Alzheimer’s Society and LSE Launch Groundbreaking Initiative for Dementia Research

CPEC at LSE Joins Forces with Alzheimer’s Society for Advanced DementiaResearch Training

Dementia is a syndrome that, over time destroys nerve cells and damages the brain. The syndrome majorly surfaces in old age and currently, more than 55 million people are suffering from it. PhD students specialising in Dementia research are invited by The Care Policy and Evaluation Centre (CPEC) at LSE which recently collaborated with the Alzheimer's Society Doctoral Training Centre for Integrated Care, coordinated by the Queen Mary University of London.

These five students will get support in their research work and have special access to the Alzheimer's Society doctoral network, expanding their possibilities for peer support, networking, information sharing, and cutting-edge training and equipment. Previous experiences have shown that such networks can significantly advance careers in Dementia research. As part of this program, the students will become important members of the active research community at CPEC and benefit from the outstanding PhD programs offered by the LSE Department of Health Policy.

The Alzheimer’s Society Doctoral Training Centre for Integrated Care will focus on enhancing the delivery of coordinated care for individuals with dementia, from diagnosis through to end-of-life care. The center aims to ensure independence, autonomy, and choice for patients, particularly within under-served populations. The research will investigate how integrated care across primary, secondary, and social services can provide a more holistic and navigable care experience for those with dementia.

Professor Martin Knapp, the LSE lead researcher for the center, and Dr. Jose-Luis Fernandez, Director of CPEC, have expressed their enthusiasm for the partnership. They highlighted that the PhD studentships offered through this collaboration are expected to significantly strengthen the research capacity, thereby improving care and support systems and enhancing the well-being of individuals living with Dementia and their caregivers. Fiona Carragher, Chief Policy and Research Officer of the Alzheimer's Society emphasized the significance of the increased investment in attracting and developing a creative new generation of researchers to speed up the progress of life-changing discoveries for those who are suffering from dementia.

Professor Nathan Davies and Professor Claudia Cooper of the Queen Mary University of London, lead researchers of the Alzheimer's Society Doctoral Training Centre for Integrated Care, shared their significant expertise working with dementia patients. They underscored the devastating impact that a Dementia diagnosis has on both persons and families. Given that Dementia is a leading cause of death in the UK with no present cure, they highlighted the need for supporting persons from diagnosis to end-of-life care.

Editor’s Note:

The Care Policy and Evaluation Centre (CPEC) at LSE has partnered with the Alzheimer’s Society Doctoral Training Centre for Integrated Care, led by Queen Mary University of London, to support five PhD candidates in their Dementia research. This collaboration provides students with unique access to the Alzheimer’s Society’s doctoral network, enhancing their research through peer support, networking, and advanced resources. This initiative aims to advance research and enhance care systems, benefiting individuals with Dementia and their caregivers. 

Skoobuzz congratulates all the researchers who are taking responsibility with CPEC and Alzheimer’s Society Doctoral Training Centre for Integrated Care to make a difference in the lives of patients suffering from Dementia.