Spearheaded by the UK DRI and Health Data Research UK (HDR UK), the Dementia Trials Accelerator aims to drastically increase the number of people in the UK participating in late-stage clinical trials for dementia. Trials will be extended to community settings, making participation more accessible than ever, and ensuring access to promising new treatments for many more people.
The Accelerator is still in development and not yet recruiting patients. This page will be updated with current information when trial recruitment opens. In the meantime, visit Join Dementia Research for other opportunities to get involved in research.
The Accelerator, supported by the government’s Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Goals programme (formerly known as the Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Mission) and funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC), aims to rapidly identify a large group of people who are at risk of or diagnosed with early-stage dementia.
This will boost opportunities for these people to participate in research – offering them the chance to receive potentially life-changing new treatments as part of a clinical trial.
Brain Health Community Assessment for Trials Service
The UK DRI and HDR UK invite expressions of interest for the provision of a Brain Health Community Assessment for Trials Service. The service is a critical component of the Dementia Trials Accelerator (DTA) programme.
The Brain Health Community Assessment for Trials Service will provide pre-screening for a range of dementia and neurodegenerative clinical trials close to where people live as recommended in the O’Shaughnessy Review. The appointed provider will deliver comprehensive services, including:
- Participant appointment and consent management
- Blood sample collection by community-based phlebotomy services
- Secure preparation, storage, and transportation of samples to designated UK locations
- Data collection and secure sharing with contracting authorities
The service required will be a pilot, initially operating across 4–10 locations in England, Scotland, and Wales, with plans to expand to underserved areas. The aim is to identify approximately 10,000 potential trial participants over one year.