Public
Policy

NeuroScience Canada is leading an effort to create a coalition of neuroscience stakeholder groups that will speak with “one voice” to governments, media and the general public about the incidence and impact of brain and nervous system disorders. We want to send a shared message about the need for governments and private donors to increase funding for research aimed at alleviating this burden. While our primary focus and commitment is to support research directly, our experience has shown that neuroscience disorders, which have a greater economic impact than cancer or cardiac illnesses, are much less well understood by key decision-makers and by the public. We are working with our many partners to remedy this situation.

NeuroScience Canada is a founding member of the “Neurological Health Charities Canada” (NHCC) coalition. It is a working group of organizations that represent people with chronic neurological diseases, disorders and injuries in Canada that aim to improve the quality of life of all persons with chronic neurological disorders and their caregivers. The other founding members are: ALS Society of Canada, Alzheimer Society of Canada, Epilepsy Ontario, Huntington Society of Canada, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, Muscular Dystrophy of Canada, Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy, Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation, Parkinson Society Canada, Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus Association of Ontario, and Tourette Syndome Foundation of Canada.

Announcements related to NHCC

June 5, 2009
Government of Canada Announces First-ever National Study on Neurological Diseases (photo)

June 5 2009
Health Charities Applaud Government of Canada's Research Investment in Neurological Conditions

June 2, 2008
Neurological Health Charities Canada is launched in Ottawa. This is a grouping of Voluntary Health Organization working together to improve the lives..

October 10,2008
Prime Minister Harper promises funding for a major study on neurological diseases.
http://www.neurosci_neurosciencecanada.ca/files/NHCC_letter_to_editor.doc

Our major funder for our coalition-building and awareness-raising activities is the Max Bell Foundation. We also received funding from the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) through the Canadian Association for Neuroscience (CAN).