Honouring lives, advancing research: Introducing the 2026 Special Awards

The Brain Foundation is proud to introduce five named grants, each tied to a specific neurological condition and named in honour of a loved one touched by the disease. 

For more than 55 years, the Brain Foundation has been funding Australian researchers working to improve the lives of people affected by brain conditions. This year, we’re expanding that commitment with the launch of the  Special Awards Program – five grants, each named after someone whose life was touched by a neurological condition, and made possible by the families, friends and communities who loved them. 

“These awards are deeply personal,” said Brain Foundation CEO Beata Roman. “Each one carries a name, a story and a lasting legacy. They represent families who have turned grief, love or hope into something that will help drive future discoveries and give others a better chance.”

The 2026 Special Awards

Andrew and Greg Bell Grant for Muscular Dystrophy Research
Up to $50,000 to support a researcher dedicated to advancing our understanding of muscular dystrophy – a group of genetic disorders that cause muscles to get weak and waste over time.

Jocelyn Ann Hawkins Grant for Migraine and Headache Research
Established in memory of Dr Max Henry Williams
Up to $40,000 to support new research into migraine and headache disorders – conditions that affect millions of Australians yet remain under-researched and often misunderstood.
Made possible through a generous bequest from the Estate of Jocelyn Ann Hawkins, this award honours Jocelyn’s wishes to support migraine and headache research in memory of Dr Max Henry Williams. 

Darren (Muddy) Laycock Grant for AVM Research
Up to $40,000 for research into arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) – rare but potentially life-threatening tangles of blood vessels in the brain.
Named in honour of Darren “Muddy” Laycock, a beloved father, son, friend and community hero who died suddenly at the age of 55 following a ruptured AVM. Read Darren’s story.

Fishing for Kyan Grant for Aneurysm Research
Up to $40,000 to fund research into cerebral aneurysms, which can rupture without warning and cause devastating brain injury.
The award honours Kyan Armstrong, who was just 15 years old when he passed away due to a ruptured brain aneurysm. Read Kyan’s story.

The Sandy Richards Grant for Acoustic Neuroma Research
Up to $40,000 for research into acoustic neuroma, a non-cancerous tumour that can cause hearing loss, balance problems and other serious symptoms.
Named in honour of Sandy Richards, who lived with acoustic neuroma, and her family’s generous support.

Building a lasting legacy 

For the families, friends and communities behind these awards, the Special Awards Program is a lasting legacy. It transforms personal loss into research that could improve the lives of people living with neurological conditions for generations to come. 

The Brain Foundation Research Grants Program not only funds innovative research, but also helps nurture the next generation of Australian neuroscience researchers. Supporting Early and Mid-Career Researchers (EMCRs) is a key part of the program, enabling emerging scientists to establish their careers and develop ongoing programs of research.

The Special Awards sit alongside the Brain Foundation’s broader grants program, which continues to fund research across all neurological conditions – from Alzheimer’s and epilepsy to stroke, Parkinson’s and beyond. Together, these grants support both groundbreaking research and the researchers who will drive future discoveries.

Established in 1970 by an eminent group of neurologists and neurosurgeons, the Brain Foundation remains dedicated to funding brain research in Australia.

Successful applicants will be notified in September, with the 2026 recipients announced publicly at our Research Grants Award Evening in October. Sign up to our newsletter or follow us on social media to stay up to date. 

To learn more about the Brain Foundation’s work, or to support future research, please consider making a donation. Every contribution helps advance vital research that changes lives.