Heart & Stroke, in partnership with Brain Canada, has announced a $5 million national research initiative to enhance rehabilitation and recovery outcomes for women affected by heart-brain events such as stroke, heart attack, and cardiac arrest.
The newly established Research Network of Excellence in Women’s Heart and/or Brain Health will focus on addressing inequities that women face during their recovery journey. Research shows that women are less likely than men to receive timely referrals to rehabilitation programs, often experiencing delays or limited participation. These barriers are frequently intensified by social factors such as income, ethnicity, geography, disability, and caregiving responsibilities, which can all restrict access to appropriate and culturally sensitive care.
“Heart & Stroke is committed to working to transform the health system to ensure all women receive the care they need when it comes to their heart and brain health,” said Doug Roth, CEO, Heart & Stroke. “Thanks to the collaboration with our partners at Brain Canada, and through the generous support of our donors, we are able to bring a third research network to life, supporting women in their rehabilitation and recovery.”
This network builds upon two earlier projects, CaNCaM-Preg, led by Dr. Rohan D’Souza of McMaster University, and StrokeGoRed, headed by Dr. Amy Yu of the Sunnybrook Research Institute and the University of Toronto. Both initiatives have made strides in understanding women-specific risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment in heart-brain health.
“This latest initiative will ensure women receive care that reflects their unique experiences and needs,” said Viviane Poupon, President and CEO of Brain Canada Foundation. “Through our partnership with Heart & Stroke, we’re accelerating research that not only improves rehabilitation outcomes but transforms how women’s brain health is understood and supported in Canada.”
The $5 million funding, spread over five years, will support a Canada-wide collaboration of researchers. The initiative’s focus will be on improving accessibility to rehabilitation services through a comprehensive approach that considers physical, psychological, emotional, and social wellbeing.
Registration for funding applications opens today via Heart & Stroke’s website and closes on January 15, 2026, with final submissions due April 9, 2026.
This initiative is funded jointly by Heart & Stroke and the Canada Brain Research Fund (CBRF), a partnership between the Government of Canada (through Health Canada) and the Brain Canada Foundation.
About Heart & Stroke
Life. We don’t want you to miss it. That’s why Heart & Stroke has been leading the fight to beat heart disease and stroke for more than 70 years. We must generate the next medical breakthroughs, so Canadians don’t miss out on precious moments. Together, with the generous support of our donors, partners and volunteers we are working to prevent disease, save lives and promote recovery through research, health promotion and public policy.
About Brain Canada
Brain Canada plays a unique and invaluable role as a national convenor of those who support and advance brain research. A greater understanding of how the brain works contributes to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of disorders of the brain, ultimately improving the health outcomes of people in Canada and around the world. This project is made possible in part thanks to the Canada Brain Research Fund, an innovative arrangement between the Government of Canada, through Health Canada, and Brain Canada.
