Our vision
Healthy brain ageing for all
As our population gets older, dementia has become a major health challenge. Half of us will be affected by dementia in some way – either facing it ourselves, caring for a loved one, or both.
At the UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) our goal is through research to transform the lives of people affected by dementia and other related neurodegenerative conditions.
We know the brain is incredibly complex, which has made finding answers to dementia difficult. But thanks to important scientific breakthroughs, things are changing. The UK DRI and our UK-wide team of 1000 researchers are playing a crucial role.
The UK DRI is building a future where we will be able to:
- Predict an individual’s risk of dementia, before symptoms appear
- Prevent the onset of neurodegenerative conditions, similar to how people take cholesterol tablets (so-called “statins”) to prevent heart disease
- Personalise the care and treatment of every individual affected by dementia
Public participation is key to success. We want everyone at risk of developing dementia, or living with it, to have the chance to get involved in clinical studies and trials in an environment that is safe, convenient and reassuring.
UK DRI Director Siddharthan Chandran outlines his vision for the millions of people affected or at risk of dementia and associated neurodegenerative conditions.
people will be directly affected by dementia in their lifetime
Our mission
To discover, develop and deliver solutions
Our work, as the UK's leading research institute for dementia and related neurodegenerative conditions is data driven, collaborative and team-based targeting discoveries that will lead to more effective therapies and better quality of life.
We achieve this through three linked pillars of research activity:
- Discover what causes dementia
- Develop new tools, tests and treatments
- Deliver solutions to maintain brain health in an ageing society
Our unique strength lies in our comprehensive approach, bridging the gap between scientific inquiry and therapeutic innovation.
Brain and body age together as one interconnected system. That's why we take a life course approach; studying how changes in metabolism, blood vessels, weight, and immune function throughout the body can influence brain health and function. By understanding these whole-body connections, we can better protect both brain and body health across the lifespan.
We need to collaborate to be effective. We partner with teams across the world in universities, businesses, tech, and the NHS to optimise progress. We straddle research from the laboratory bench to the patient bedside and back again. People living with dementia are at the heart of the research discovery, development and delivery journey.
Find out more by clicking on the images below.
UK DRI Director Siddharthan Chandran describes the mission of the UK DRI.
