• OBI positions Ontario at the center of the global brain economy, partnering at World Economic Forum's Brain House and co-authoring G7 concept note that supported Canada's Brain Economy Declaration
  • The CfA collaborated with a number of national programs supporting the training of 190 next generation neuro data scientists via scholarship programs, summer school training opportunities, analytics initiatives, as well as data challenges.
  • Local impact drives global reach, as OBI's collaborative approach breaks down silos between research, clinical care, policy, and investment to establish Ontario as a leader in brain health innovation worldwide

The Ontario Brain Institute has proven that leading globally and acting locally aren't competing priorities – they're complementary strategies. By building world-class research capacity at home and taking those breakthroughs to the global stage, OBI has established Ontario as a global leader in brain health research, commercialization, and care.

Building on this recognition, the brain economy has further gained global traction as a strategic lens for policy and growth. Defined by the McKinsey Health Institute as "a resilient, thriving economic system, fueled by healthy brains to meet the growing societal demand for brain capital," the concept of brain economy positions brain health as both a public health priority and a key driver of economic strategy.

OBI's greatest impact is actioning transdisciplinary innovation in brain health.

Dr. Harris Eyre, a physician, neuroscientist, and entrepreneur advancing the brain economy

As Dr. Eyre observes, Ontario leads this transformation: "The team at OBI really breaks down the silos between basic science, clinical science, trials, public health, advocacy, policy and investing. OBI is a beacon of hope for this kind of silo smashing and alchemy."

The 2024-25 year was pivotal in this journey, where Ontario's local excellence was recognized and invited to lead global conversations about the future of brain health.

Advancing Ontario's leadership in brain health research

Ontario's neuroscience leadership is built on a strong foundation, where OBI has facilitated over 70 clinical trials through its Integrated Discovery Programs, spanning neurological conditions from autism and cerebral palsy to concussion and depression.

Two major trials exemplify OBI's collaborative approach. The Province of Ontario Neurodevelopmental Disorders (POND) Network's CALM Study is investigating whether sertraline can effectively reduce anxiety in children with neurodevelopmental conditions through a multi-site trial across Canada. Meanwhile, the Canadian Biomarker Integration Network in Depression’s OPTIMUM-D trial examines how genetic biomarkers and neural activity can predict treatment outcomes in patients with depression. Both trials integrate clinical, imaging, and molecular data through Brain-CODE, OBI's neuroinformatics platform, enabling comprehensive analysis and supporting future international research.

"It's been very exciting to be involved with the Ontario Brain Institute over the past 10+ years," said Dr. Azadeh Kushki, a Senior Scientist at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital involved with OBI’s POND Network. "What's been really amazing is the opportunities for partnerships. As an engineer, I found it meaningful to partner with families and clinicians to understand the context of our data and what's actually meaningful to advance care for individuals with brain conditions."

Taking Ontario's expertise to the global stage

Ontario's neuroscience expertise has gained worldwide recognition through strategic partnerships and thought leadership initiatives.

Advocating for the brain economy: OBI partnered in the Brain House at the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in January 2025, part of an intensive effort by the Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative to accelerate a global brain movement. Through an exclusive working group that included the Milken Institute, Roche, EIT Health, and the European Brain Council, OBI helped drive the agenda forward.

The Ontario Brain Institute brings institutions together through partnerships that combine talent, data, and resources into a common goal. Ultimately, OBI is un-siloing institutions, diseases, human capital, and data – all at the same time.

Dr. Cara Altimus, Managing Director of the Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration at the Milken Institute

Following Davos, Dr. Tom Mikkelsen, OBI's President and Scientific Director co-authored a concept note with the Canadian Brain Research Strategy and international partners on brain capital and its relevance to the G7 agenda. This work supported the Canadian Brain Economy Declaration, released in June at Calgary's Brain Economy Summit.

Advancing data innovation

In a brain health economy, data is the currency that drives the economic engine. This past spring, OBI's Brain-CODE platform was cited in a Canadian Science Policy Centre publication as a prime example of digital infrastructure acting as an "innovation backbone" for secure, interoperable data systems. At the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society conference, OBI team members laid the groundwork for partnerships on federated learning and AI model building.

"Leveraging health data with advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning will allow us to come up with precision health – the right treatment for the right patient at the right time," said Dr. Roger Zemek, a Senior Scientist at the CHEO Research Institute and lead of TRANSCENDENT, OBI's concussion research program. "That's going to allow us to tailor treatment for each person and exactly what they need."

This vision of precision health represents exactly what Ontario's global leadership in brain health is designed to achieve. "Ontario's leadership demonstrates that you don't have to choose between local impact and global reach – they actually reinforce each other," said OBI President Dr. Mikkelsen. "We've brought together the province's exceptional research capacity, connected our communities to cutting-edge care, and created platforms that enable researchers worldwide to collaborate. We're not just improving lives in Ontario – we're creating the innovations that position our province at the center of the global brain economy. We lead the world by first serving our communities exceptionally well."

Through innovative partnerships and cutting-edge platforms, OBI has positioned the province not just as a participant in the global conversation, but as the place where the future of brain health is being written.

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