On Wednesday 1st June 2016, Alzheimer Scotland handed dementia experts at the Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre a six figure sum to continue urgent dementia research. Dementia affects over 90,000 people across Scotland and by 2020 it is estimated that there will be over 1 million people living with the illness in the UK.
The national dementia charity are adding a further £750,000 funding boost bringing the total investment to over 1.5million since the centre opened in 2011. Created in partnership with the University of Edinburgh and opened by now First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, the research hub and brain tissue bank will drive forward clinical and scientific research for a further five years.
Led by Professor John Starr, the centre aims to improve the treatments available to people living with the illness and also our knowledge of the causes of dementia and its risk factors. As well as boasting a high quality research environment which attracts international collaborations and researchers to Scotland, the centre has also been able to create a brain tissue bank which has around 100 donations from members of the public. By carefully preserving dementia brain tissue, the bank offers researchers access to an important resource for years to come.
Henry Simmons, Chief Executive of Alzheimer Scotland, commented: “We have been delighted to work in partnership with The University of Edinburgh to establish the Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre which provides a first-class hub for vital dementia research to take place. I have been impressed by the commitment and progress of the Centre over the past five years and of the many achievements secured. This is our biggest investment into dementia research and we hope its legacy will contribute towards future prevention or a cure. We look forward to working with team over the next five years and building on the strong foundations in place.
“This partnership would not have been possible without generous donations from the Scottish public. With over 90,000 people living with dementia in Scotland, it is our biggest health and social care challenge and it isn’t going to go away. We must up our game to support those people living with dementia and their families today and also invest in the future. Dementia research has been neglected over the years but we are making positive progress to changing this. We are determined to ensure that no one faces with dementia alone. To step up urgent support, we launched our biggest fundraising campaign Challenge Dementia to inspire the nation to set their own challenge and help raise vital funds which will support ongoing research, this wonderful research centre and also our 24 hour freephone helpline, our network of dementia resource centres, dementia nurses and dementia advisors.
Professor John Starr, Director of Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre based at Edinburgh University added: “I am delighted with this announcement, this new investment gives us the chance to continue building on the good work we have already started to support vital dementia research in Scotland. We look forward to our continued partnership with Alzheimer Scotland to help accelerate progress into the causes and treatments, and care provided by relatives and friends.
“Our priority is to build on key areas including the brain tissue bank, environmental risk factor areas, brain imaging and the early diagnostics. The Centre provides Scotland with a unique environment which has and will continue to attract future international dementia research collaborations.”
If you have dementia you can aid research by becoming a donor at the Alzheimer Scotland Research Centre Brain Tissue Bank. For more information about becoming a donor visitwww.alzscotdrc.ed.ac.uk for more information. To find out more or get involved to help researchers try and beat dementia visitwww.joindementiaresearch.nihr.ac.uk.
For all media enquiries please contact Elaine Nixon, Alzheimer Scotland. Mobile: 07812078326.