Print This Post
The field of applied dementia research has grown significantly over the past decade, thanks to targeted funding and strategic capacity-building initiatives. However, ensuring a sustainable and thriving research workforce requires ongoing investment and long-term career development opportunities.
A new report, “Mapping Career Development Opportunities in Applied Dementia Research,” commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and led by NIHR ARC Wessex, offers a comprehensive overview of career pathways in applied dementia research in England, highlighting key achievements and ongoing challenges.
Key Findings: Progress and Gaps
The report authored by Dr Sarah Fearn & Professor Cathy Murphy, recognises the significant progress made in attracting early career researchers (ECRs) to applied dementia research. Initiatives such as the Dem-Comm Programme, the Three Schools’ Dementia Research Programme, and more recently Dementia Network Plus have successfully expanded opportunities for those entering the field.
However, challenges remain:
- A shortage of mid-career (MCRs) and senior researchers (SCRs): While early-stage funding has encouraged new researchers, there is a relative lack of structured support for those at mid-career and leadership levels.
- Retention issues in the workforce: Many ECRs have entered the field from other disciplines and may return to their original research areas when dementia-specific funding ends.
- Barriers for health and social care professionals: Those working in clinical or social care settings often struggle to balance research with practice, leading to difficulties in recruitment and retention.
- Limited funding continuity: Many researchers experience uncertainty over their next steps due to the unpredictable nature of funding opportunities.
- Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) concerns: The applied dementia research workforce is predominantly female, with underrepresentation of certain ethnic and socioeconomic groups.
Recommendations: Building a Sustainable Future
To address these challenges, the report puts forward several key recommendations:
- Expand Funding for Mid- and Senior-Level Researchers: To avoid a bottleneck where ECRs struggle to progress, funders should create dedicated schemes for MCRs and SCRs, ensuring long-term career pathways. Other funders could also consider a focus on applied research.
- Enhance Support for Health and Social Care Professionals: Greater collaboration between funders and healthcare institutions is needed to improve research opportunities for clinicians, allied health professionals, and social care practitioners.
- Strengthen Training, Mentorship, and Leadership Development: ECRs require structured support in leadership skills, grant writing, and transitioning to principal investigator (PI) roles.
- Increase Knowledge Mobilisation Training: Applied dementia researchers must be equipped with the skills to ensure their research translates into real-world impact.
- Promote Greater Diversity and Inclusion: Funders should ensure career development opportunities are geographically and demographically inclusive, reducing barriers for underrepresented groups.
Why This Matters
With an ageing population and increasing dementia prevalence, applied dementia research is critical to improving care, treatment, and support for those affected. The findings of this report serve as both a progress marker and a call to action—ensuring that the talent and expertise cultivated in recent years is retained, developed, and given the resources to drive meaningful change.
As we look ahead, collaboration between funders, policymakers, and researchers will be key to strengthening the career pipeline and securing the future of applied dementia research.
📢 Join Our Upcoming Livestream!
Dementia Researcher will be hosting a livestream with the authors of the report, where they will present key findings and take your questions. The session will also feature researchers sharing insights on career pathways and the wider research landscape.
📅 24th April 2025 – 12.00pm BST – Set a Reminder / Watch on YouTube
Mapping career development opportunities in applied dementia research - Report 30th September 2024
NIHR