New funding announced to support future dementia research
pharmafile | July 8, 2022 | News story | Medical Communications |
The NIHR has introduced £11.8 million in funding for promising early career researchers to pursue dementia research. The institute, working in collaboration with Alzheimer’s Society, has announced new funding to strengthen capacity and capability in dementia health and care research across the NIHR Applied Research Collaborations (ARCs).
In addition, the three NIHR research schools – in primary care, public health and social care – have also funded a number of dementia career development awards and projects to encourage new and developing dementia researchers to lead studies.
Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Executive of the NIHR, said: “We want to improve the lives of people with dementia, and those caring for them, through innovative research that tackles a range of challenges around this disease.
“This new funding taps into the up-and-coming talent in the NIHR ecosystem, supporting fledgling dementia researchers from a range of disciplines to become the chief investigators of the future and building a solid foundation for the next decades of dementia research.”
Dr Richard Oakley, Associate Director of Research at Alzheimer’s Society, commented: “Dementia can be devastating for many, and we estimate that 1 million people in the UK will have the condition by 2025. Research provides hope by helping us better understand the causes of dementia as well as developing effective treatments and improved diagnostic techniques, so people with the condition can access the support they need to live well.
“Early career researchers represent the lifeblood of dementia research, bringing fresh ideas and perspectives. We’re investing in the careers of the future leaders in dementia research in partnership with the NIHR on this training programme so we can unlock the dementia breakthroughs of the future.”
Professor Martin Knapp, Director of NIHR SSCR, said: “Every one of these research projects and career development awards spans at least two of the NIHR research school ‘territories’ – social care, primary care and public health – and address NIHR priorities in the dementia area. These are areas where research could have real impact on the health and wellbeing of people living with, or at risk of dementia and of carers.
Ana Ovey
