Ontario Brain Institute and its Partner Institutions confirm $37.5 million in renewed funding to provide better treatment of Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, and Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

• Part of OBI's multi- million dollar research programs encouraging collaboration among all parties associated with a particular brain disorder or group of brain disorders.
• Five-year programs brings together hundreds of  researchers, dozens of  universities and hospitals, 31 companies, 19 patient advocacy groups and over 4,000 patients.

TORONTO, April 3, 2014 /CNW/ - The Ontario Brian Institute has received a five-year commitment from the Province of Ontario to encourage, reward, and catalyze stronger collaboration and new ways of thinking around some of the most pervasive brain disorders of our time.

The three renewed programs are:

• POND Network – The Province of Ontario Neurodevelopmental Disorders Integrated Discovery Program -- $18.75 million over 5 years

"We are learning through the POND Network that many of the genetic and brain changes in autism, ADHD, OCD and intellectual disability are shared between the disorders. Support from OBI puts us in a unique position to look at these disorders from the perspective of a continuum, and develop therapies unique to the individual," says Dr. Evdokia Anagnostou, Program Lead for the POND Network.

• CP-NET – The Cerebral Palsy Network Integrated Discovery Program -- $7.5 million over 5 years

"CP-NET is focused on improving the lives of individuals with cerebral palsy and their families by connecting them to a network of world-renowned researchers across Ontario. The ongoing support of OBI allows us to expand our network and broaden our impact for those living with cerebral palsy through new lines of research inquiry and innovative treatments," says Dr. Darcy Fehlings, Program Lead for CP-NET.

• EpLink – The Epilepsy Integrated Discovery Program -- $11.25 million over 5 years

"The EpLink program is allowing us to do the work necessary to answer questions about epilepsy that we encounter in clinical practice, or questions from patients which we currently cannot answer. The continuation of EpLink through OBI facilitates research into these areas and will position Ontario as a world leader in epilepsy research and care," says Dr. Jorge Burneo, Program Co-Lead for EpLink.

The OBI works with institutions to fund platforms for discovery where OBI contributes 2/3, and its hospital and university partners contribute the remaining 1/3 of the total program costs. These partner contributions strengthen partnerships and provide increased resources to enhance the scope of the research programs. 

Brain disorders affect millions of Ontarians and the need to accelerate the pace of discovery and commercialization of treatments is urgent. OBI has brought together diverse groups of experts including researchers, physicians, industry representatives, patients and their advocates.

"Through early engagement of industry, commercialization of the research outcomes becomes a priority as opposed to an afterthought. By engaging clinicians and patient advocacy groups, patient needs are placed at the centre of cutting-edge research in an effort to improve their care. Science has learned that inspiration is a function of collaboration and that new answers come from both new perspectives and new people at the table," s­­­ays Dr. Donald Stuss, President and Scientific Director of the Ontario Brain Institute.

Details on the three programs may be found at: http://www.braininstitute.ca/research

The Ontario Brain Institute is a provincially‐funded, not‐for‐profit research centre seeking to maximize the impact of neuroscience and establish Ontario as a world leader in brain discovery, commercialization and care. The OBI creates convergent partnerships between researchers, clinicians, industry, patients, and their advocates to foster discovery and deliver innovative products and services that improve the lives of those living with brain disorders.

SOURCE: Ontario Brain Institute

To interview Dr. Donald Stuss or program researchers, please contact: Michelle Wilson, MSc, Communications Lead, Ontario Brain Institute, 438 University Ave, Suite 1618, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2K8, Office: [phone], Fax: [phone], Email: [email protected]; Jordan Antflick, PhD, Senior Outreach Lead, Ontario Brain Institute, 438 University Ave, Suite 1618, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2K8, Office: [phone], Mobile: [phone], Fax: [phone], Email: [email protected]