UCL researchers join new dementia policy research unit

The NIHR Dementia and Neurodegeneration Policy Research Unit (DeNPRU), will produce research on prevention, diagnosis and treatment, care service, and workforce needs.

DeNPRU is funded by a £3 million grant from the National Institute for Health and Care Research and led by academics from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and the University of Plymouth.

The new unit will work with policymakers to produce research to answer four key questions on dementia and neurodegenerative disease:

• How policy can help prevent these diseases by addressing risk factors.
• How to improve people’s experience of a diagnosis and ensure good quality ongoing care for everyone.
• How technology and the way services are provided can support everyone with these diseases to receive care designed to meet individual needs.
• How to build a workforce with the right skills and positive attitudes towards people with these diseases.

For each question the team will address how to deliver fairer, inclusive services to reduce inequalities, how social care can support people to live the lives they want to lead beyond medical care, how to conduct research serving all communities, including involving those with lived experience, and how to provide the best value for patients and society.

The DeNPRU team includes collaborating researchers from Exeter, Newcastle, Plymouth, Liverpool and York Universities, as well as Dementia UK, Neurological Alliance, and Alzheimer’s Society. This group draws on broad experience in deprived inner city and coastal areas in NE, NW, SW England and East London.

Dr Mukadam said: “I am delighted to be part of the Dementia Policy Research Unit, focused particularly on dementia prevention. I look forward to working together, ensuring we consider inequalities and making a real impact.”

Professor Schott said: “We at UCL are delighted to be contributing to this newly funded NIHR Dementia and Neurodegeneration Policy Research Unit. We look forward to collaborating with colleagues from across the UK, and to working together to produce high quality research and evidence on how to best to prevent, diagnose, treat and care for patients with, or at risk of, neurodegenerative diseases.”

Co-Director Claudia Cooper, Professor of Psychological Medicine at QMUL, said: “I am excited that QMUL is co-leading with University of Plymouth this national partnership across academic, clinical and lived experience organisations, with its ambitious commitment to drive up the quality of prevention, treatment and care services across dementia and neurodegenerative diseases. We will work with DHSC to build the evidence base policymakers need to drive more integrated, equitable, user-focused services. We will look especially at how services can be developed so that groups they currently serve less well can benefit equitably from scientific advances.”

Co-Director Sube Banerjee, Professor of Dementia at University of Plymouth, said: “It is brilliant that the Department of Health and Social Care has commissioned our Policy Research Unit to help it develop and deliver the better care for people with dementia other neurodegenerative disorders that is so desperately needed. It is a privilege to co-lead, with Claudia and QMUL, our national network of researchers and clinicians, but above all people with lived experience of these illnesses. Together we can help make policy and services that can transform patient experience, delivering better treatment and support and improving outcomes for all.”

Related

• Dr Naaheed Mukadam's academic profile
• Professor Jonathan Schott's academic profile
• UCL Psychiatry
• UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio