The Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Research Leader Fellowship is for exceptional researchers who want to build on several successful years of research and are ready to begin an independent research career.
This year, Alzheimer’s Society awarded £5.45 million to 17 early career researchers to advance personalised approaches across the dementia spectrum from deeper disease understanding and molecular insights to person-centred experiences. Among the awardees is member of our Dementia, Mental Health and Neurodegeneration Research Theme and PPIE Lead for the Digital Health, Ageing Innovation and Inclusion Theme.
The awards span the full spectrum of dementia research, with each project focusing on precise characterisation. Whether that is a detailed understanding of dementia disease causes, determining personalised risk or understanding the uniqueness of those affected and how that in turn impacts both someone’s experience and their dementia.
This latest cohort joins a portfolio of over £50m of dementia research, with over 400 researchers supported across the UK. Their annual funding round will open again for outline applications in January 2027.
Dr Richard Oakley, Associate Director of Research and Innovation at Alzheimer’s Society said: “We've seen extraordinary progress in dementia research in the last decade. Breakthroughs like these are only seen when we ensure talented researchers can stay in dementia research. We are delighted to continue to build momentum in the field by investing in future leaders.”
Dr Richard Oakley, Associate Director of Research and Innovation at Alzheimer’s Society said:
“We've seen extraordinary progress in dementia research in the last decade. Breakthroughs like these are only seen when we ensure talented researchers can stay in dementia research. We are delighted to continue to build momentum in the field by investing in future leaders.”
Everyone living with dementia has the right to the very best care. This means developing evidence on the most effective care and support for people living with dementia, with a focus on person-centred approaches and how to implement this in any place people living with dementia are cared for.
Dr Ríona McArdle has been awarded a care Dementia Research Leader Fellowship. It is the first time Dementia Research Leader Fellowships have been awarded to researchers working in care research.
Dr McArdle will work with people living with dementia, carers, and health and social care professionals to best understand which mobility problems matter most in everyday life. She will use this understanding to co-produce post-diagnostic mobility support strategies using digital solutions. A linked PhD project will also look at how to make digital tools more accessible for people from underserved communities and diverse backgrounds.
She says: "I'm so pleased that Alzheimer's Society has recognised the importance of maintaining and supporting mobility for people living with dementia, and that I can contribute to moving research and care forward in this space. This work has additionally been supported with additional funding by NIHR Biomedical Research Centre: Newcastle, so that I can further consider regional inequalities prevalent in the North East of England to shape both digital and non-digital mobility support solutions which can be accessible to those who most need them."
The Dementia Research Leader Fellowship scheme provides funding and development opportunities for exceptional early career researchers looking to begin their independent career in dementia research.
It is open to people from diverse disciplines and career paths including those returning from a career break or time in other roles and those wishing to transition into dementia research from other fields. Alzheimer’s Society funds excellent researchers whatever their background.
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