Improving diagnosis and treatment for dementia and neurodegenerative conditions is a top priority for the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). The NIHR will build capacity and expertise, including at Newcastle University, into early phase dementia trials across the UK through an expanded NIHR Dementia Translational Research Collaboration, developing a Trials Network (D-TRC-TN).
This will offer people with dementia the opportunity to take part in early phase clinical trials irrespective of where they live and widen access to a larger, more diverse population.
Professor John-Paul Taylor, Clinical Professor of Translational Dementia Research at Newcastle University and Deputy Chair of the NIHR Dementia Translational Research Collaboration Collaboration and Co-Lead of the NIHR Newcastle BRC Dementia, Mental health and Neurodegeneration theme said:
"I am thrilled to be part of this major, ground-breaking initiative which will help make the UK a world leader in the development of new and effective treatments for dementia. Developing trial sites across the UK, including Newcastle, will ensure genuine parity in access to cutting-edge clinical trials, offering real hope and progress for all individuals living with various forms of dementia. Our involvement in this initiative is testament to our position as global leaders in Lewy body dementia (LBD) research. Sustained NIHR Newcastle BRC support continues to be central to our work, allowing us to bring together clinicians and researchers, all with access to state-of-the-art equipment, to carry out translational research studies that enhance our understanding of dementia."
"I am thrilled to be part of this major, ground-breaking initiative which will help make the UK a world leader in the development of new and effective treatments for dementia.
Developing trial sites across the UK, including Newcastle, will ensure genuine parity in access to cutting-edge clinical trials, offering real hope and progress for all individuals living with various forms of dementia.
Our involvement in this initiative is testament to our position as global leaders in Lewy body dementia (LBD) research. Sustained NIHR Newcastle BRC support continues to be central to our work, allowing us to bring together clinicians and researchers, all with access to state-of-the-art equipment, to carry out translational research studies that enhance our understanding of dementia."
The NIHR funding will be split over five years and the initial phase of the programme will focus on improving processes required to conduct dementia trials in a number of sites, enhancing speed and delivery.
Read more about the work here