
Alzheimer’s Society Corner
Alzheimer's Society is focusing on the future potential of dementia researchers and the impact they could have on the field of dementia research., We are the only UK dementia charity to fund across the spectrum of dementia research from basic biomedical through to clinical and care research, and at Alzheimer’s Society we believe that research will beat dementia, but until that happens, we will make sure that the 900,000 people living with dementia and their loved ones are given evidence-led support, in order to improve quality of life and independence after a dementia diagnosis.
We’ve set ourselves a bold ambition of becoming the best UK funder for early career researchers (ECRs). We’ve been funding ECRs since we started funding research 30 years ago, renewing our commitment in 2014 through our Dementia Research Leaders programme. ECRs are the future of dementia research and hold the key to a better world for people affected by dementia.
In our most recent grant round (2021/2022), Alzheimer's Society invested over £5 million into new dementia research and supported 39 ECRs. Despite the impact that ECRs are making in the dementia research landscape, without follow up funding there is a real risk that ECRs could be forced to leave dementia research entirely. With this in mind, we now offer one of the most competitive PhD studentships available to support with living costs, and we are one of the only funders in the UK to offer family and sick leave and pay to support our funded PhD students. We are providing career development opportunities for ECR’s through our new funding schemes, where ECRs can apply for smaller grants in their name, in order to build credibility and independence in their research.
Recent posts
Alzheimer’s Society Research Excellence & People Awards
Open for Nomations to recognise the contribution that early- and mid-career researchers make to dementia research and people affected by dementia.
What is a Clinical Research Fellow? Chris Lovegrove explains
Could 2023 be the year you find your path into research? Occupational Therapist Chris did, and you could too with NIHR & Alzheimer’s Society Calls opening soon
New APPG on Dementia Report
The UK All Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia has published a new report Workforce Matters: Putting people affected by dementia at the heart of care
Podcast – Whats new with Alzheimers Society Grants
Adam Smith talks with the Alzheimer’s Society Grants Team, sharing details on 10 brand new grants – PhDs, Fellowships, Clinicians, Careers & Projects
Dementia Action Week 2022
It’s Dementia Action Week and we have 3 simple things you can do to help – take action today it will only take 3 minutes.
Christine’s Story – Coping as a Carer
Christine talks about life as a Dementia Carer and finding the Support she needed – a new short film from Alzheimer’s Society reminding us why research is vital
Forefront Webinar Series – Person Centred Dementia Care
Dr Melanie Handley from University of Hertfordshire presents her Alzheimer’s Society funded research on providing Person Centred Care in Hospitals.
Forefront Webinar – Patient & Public Involvement in Research
Cherie Nyota talks with Alan Richardson about his experiences as an Alzheimer’s Society Research Network volunteer, and Public and Patient Involvement
Forefront Webinar – Brain Waste Disposal System & Dementia
Dr Gemma Lace from University of Salford presents her research into the brains waste disposal system and its connections to dementia.
Forefront Webinar – Academic Writing for Different Audiences
Dr Clare Jonas explores why “the public” doesn’t exist, and presents a five-step plan that will help you figure out how to communicate with any audience.
Catch-up – Forefront Webinar Series – Using Narrative Design for Dementia Care
Loukia Minetou from University of Stirling presents on her great work on improving dementia care and using narrative design to improve support and environments.
Catch-up – Forefront Webinar Series – Balancing a Research Career and Parenthood
Dr Lovesha Sivanantharajah from Bangor University gives an incredibly honest and insightful talk about her experiences of starting a family while successfully sustaining her research career.
Dementia Diagnosis Reports
Alzheimer’s Society has published a series of reports looking at the Dementia Diagnosis pathway, investigating regional variations, challenges of diagnosing people from ethnic minority communities and assessing and diagnosis dementia in care homes and hospital settings.
Catch-up – Forefront Webinar Series – VR Cognition Tests & Coping with Academic Stressors
Missed our first Forefront Webinar? Watch the recording now Coco Newton presents “Virtual reality navigation tests – new cognitive markers for preclinical AD” & Dr Clare Jonas “Coping with Academic Stressors”
All-Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia
Watch last weeks meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia and make time in your diary to tune-in to next weeks meeting as they receive evidence from experts in the field.
Kevin’s story: Alzheimer’s Society Companion calls were my lifeline
This Christmas, it is more important than ever to support everyone affected by dementia and help them through the winter months. Alzheimer’s Society have an emergency appeal to help support them to continue with companion calls, and to fund important research.
A practical guide to patient and public involvement in lab-based research
New website from Alzheimer’s Society, Parkinson’s UK and the NIHR provides practical advise to support better Patient and Public Involvement in laboratory based dementia research.
Podcast – Alzheimer’s Society keeping research going during a pandemic
Hannah Churchill talks with three Alzheimer’s Society funded researchers, discussing their work, and how they adapted their research, and thinking to respond and survive during COVID-19 pandemic.
Meet Dr Richard Oakley new Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Society
Alzheimer’s Society welcomes Dr Richard Oakley to their Research and Influencing team as the new Head of Research. In this article we find out more about Richard, what he sees as the current challenges and opportunities and why he is excited about dementia research.
