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Weston Family Foundation - Rapid Response Program
Seed funding for biomarker translation research
Last Update: May 15, 2026
Funding available
$ 300,000
Timeline
- Open continuously
Location
Canada
Overview
This program provides up to $300,000 over 18 to 24 months to support early-stage translational research on biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases of aging. It funds projects focused on biomarker validation to clinical implementation, including biological, functional, and digital biomarkers.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop a new product or service
- Conduct research and development activities
- Strengthen organizational capacity
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 300,000 $
Timeline
- Open continuously
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Research
Target groups
- All the groups
Revenue structures
- 100% donations / grants
Scope
- Provincial
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Translational research to validate biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases of aging.
- Development of biological, functional, and digital biomarkers.
- Work supporting clinical implementation of biomarkers for early detection, diagnosis, prognosis, monitoring, or disease staging.
- Research aimed at moving biomarkers from validation onward toward clinical use.
Documents Needed
- Letter of Intent
- Full Proposal
- Preliminary data PDF
- List of publications cited with PMID
- Relevant institutional signatures at proposal stage
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Canadian CRA-qualified donee institutions
- Canadian non-qualified donee organizations
- Researchers affiliated with eligible Canadian institutions
- Collaborators based outside Canada
- Academic and research institutions involved in biomarker research
Who is not eligible
- Organizations that are not based in Canada
- Applicants who do not meet the principal applicant role requirements
- Projects focused only on biomarker discovery or basic research
- Projects centered solely on brain imaging biomarkers
- Lifestyle-only research projects
Eligible expenses
- Project costs directly tied to the research work.
- Start-up costs such as REB submissions and reagent purchases.
- Selected goods and services procured outside Canada, where needed.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Overhead costs
- Operating expenses
- Capacity building
- Contingency reserves
- Large equipment purchases without prior written approval
- Basic discovery research and biomarker discovery only
- Brain imaging biomarkers as the sole focus
- Lifestyle-only projects
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
Selection criteria
- Eligibility of the principal applicant.
- Fit with the program’s scope and funding priorities.
- Innovation and scientific merit of the biomarker approach.
- Potential impact on biomarker development and clinical use.
- Feasibility, methodology, milestones, timeline, budget, and scalability.
How to apply
- Step 1: Review program details
- Check the program scope, eligibility requirements, and review criteria.
- Attend or review the information webinars if needed.
- Step 2: Submit the Letter of Intent
- Complete the LOI online through the Foundation’s grant management system.
- Submit by the LOI deadline.
- Step 3: Respond to review questions if requested
- Answer any follow-up questions from the review committee by the stated deadline.
- Step 4: Submit the full proposal if invited
- Prepare the full proposal and include required institutional signatures.
- Upload and submit the proposal through the Foundation’s system.
- Step 5: Sign the agreement if selected
- Review and sign the grant agreement within four weeks of notification.
Processing and Agreement
- LOIs are reviewed internally by the Foundation, with expert advisors consulted as needed.
- Eligible LOIs may be invited to submit a full proposal.
- Full proposals are reviewed by an international panel of subject experts.
- Selected applicants must sign the grant agreement within four weeks of notification.
- The Foundation may request additional information during review before making a final decision.
Additional information
- Applicants may appear as co-applicants or collaborators on any number of applications.
- Current or past Foundation grantees may also apply.
- The Foundation may request additional questions during review.
- Applicants are encouraged to discuss project fit with the Foundation before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Weston Family Foundation - Rapid Response Program Program
What is the Weston Family Foundation - Rapid Response Program?
This program provides up to $300,000 over 18 to 24 months to support early-stage translational research on biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases of aging. It funds projects focused on biomarker validation to clinical implementation, including biological, functional, and digital biomarkers.
How much funding can be received?
Weston Family Foundation - Rapid Response Program Funds up to $300,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Weston Family Foundation - Rapid Response Program program?
To be eligible for the Weston Family Foundation - Rapid Response Program program, you must:
Principal applicant based in Canada
Assistant Professor level or equivalent
CRA-qualified donee or non-qualified donee organization
What expenses are eligible under Weston Family Foundation - Rapid Response Program?
Translational research to validate biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases of aging.
Development of biological, functional, and digital biomarkers.
Work supporting clinical implementation of biomarkers for early detection, diagnosis, prognosis, monitoring, or disease staging.
Research aimed at moving biomarkers from validation onward toward clinical use.
Who can I contact for more information about the Weston Family Foundation - Rapid Response Program?
You can contact The W. Garfield Weston Foundation (WFF).
Where is the Weston Family Foundation - Rapid Response Program available?
The Weston Family Foundation - Rapid Response Program program is available across Canada.
Is the Weston Family Foundation - Rapid Response Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Weston Family Foundation - Rapid Response Program is a Grant and Funding