Meet our Group Leaders

See how our science is tackling dementia

Lab profiles

Our united vision

To power research that conquers dementia.

Our plans

Our teams are growing

Help us transform dementia research

Vacancies

Aruk Lab Alex Wallace Photography 309 Copy

Funding

We welcome Alzheimer’s Research UK’s recommendations for government ‘Dementia Moonshot’ funding

Following the recent general election pledge by The Conservative Party to double investment in dementia research to find treatments, Alzheimer’s Research UK have released six key priorities for spending over the next decade including continued investment in the UK DRI.

Strategy

Building a culture of translation at UK DRI

We have a clearly defined goal at the UK DRI to develop effective therapeutics and technologies for dementia. Alongside building our disease knowledge over the coming years, we must also make progress in translating these discoveries into the clinic. We spoke to our new Director of Innovation & Business at UK DRI HQ, Dr Kay Penicud, about her new role and how she will be helping researchers realise the full potential of their discoveries.

Partnership

Teaming up with the British Neuroscience Association for their Festival of Neuroscience in 2021

The UK DRI is delighted to announce that we are partnering with the British Neuroscience Association (BNA) for their Festival of Neuroscience in 2021, Brighton. We'll have the fantastic opportunity to help shape and steer the whole event, as well as designing our own scientific and public programme streams in the Festival.

Keep up to date with the UK DRI

From the latest publications & awards, to new researchers & initiatives

News

Workshop

iPSC-derived Microglia Workshop: Sharing best practice and new initiatives across the field

As part of our ‘Neuroinflammation Theme’, we held a workshop in December that brought together researchers from across the institute and beyond to share expertise and best practice on the use of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived microglia. Delving into topics such as reproducibility, cell line characterisation and microglia phenotype and function, attendees discussed and agreed on actions that would benefit the whole of the field moving forward.

New recruits

Introducing Blanca Diaz-Castro, UK DRI at Edinburgh: The role of the star-spangled blood-brain-barrier in dementia

The unique expertise at the UK DRI at Edinburgh take a holistic approach to tackling dementia, elucidating the interactions within and between the brain vasculature, neurons, macroglia and microglia which are thought to play a major part in the trajectory of neurodegenerative disorders. The centre’s newest Group Leader Dr Blanca Diaz-Castro, discusses her role in this strategy, the expertise she brings to the centre and her latest publication.

New Networks

Connecting our Early Career Researchers

Cardiff researchers are organising a range of initiatives aimed specifically at early career researchers (ECRs), leading to the establishment of an institute-wide network for UK DRI ECRs.

We're not a traditional research institute

We have seven centres hosted in universities across the UK. Find out more about how they're tackling dementia from every angle.

Our centres