Saskatchewan Funding Results of the 2025 Alzheimer Society Research Program

Each year, the Alzheimer Society Research Program funds dementia researchers across Canada, with a common goal of changing the future of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. In 2025, they awarded over $5.1 million to 37 researchers nationally.

SHRF is proud to partner on the Alzheimer Society Research Program (ASRP) to fund world class dementia research in Saskatchewan. SHRF partnership is available through the ARSP Doctoral and Postdoctoral Awards and Proof of Concept Grants, and the ASRP also offers New Investigator Grants. 

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This year, two Saskatchewan researchers achieved funding for their work into treatment and care of those living with Alzheimer’s disease.

John Howland received a SHRF-Alzheimer Society Partnership Proof of Concept Grant and SHRF Establishment Grant recipient Julia Kosteniuk received a CIHR-Alzheimer Society New Investigator Grant.

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Funding Recipients:

Dr. John Howland, University of Saskatchewan

Co-funded by Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation

Title: Alzheimer's disease-related cognition and dendritic spine morphology and function in a novel tau knockout rat.

Award/Grant: Proof of Concept Grant

The connections between neurons known as synapses weaken and are eventually lost in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Abnormalities of a protein called tau are associated with these changes and ultimately the cognitive impairments in AD. Consequently, tau-lowering approaches are being explored by the pharmaceutical industry for the treatment of AD. The goal of our study is to establish if eliminating the tau protein protects against synapse loss and cognitive impairments in a rat model. Specifically, we will test how age and sex are involved in synaptic pathologies in this model given the importance of these factors in the etiology of AD.

Dr. Julie Kosteniuk, University of Saskatchewan

Funded by Canadian Institutes of Health Research 

Title: Adapting and Evaluating a Rural Home-Based Virtual Primary Care Memory Clinic Model.

Award/Grant: New Investigator Grant

In-home virtual dementia care has been shown to address barriers to clinic-based visits, including travel, mobility limitations, and behavioural changes. However, rural older adults who do not have in-person support may face obstacles to this type of care. This study aims to increase access to dementia diagnosis and post-diagnostic support for rural persons by adapting an established in-person primary care memory clinic model to a home-based virtual model. In-person technical support will be provided. Acceptability and effectiveness of the model will be improved based on feedback from patients, caregivers, and memory clinic teams. Changes in patient and caregiver outcomes between baseline and follow-up will be evaluated, and team experiences examined. This research may inform ways to increase accessibility to primary care memory clinics and reduce travel for people living in rural areas. 

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All the 2025 Alzheimer Society Research Program recipients are posted at https://alzheimer.ca/en/research/alzheimer-society-research-program/latest-funding-results