Robarts researcher shares in $1 million research training fund

Cornelia Walther, a postdoctoral fellow in Stephen Ferguson's laboratory at Robarts Research Institute is one of seven young researchers who'll receive funding as part of the Bell Mental Health Research Training Awards sponsored by Bell Let's Talk and the Canada Brain Research Fund. The $1 million fund is designed to promote the most talented next-generation of Canadian mental health researchers by providing them with guidance, mentorship and training under the direction of world-leading researchers.

The Training Awards will provide four research studentships valued at $30,000 per year for three years and three postdoctoral fellowships valued at $50,000 per year for three years (each award includes an additional $5,000 per year career development supplement). Recipients were selected through a nation-wide open competition with rigorous Canadian and international review.

The Bell Mental Health Training Awards are made possible by Bell's $500,000 contribution to the fund being matched by the Government of Canada for a total of $1 million through this program. "Brain Canada is delighted to be partnering with Bell on the Mental Health Research Training Awards, to provide some of our most talented young scientists with high-quality research training in Canadian labs. Bell's leadership in mental health is unprecedented in this country-reducing the stigma associated with these disorders, and supporting world-class research and care programs," said Inez Jabalpurwala, President of Brain Canada.

"I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to all the award recipients," said Clara Hughes, Canada's six-time Olympic medallist and national spokesperson for Bell Let's Talk. "This is an important milestone in our campaign to increase both awareness of mental health and understanding of mental illness."