£11m funding scheme sets out to support dementia research in East Midlands

A leading applied health research organisation is “on a mission” to improve and expand its research into the needs of people with dementia in under-served groups across the East Midlands.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) East Midlands has been awarded funding for three new academic posts to strengthen its academic work on dementia, especially young onset dementia and access to technologies.

Working in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Society, the NIHR has announced a new £11.8m funding scheme dedicated to improving the organisation’s dementia research.

Professor Kamlesh Khunti CBE, director of NIHR ARC East Midlands and Professor of Primary Care Diabetes and Vascular Medicine at the University of Leicester, said: “We are on a mission to improve the lives of people living with dementia by conducting further studies on the cognitive disease.

“It is vital that we focus our research on dementia as thousands of people in the UK with the condition are being marginalised, underserved, undiagnosed and understudied.”

Professor Martin Orrell, academic lead for the new funding programme and director of the Institute of Mental Health, highlighted the importance of supporting new research talent. The University of Nottingham researcher said: “This is an excellent initiative from the NIHR and the Alzheimer’s Society which will really help develop the next generation of researchers improving dementia care in the East Midlands and beyond.

“The award is recognition that the East Midlands is a region leading in dementia research expertise and that knowledge will be shared to further new and exciting discoveries.”

Professor Lucy Chappell, chief executive of the NIHR, said: “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 researcher at Alzheimer’s Society, said: “Dementia can be devastating for many. 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.”

Looking to promote your product/service to SME businesses in your region? Find out how Bdaily can help →