Alzheimer’s Research UK, Dementia Research Network Ireland & Dementia Trials Ireland: Joint Meeting

On Monday, October 21st, Queen’s University Belfast became a hub for dementia research and collaboration, as the ARUK NI Network Centre, in partnership with Dementia Research Network Ireland and Dementia Trials Ireland, hosted an event featuring leading voices in dementia research.

Morning session

The event began with an insightful morning session chaired by Dr Claire McEvoy, featuring invited speaker Professor Cath Mummery from University College London, who spoke on the NIHR Dementia Trials Network UK. Other speakers included:

Professor Bernadette McGuiness (Queen’s University Belfast): Dementia trials in the Northern Irish context.
Dr Anne-Marie Millar (Trinity College Dublin): Dementia Trials Ireland - Empowering excellence in clinical dementia research
Professor Judy Bradley (Queen’s University Belfast): iREACH: Capability for dementia research in Northern Ireland

Afternoon session- Early career researcher round-up

The afternoon session, chaired by Dr Claire Potter, shone a spotlight on Early Career Researchers:

Nicola Ann Ward (Queen’s University Belfast): Efficacy of a Protein-Enriched Mediterranean Diet with or without Exercise on Nutritional Status and Cognitive Performance in At-Risk Older Adults: Findings from the PROMED-EX RCT
Sevinç Elif Şen (Trinity College Dublin): Assessing Ireland’s Healthcare Preparedness for Dementia Disease-Modifying Therapies: Strategies for Effective Integration and Implementation
Dr Calum Marr (Queen’s University Belfast): The RESIST study: A longitudinal observational study examining cognitive change in rheumatoid arthritis patients with mild cognitive impairment being treated with a TNF-inhibitor
Dr Helena Dolphin (Trinity College Dublin): Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment

This collaborative event underscored the commitment of researchers across Ireland and the UK to advancing dementia research.