its portfolio supports translational or preclinical work, including diagnostics, biomarkers, disease characterization and early-stage therapeutics.

Funding is directed to universities, research institutes, hospitals and other organizations that hold a Registered Charity Number under the Income Tax Act of Canada. Grants typically span two to five years, with flexibility to align the duration and budget with project requirements.

The Krembil Foundation uses a structured, relationship-based process rather than open competitions. Its research team actively scans the scientific landscape by engaging with researchers and institutions and by participating in conferences. When a project aligns with current interests, the foundation enters an Idea and Discussion phase to understand the science and its fit with strategic priorities.

Only after these stages does the foundation invite a formal proposal. Proposals are developed collaboratively, with guidance on milestones, timelines and budgets. Each opportunity is evaluated on a case-by-case basis and reviewed at multiple levels before being submitted to the board of directors for a funding decision. Approved projects move into grant management, where a grant agreement sets out expectations, reporting, milestones and conditions, and where ongoing dialogue with grantees is encouraged.

The foundation supports basic and translational researchers, clinician-scientists and research teams working within Canadian charitable institutions, with Ontario currently being the largest beneficiary while funding also reaches other parts of Canada. A public Grants Directory highlights active grantees and supported projects, including individual investigators and collaborative initiatives such as national research organizations.

Through long-term partnerships, the Krembil Foundation aims to support high-risk, high-reward projects that may not easily fit conventional funding models but hold strong potential to shift paradigms in neurodegeneration and immune-related disease research.

The Krembil Foundation was established in 1998 by Robert Krembil as a more focused and structured vehicle for the family’s philanthropy. In 2001, his son Mark Krembil became President and CEO, taking responsibility for day-to-day operations and strategic direction. The foundation is overseen by a board of directors and supported by a research and grants team, including a Scientific Director who leads the research portfolio and maintains relationships with key opinion leaders and institutions.