Approximately 10 per cent of children and youth in Canada have a neurodevelopmental disability such as autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. While early identification approaches, interventions and supports for families are being developed at a rapid pace, many do not reach those who need them most. Kids Brain Health Network (KBHN) exists to catalyze the implementation of tangible solutions for children and families.

Brain Canada supports research across all areas of brain health and is committed to advancing projects that improve the lives of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families.

To further the network’s mission, KBHN, with the support of Brain Canada, launched the inaugural Innovation and Implementation Programs competition to fund the growth of promising initiatives in neurodevelopmental disabilities.

“Since 2024, we have shifted our focus on expanding access to programs, services and technologies that directly benefit thousands of children in Canada and worldwide,” said Geoff Pradella, CEO, KBHN. “A significant step in moving towards implementation, spread and scale of practical solutions is funding projects that align with our mission and cultivating partnerships to support this goal.”

A leading national convenor of those who support and advance brain research, Brain Canada is pleased to partner with KBHN on this initiative.

“By investing in research focused on early intervention and family-centered care, we are ensuring that the latest scientific discoveries lead to real-world impact," said Dr. Viviane Poupon, president and CEO, Brain Canada.

Expanding early autism supports through Social ABCs

One of the projects funded is Scaling Access to Early Supports for Toddlers with Emerging Autism or Related Social-Communication Challenges, led by Dr. Jessica Brian, psychologist and senior clinician scientist at the Bloorview Research Institute (BRI). This project aims to scale and sustain access to Social ABCs, a parent-led intervention for toddlers aged 12 to 42 months with early signs of autism or social communication challenges. The funding will extend the reach of the program through new provincial partnerships, expanded service pathways and training additional providers. It will also support integration into community settings, ensuring families can access support earlier—without needing a formal diagnosis. 

The project also includes contributions from Dr. Sarah Munce, an implementation scientist at the BRI, who is serving as a co-investigator and supporting project design, analysis, interpretation and knowledge mobilization. Sharon Wong, director of commercialization, is providing strategic guidance on implementation planning and scale-up feasibility, and helping identify dissemination pathways and industry collaborations.

"The Social ABCs program is about empowering caregivers to support their toddler’s development as early as possible," said Dr. Brian. "By integrating Social ABCs into existing early intervention systems, we’re aiming to increase the number of trained Social ABCs coaches in the community. This will ensure that families, including those who have more difficulty accessing diagnostic services, will have access to such supports during the most critical stages of development."

Advancing accessible fitness with Liberi Exergames

Another project is Towards Market Readiness: Liberi Exergames – A Pedal-to-Play Exergame System for Children/Youth with Physical Disabilities and Developmental Disorders, led by Dr. Darcy Fehlings, developmental pediatrician and senior clinician scientist at the BRI. The project will support refinement and pilot implementation of Liberi Exergames—a recumbent bike-powered multiplayer video game that supports physical activity and social inclusion for children and youth with physical disabilities. This investment will help redesign the hardware for greater accessibility, streamline the software and test the system in clinical and community settings.

The Liberi team also includes Dr. Munce, who is co-leading the project and applying implementation science frameworks to evaluate real-world strategies. Wong is supporting business strategy, product development and industry engagement to help bring the Liberi system closer to market readiness. Dr. Nicholas Graham, co-investigator and professor at Queen’s University, is leading software development. The project is also supported by Queen’s Partnerships and Innovations for commercialization activities and Canadian Tire, a key partner contributing to inclusive innovation and national community reach.

"Liberi empowers kids with disabilities to move, play, and connect—all through a fun, engaging exergaming system," said Dr. Fehlings. "This investment brings us one step closer to real-world implementation, giving more children the opportunity to benefit from accessible physical activity."

Moving science to action

The KBHN Innovation and Implementation Programs are made possible through the support of the Strategic Science Fund. Under the mandate of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, KBHN is advancing initiatives to help ensure that all children with neurodevelopmental disabilities live their best lives.

Supporting science-driven solutions reflects the federal government’s commitment to improving health and well-being. The rigorous and merit-based process for awarding the Strategic Science Fund to organizations, including KBHN, ensures that Canada remains a leader in innovation and new technologies, according to a news release announcing the results.

KBHN’s call for proposals, backed by an investment of over $2 million, attracted 28 strong submissions from across the country. Following a competitive review process, KBHN awarded funding to transformative projects, matched by nearly $6.5 million in combined investments from Canadian businesses, institutions, philanthropy and provincial governments to support children with neurodevelopmental disabilities.

An independent Programs Advisory Committee with expertise spanning academia, lived experience, clinical practice, and business evaluated the proposals.

“Including individuals with lived experience as equal members in the review process, and at all levels of the planning, decision-making, implementation and evaluation processes, is critical to support implementation-ready, high-impact work,” said Michelle Wan, KBHN committee member and mother of a child with medical complexities.

The successfully funded projects are collaborating with organizations in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan and Yukon.

“We are very excited to move forward with the project and partner teams. The committee received high-calibre proposals that reflect a broad range of expertise and innovation, which made it challenging to narrow down the ones to be funded within this call," said Dr. Jennifer Zwicker, KBHN chief scientist, who also holds the Canada Research Chair in Disability Policy for Children and Youth. "KBHN remains committed to leading initiatives with partner organizations that support the scale and spread of interventions and innovations to help more children and their families.”

Through its latest investment, alongside organizational partners, KBHN will extend the reach of innovations, programs, and services to benefit more children and youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities in Canada and beyond.