UK DRI at Cardiff opens its doors

UK DRI at Cardiff University has been officially opened by Health Secretary Vaughan Gething.

More than 70 scientists from around the world have been recruited to the centre with the aim of expanding the group to 100 in the near future.

All of our six centres work together and bring different specialisms to the institute. UK DRI at Cardiff will build upon research strengths in dementia genetics; immunology; computational analytics; cellular and whole system modelling; and neuroimaging to identify disease mechanisms and therapies for a range of dementias including Alzheimer’s disease.

In recent years, more than 40 genes which contribute to the risk of Alzheimer’s disease have been discovered and the team at Cardiff will use that knowledge to work on new theories and discoveries.

Focusing on clear evidence that indicates answers can be found within the brain’s immune system, they will work on several separate but aligned research programmes that will model Alzheimer’s disease in various ways, including through stem cells which can be transformed into neurons, immune and other cells.  They will even be able to combine these cells to create mini brains or organoids (3D cell cultures that incorporate some of the key features of an organ).

The creation of the UK DRI at Cardiff is being seen as an accolade for Wales and indicates the growing strength of ground breaking scientific research in the country. It is funded by the Medical Research Council, Alzheimer’s Research UK and Alzheimer’s Society, with the Welsh Government giving significant support to the Cardiff centre.

Welsh Government funding has enabled the Cardiff team to install a £1m robotic Opera Phenix microscope which is able to scan and analyse thousands of individual cells at high speed. This state-of-the-art microscope was made in Wales and is an example of the latest technology being utilised by the team.

Although the principal research will focus on Alzheimer’s disease there will also be relevant findings for Huntington’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

The opening event showcased the science at the centre to members of the public in the morning, with 'soapbox science'. The afternoon was dedicated to researchers sharing their work in detail in a scientific meeting.