1. Alzheimer’s Society, UK Our research programme
and the returns from research
Dr James Pickett

2. The landscape for funding in the EU
Joint Programming on Neurodegeneration(JPND)

3. The landscape for funding in the UK
Total spend = ~£64 million
Source: Alzheimer’s Research UK annual accounts for

4. The landscape for funding research in Alzheimer’s Society
2011 – 2012 expenditure £62million
2011 – 2012 expenditure on research ~£2.5million
Fund research into cause, care, cure and prevention of dementia
Value of portfolio £6million
Project grants (24), Fellowships (8), PhD studentships (17)
60% of projects are predominantly animal or cell based projects
40% of projects are human studies (autopsy tissue or patients)
25% of projects involve people with dementia
Involvement of carers and people with dementia

5. Outputs of the research grants programme in the last 12 months
Funder of 50 publications
liraglutide prevents AD-like neurodegeneration in pre-clinical models of Alzheimer’s disease. Journal of Neuroscience.
A review on Alzheimer’s Disease in the leading journal. The Lancet
Completion of several high profile clinical trials
Donepezil and memantine in moderate to severe AD (DOMINO)
New England Journal of medicine, Thursday 8 March.
Aromatherapy to treat agitation in dementia
Impact beyond publication
New referral service for people who are Deaf with cognitive complaints
Antipsychotics –development of a best-practice guide with The Department of Health
Development online training resources for GPs on the management of dementia and behavioural symptoms.

6. Impact of research
‘…it takes an average of 17 years for only 14 percent of scientific discoveries to become standard treatment in the community…’
Trochim et al, NIH report

7. Impact of research
£18,800,000

8. Impact of research

9. Impact of research
Knowledge generation

10. Impact of research 1989 - 2011 Knowledge generation 2010 impact factor
No of pubs
0 to 4
125
4 to 7 50
7 to 10 21
10+ 15
£80,000 per
publication

11. Impact of research 1989 - 2011 Knowledge generation
Have had an impact in research into cause, care, cure and prevention of dementia:
Tau biology
Important contributions to the field.
Diagnosis
Advances in MRI, blood biomarkers and improving diagnosis by GPs
Management of behavioural symptoms
FITS trial, CALM-AD

12. Impact of research 1989 - 2011 Developing leaders in dementia research
36 research fellowships
20 PhD studentships
70 per cent of Alzheimer’s Society research fellows have remained active in dementia research.
60 per cent of our research fellows now hold tenured positions in universities and research institutes.

13. Impact of research
Tangible improvements for people with dementia and their carers
A standard neuroimaging approach
Detection of brain atrophy by MRI is now a recommended approach for diagnosing early changes in dementia and is increasingly beginning to be used in clinical settings.
‘Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the preferred modality to assist with early diagnosis and detect subcortical vascular changes.’
National Clinical guideline on supporting people with dementia and their carers in health and social care
Access to cholinesterase inhibitors in the UK
Alzheimer’s Society commissioned research that looked at the views and experiences of patients and carers in using these drugs, and creating novel patient-defined outcome measures. This evidence was crucial in Alzheimer’s Society’s campaigning work against the decision of NICE.
Person centred care as an alternative to antipsychotic medication
The FITS (focused intervention in training and support demonstrated a 50% reduction in antipsychotic use in care homes. Alzheimer’s Society has now started a role out of this package across the UK.

14. Summary
Research is what many donors and supporters of our organisation wish their money to be spent on.
Research offers hope to patients and carers.
Research raises awareness of dementia and the profile of our organisation.
Research can innovate services and provide an evidence base to campaigns.
Research always adds to knowledge, can train new leaders in the field and occasionally can provide the breakthroughs that we strive for.
Thank you!