Our blogs cover a whole range of topics, to help early career dementia researchers (ECRs). Our contributors share information about their research, from social care to basic science, share advice from their own experiences, careers tips, what they learned from recent training events and conferences and much more. We have a small team of ECR staff bloggers who write each month, on a whole range of topics and every year we add more people who discuss their experiences of studying at particular places or on different topics. In addition to our staff bloggers, we welcome one-off contributions, and curate and link to content from other great sources, including our charity partners, the LSE Impact Blog, Nature Careers and where ever great support can be found.
To help find what you're looking for, you can browse through the articles, or use the filters on the right to find blogs by a particular person, or on a particular topic.
We are always on the lookout for new contributors, so if you would like to write for us, just head to the forum to drop us a line, or email dementiaresearcher@ucl.ac.uk
All of our blogs (since April 2020) come with narrations from the writer. You can listen while you read along on our website, or enjoy our blogs on the move via your podcast app. Look for Dementia Researcher Blogs, or visit one of these platforms, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify and Goodpods.
Blog – Technology to Help Care
Danielle Wilson from the UK Dementia Research Institute discusses her passion of tech research and its ability to augment care
Blog – The benefits and drawbacks of accessing post-diagnostic support remotely
The COVID-19 pandemic caused shift from accessing post-diagnostic dementia support in-person, to remotely - Is this a good thing? Blog by Thaïs Caprioli
Blog – Advances in digital cognitive assessments for dementia diagnosis
In this blog Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali discusses how technology is being used to advance cognitive assessments used in dementia diagnosis.
Blog – Communicating Smart Technology
What is the point of tech if people can't use it? Pippa is a Speech & Lanuage Therapist helping to get better input into design & delivery of dementia tech
Blog – Nanomedicine in Dementia Research
Are nanoparticles 100-10,000 times smaller than a human cell be the answer to crossing the blood-brain barrier? New blog from Dr Sam Moxon
Blog – Digital phenotyping in dementia and neurology: we have questions
Digital interactions could be useful for tracking health & brain disorders. But is it that simple? Dr Alan Cronemberger Andrade discusses Tech & Dementia Week.
Blog – Virtual Reality
Virtual Reality isn't just for fun gaming, it's increasingly used as a valuable tool for dementia researchers. Hannah Hussain explore for tech & dementia week
Blog – Finding your cheer team: Maintaining resilience in academia
How do you feel when your colleagues win grants? Is it okay to celebrate success, when others around you are less fortunate? Anna has been conflcted
Blog – The importance of lived experience in research
Dr Gaia Brezzo discusses the importance of involving and engaging people with lived experience of disease in research, and her recent experience.
Blog – Hello imposter syndrome my old friend
Do you doubt your talents & accomplishments and have an internalised fear of being exposed as a fraud... this is normal and Beth Eyre discusses
Blog – Going on my own: Being my own boss for my new fellowship
Stepping out on your own doesn't have to be scary, if you got this far, you're ready. Dr Anna Volkmer discusses her new found research freedom.
Blog – Innovative long-term care for dementia
There are almost 14,500 Care Homes in England, Dr Clarissa Giebel has been working with their Dutch counterparts to see how the two approaches to care differ.
Blog – Is Leadership Important In Science?
Dr Yvonne Couch talks about leadership in research, exploring different styles and approaches and how you might apply them.
Blog – Writing my first grant application
Kam just wrote her first grant application (well not really her first) and in this blog she descrives how she went about it, and shares her tips
Blog – Are We Entering a “Golden Age” of Dementia Research
Dr Sam Moxon, from University of Manchester gives us a potted history lesson of Alzheimer's Disease and drug treatments from 600AD to 2022
Blog – Teaching as an ECR, why take the time to do it?
Dr Gaia Brezzo explores how her joint research-teaching experience helped her as an ECR, and provides a few tips on teaching.
Blog – Two–photon microscopy: How can it be used in Alzheimer’s research?
Blog from Beth Eyre, exploring how two-photon microscopy can be used to help us learn more about Alzheimer’s disease & inform research.
Blog – A guide to Mixed Methods research design
Blog covering the things you’ll need to think about when planning a mixed methods research study - quick guide from Nathan Stephens
Blog – The outcome: My NIHR Advanced Fellowship App
Anna has some big news... and some top tips for anyone applying for an NIHR Advanced Fellowship, essential reading for Clinical Academics
Blog – World Alzheimer Report 2022, Post-diagnostic care or lack thereof
Dr Clarissa Giebel has been reading the Alzheimer's Disease International World Alzheimer's Report 2022 and in this blog she shares her thoughts
Blog – Angiogenesis
New blog from Dr Yvonne Couch providing a history of angiogenesis, and how after brain injury and in old age this may contribute to brain health.
