Experts unite to boost dementia research

Citation

(2010), "Experts unite to boost dementia research", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 23 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhcqa.2010.06223eab.011

Experts unite to boost dementia research

Article Type: News and views From: International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Volume 23, Issue 5

Keywords: Mental healthcare research, Healthcare improvement, Government dementia policy, Healthcare funding access

Leading voices from dementia research will meet for the first time to drive up the volume, quality and impact of work in the field. The ministerial group which is chaired by Care Services Minister Phil Hope, brings together charities, scientists, research bodies and government officials.

The group aims to help scientists get access to the research funding that is available to them. It will develop a strategy for increasing public support for dementia research and provide advice on government dementia policy and on wider national and international initiatives.

The government will be investing around £1.7 billion annually in health research by 2010/2011. Scientists in every field of health research have equal access to the funding and funds are awarded through an open and competitive process to the best quality proposal. However, research bodies receive lower quality proposals for dementia research than for other conditions.

Care Services Minister Phil Hope said: “Dementia is one of the most important issues we face as the population ages. Research is the key to developing new treatments, transforming care and ultimately finding a cure for this devastating condition.

“We are investing a huge amount – around £1.7 billion – in health research. But not enough dementia researchers are putting forward quality proposals to get the funding. I want to see more dementia research winning funding. That’s why we will be looking at how we can help scientists up the ante and get access to the money they need to carry out research that could change someone’s life.

“We welcome the Government’s Ministerial Advisory Group as a promising start in our common battle to defeat dementia. Much more action on dementia research is required from Government, charities and others if we are to offer hope to the hundreds of thousands of people affected by this devastating condition and the many more who will otherwise develop it in the future”, Rebecca Wood, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust said.

Clive Ballard, Director of Research at Alzheimer’s Society said: “The ministerial group on dementia research provides an exciting opportunity to develop a strategic, coordinated and sustainable approach to dementia research. This is essential if we are to make the clinical advances necessary to one day defeat this terrible condition.

“One in three people over 65 in the UK will die with dementia so it is critical that dementia research receives the attention and funds it so desperately needs. This group must now live up to its promise to bring about change and improve the outlook for the hundreds of thousands of people with dementia in this country”.

For more information: www.coi.gov.uk