Saskatchewan Funding in the 2026 Alzheimer Society Research Program
- Chelsea Cunningham for SHRF
- Jun 17
- 2 min read
Through research, Alzheimer Society Canada seeks to improve the quality of life of Canadians who are experiencing this terrible disease firsthand, including the discovery of new treatments and a cure for dementia. The Alzheimer Society Canada offers funding to innovative researchers nationally.
The Alzheimer Society Research Program funds dementia research through four award categories: Doctoral Award, Postdoctoral Award, New Investigator Grant and Proof of Concept Grant, in 8 priority areas: Care, Cause, Diagnosis, Epidemiology, Risk, Therapy, Translational and Treatment.
Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF) is proud to partner on the Alzheimer Society Canada Research Program to fund the exceptional dementia research community in Saskatchewan.
This year, Heather Alford in Saskatchewan has received a doctoral award for her work supporting nutrition in long-term care.
Funding Recipients:
Heather Alford (University of Saskatchewan)
Supervisor: Allison Cammer
Co-Designing a Family-Centred Guide to Support Nutrition and End-of-Life Dementia Care in Long-Term Care Settings
Award/Grant:Â Doctoral Award
Co-funded by Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation
As dementia progresses, people often experience challenges with eating and swallowing, especially near the end of life. Families and healthcare providers face difficult choices about nutrition care, often with little guidance or support. This research brings together families, staff, and community partners to co-design practical support resources for nutrition care in long-term care. These resources will help improve communication, reduce stress, and centre care around what matters most to the person living with dementia. The study will begin by learning from families and staff about their experiences, then move into collaborative workshops to design and refine the support resources together. By grounding the research in lived experience, the goal is to create meaningful, family-centred supports that help care teams navigate nutrition care with confidence, compassion, and connection.
All the 2026 Alzheimer Society Canada Research Program recipients are posted at https://alzheimer.ca/en/research/alzheimer-society-research-program/latest-funding-results.
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