Blog – Dr Gaia Brezzo Introduction
We welcome Dr Gaia Brezzo, Research Fellow at the UK Dementia Research Institute to our team of regular bloggers learn more about her and plans for her blog
Blog – From postdoc to lecturer, my first six months
Six months ago Kamar started a new position as lecturer in biomedical science in this blog, she shares her experience of the first six months of lectureship.
Blog – Physical Activity & Dementia
Blog from Nathan Stephens providing a brief introduction to the evidence base on physical activity and dementia, and exploring his only work on interventions.
Blog – Why should you apply to be an ISTAART Ambassador?
Beth Eyre talks about her experiences as an ISTAART Ambassador and the brilliant benefits the programme could bring for you.
Blog – Medicines Management in Dementia
Getting medicine use “right” has the potential to not only improve patient outcomes but also contribute to patient safety, Hannah Hussain explores
Blog – The Importance of Public Trust in Science
In this blog Dr Sam Moxon talks about the dangers of scientific misconduct and the importance of ethics and integrity in research.
Blog – From remote to face-to-face International Research in Colombia
Dr Clarissa Giebel wants her research to influence policy and bring about real change, but to do that you need to know how policy is decided.
Blog – The Great Academic Resignation
Heard of 'Quit Lit'? Don't look, it will only despress you. In this Dr Yvonne Couch discusses the great academic resignation and what needs to change.
Blog – How to prepare a search strategy for your systematic review
Dr Aida Suárez-Gonzalez discusses the importance of research exploring the age of dementia onset, and the influence on clinical expression
Blog – How academic misconduct affects ECRs
Academic misconduct damages public confidence in research, but how does it affect ECRs? in this blog Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali explores
Blog – Study Pre-registration: Say it, do it, share it.
Future-proof your research and Preregister your next study. In this blog Dr Anna Volkmer will explain why and the benefits.
Blog – Positionality and reflexivity, and why it’s not just for qualitative research
Nathan Stephens gets his head around positionality and reflexivity, two important essential concepts in qualitiative research
Blog – A guide to moving abroad as a PhD student
Beth Eyre provides a very practical guide of things you need to think about and plan for when moving overseas for a work placement
Blog – Making an impact: A week in Westminster with the Royal Society
Dr Clarissa Giebel wants her research to influence policy and bring about real change, but to do that you need to know how policy is decided.
Blog – Stepping outside of academia
Blog from PhD Student Hannah Hussain discussing the potenial careers you can choose, outside academia, following completion of your PhD.
Blog – How to be a Peer Reviewer
Dr Yvonne Couch provides her top tips and shares some great advise for early career researchers who are new to undertaking peer review.
Blog – Do you need research funding?
It's a great time to need research funding...there is lots about. Adam Smith highlights some of the open funding calls & shares a few tips
Blog – Communication is one of your best research tools: Here’s why
Dr Sam Moxon talks to the importance of communications, that goes beyond Sci Comms, and why this it's essential to your career success
Blog – Age at onset in atypical Alzheimer´s: why it matters
Dr Aida Suárez-Gonzalez discusses the importance of research exploring the age of dementia onset, and the influence on clinical expression
Blog – The value of conferences
Have you met Dr Clarissa Giebel in real life? Well, she has been out and about, and in this blog she discusses the value of in-person conferences.
Blog – Is it time to look at alternatives to rodent models?
In this blog Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali explores alternatives to mammalian models and considers whether they can drive a breakthrough
Blog – An incoherent blurb from an unpaid family care worker
You'll already know Nathan Stephens the brilliant PhD Student, in this blog we get to Nathan Stephens the unpaid family carer
Blog – Do you have to be a good writer to be a successful academic?
Do you spend more time writing, or undertaking experiments? Did you expect that? Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali discusses in her new blog.
Blog – Negative Data
Dr Yvonne Couch talks about how ECRs can help the scientific field change by thinking about how, where and what we publish, and use the negative data.
Blog – Can Conversation Analysis infiltrate mainstream Dementia Research?
Do research funders and those responsible for comissioning service favour quantative research over qualitative? Dr Anna Volkmer thinks so
Blog – Are we Proactive Enough about Dementia?
Is dementia research going too slow? Or at a pretty rapid pace given the available resources? Dr Sam Moxon reflects on the pace and direction of research.
Blog – From PhD student to supervisor
Dr Clarissa Giebel is transitioning from doing all the research herself into supervising others (whilst also researching) in this blog we learn how its going

