News Article Dementia Research Grant

Dementia scientists in Scotland will benefit from grants of up to £450,000 after Alzheimer’s Research UK, the UK’s leading dementia research charity, and the Scottish Government joined forces to provide funding for research. The initiative was announced by Michael Matheson MSP, Minister for Public Health, at the Scottish Clinical Dementia Research Network (SDCRN) Conference, where leading researchers and health professionals gathered to share their latest findings and progress in the fight against dementia.

The funding call will see Alzheimer’s Research UK and the Scottish Government each make £225,000 available for major biomedical research projects into diseases that cause dementia, such as Alzheimer’s. Researchers in Scotland have been invited to apply for funding for innovative projects with a clear route to patient benefit, with applications to be assessed through a peer review process to ensure that the very best research, with the best hope of delivering benefits for people with dementia, is funded. The announcement was part of Michael Matheson MSP’s address to SDCRN Conference 2013. Thanks to SDCRN’s work promoting research into dementia across Scotland, more than 2,100 people in Scotland have registered their interest in being involved in approved research studies, with 25 studies currently being supported and 132 volunteers taking part in the network’s Public & Patient Involvement project.

Dr Peter Connelly, Joint Director of the SDCRN said:
“The new funding will enable the SDCRN to promote high-quality studies, to consolidate proposals from their protocol development groups – already active within five Health Board areas – into projects attracting these new research funds into Scotland, to stimulate research in other Health Board areas and to maximise the potential to develop Scottish research in dementia which transcends the boundaries between the scientific and clinical fields.”

Minister for Public Health Michael Matheson said:
“The Scottish Government is committed to improving all aspects of care for the increasing number of people in Scotland with dementia and research plays a key role in helping us to reach this goal.
“This new initiative builds on our existing investment in dementia research, which includes almost £500,000 a year for the Scottish Dementia Clinical Research Network, who involve people with dementia in research, and direct support for local research projects and fellowships.”

Dr Eric Karran, Director of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:
“We’re delighted to join forces with the Scottish Government for this new funding call, which we hope will be a boost both to our efforts to defeat the diseases that cause dementia and to Scottish science. Scotland is home to centres of real research excellence, and we look forward to seeing new and innovative ideas for tackling these diseases from scientists in the field. Currently there are 56,000 people living with dementia in Scotland, and with this funding we aim to push forward research that has the capacity to make a real difference to people’s lives.”