Podcast – UK Dementia Care Research Summit 2020
In this podcast we reflect on the recent UK Dementia Care Research Summit. Adam Smith is joined by Hannah Churchill, Dr Tamara Backhouse and Dr Keir Yong discussing their highlights, and what the summit uncovered as the next steps for Dementia Care Research.
Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Experience Toolkit
Find out how to measure the experience of people with dementia when commissioning, improving or creating new services and products, whether big or small. (useful for researchers too)
Podcast – What’s new in Alzheimer’s Society fellowships
Faye Boswell and Katherine Gray from Alzheimer’s Society discuss the focus for future funding programmes, tips on writing your applications and an in-depth discussion about the 4 I’s. With insider experience from Dr Antoinette O’Connor, an Alzheimer Society-funded Clinical Research Fellow.
5 top tips when preparing for your Alzheimer’s Society fellowship interview
Interviews can be stressful, especially if you are already eight to twelve months into the application process, and you feel as though your career is riding on clearing this final hurdle – Sophie Roberts from Alzheimer;s Society shares her top 5 tips for preparing for a fellowship application.
Alzheimer’s Society – Annual Research Review
Alzheimer’s Society Annual Review highlights what Alzheimer’s Society research has been working and achieved in the last year
Women in Dementia Research
Blog by Dr Aoife Kiely from the Alzheimer’s Society – The number of women working in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is beginning to increase. However, there’s still a long way to go…
Why aren’t dementia grants funded? Three common pitfalls
Grant funding rounds are competitive, intensely competitive. There can be several reasons why your grant just missed out on being funded, our guest blog from Alzeimer’s Society explores the most common pitfalls.
Podcast – Alzheimer’s Society Conference 2019 – Day Two
Dr Aoife Kiely from Alzheimer’s Society talks to Ruby Ali-Strayton, Dr Charlie Arber and Dr Claire Lancaster discussing their work, and all the news from day two of the Alzheimer’s Society Conference.
Podcast – Alzheimer’s Society Conference 2019 – Day One
Dr Megan Calvert-O’Hare is joined by Gillian Harrison, Professor Claudia Cooper and Professor David Sharp discussing their work, and all the news from day one of the Alzheimer’s Society Conference.
2019 Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Research Leaders award winners announced
The winners of the Alzheimer’s Society ‘Dementia Research Leaders awards’ were announced at our annual conference.
Maximising the potential of ‘Patient and Public Involvement’ in dementia research
PPI in research continues to evolve to improve and mould to the needs of the research community
Podcast – Alzheimer’s Society Impact of Patient & Public Involvement on Research
In this latest podcast we hear from a volunteer, researcher and charity working closely together to ensure that people affected by dementia are involved in every stage of research to maximise impact.
The impact of the Alzheimer’s Society Research Network
Sharing the outputs of their research to understand the impact of the Alzheimer’s Society Research Network and its support for Patient and Public Involvement in Research
Maximising the potential of ‘Patient and Public Involvement’ in dementia research
PPI in research continues to evolve to improve and mould to the needs of the research community
Dementia Special Issue: Patient and Public Involvement in Dementia Research: Moving from Proving to Improving
Eight articles that report on the diverse methods and impact of PPI
Nobody should have to face dementia alone – Tracey’s story
Tracey, 51, who was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, talks about her dementia journey from diagnosis to the support she has received from Alzheimer’s Society.
Alzheimer’s Society – Dementia Researchers Leaders Award
Dementia Researchers Leaders Awards The future of dementia research is only possible with the next generation of dementia research leaders. With 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK and the number set to rise to 1 million by 2021, dementia researchers are playing a vital role in our mission to beat the condition. A…
Bruce and Jan’s story – Later stage dementia
Some viewers may find this film upsetting. Bruce Bovill gives a brave and moving account of his experience caring for his wife, Jan, in the later stages of her dementia.
Peter and Sheila – living with dementia
Peter, 82, was diagnosed with vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in January 2009. He and his wife Sheila, 63, go to their local Memory Café and Singing for the Brain group.
Peter’s story
It all started after a catalogue of incidents made Peter suspect he had a problem. He ordered some clothes online in completely the wrong size. He made arrangements to meet friends only to show up a week early. Then one day standing at the cashpoint, he found himself with his bank card in his hand…
Pat’s story
Photo: Pat (left), posing with husband David, daughter Robyn and newborn Poppy Joan Pat Sikes husband, David, lives with dementia. She explains the power of speaking out instead of stewing in guilt. In many families where someone develops dementia there can be quite a time lag – in some cases, years – between the onset…
Alzheimer’s Society, Dementia Research Leaders
Want to be a Dementia Research Leader? Alzheimer’s Society supports researchers who have the skill, drive and potential to be the leading voices and experts in dementia research in the future.
Sarah’s story
Sarah’s story I’m writing this first paragraph after writing down my whole story. I have to start by saying that doing this, being able to put down in writing some of what I feel on a day to day basis and allowing myself to be honest without fear of upsetting the person in front of…