Experts wanting to move into dementia research in Australia have an opportunity to access a $1 million research grant that could transform the landscape, Dementia Australia Research Foundation and The Yulgilbar Foundation announced today.
The $1 million Innovation Grant is jointly funded by the two foundations and will be administered through Dementia Australia’s research arm. Key components of the grant include highly innovative approaches, the involvement of early career researchers and ongoing engagement with those directly affected by dementia, including people living with dementia and their families and carers.
John Quinn, aged 66, who has dementia, said research provides hope for the many Australians currently living with dementia.
"Any dementia research should involve a partnership between researchers, clinicians, people living with dementia, if appropriate, care partners and family," Mr Quinn said.
"The lived experience of dementia adds authenticity and credibility to the research and ultimately, I believe it will lead to better quality health outcomes for consumers. Consumers should be involved from the beginning to the end."
Mr Quinn’s care partner Glenys Petrie said it is imperative that research is looking into better quality of life options for now – for reablement across all ages.
Prof Graeme Samuel AC, Chair Dementia Australia Research Foundation, said the $1 million grant presents an extraordinary opportunity for high calibre researchers, especially ones from outside the field of traditional dementia research, to offer new approaches and collaborations nationally and internationally.
"The Grant is a unique collaboration between the two Foundations and a demonstration of our organisations’ collective commitment to supporting discoveries that will prevent, delay the onset, slow the progress and ultimately, cure dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease," Prof Samuel said.
The Yulgilbar Foundation’s Scientific Director Prof Bob Williamson said that the three-year Innovation Grant will support a high-quality, and hopefully, paradigm-changing program of research to transform the landscape of dementia research.
"We are pleased to be partnering with Dementia Australia to inspire new researchers to take on the challenge of dementia," Prof Williamson said.
"Dementia is the biggest health issue facing our global community with more than 425,000 Australians currently living with dementia and an estimated 47 million people worldwide.
"At a million dollars, this Grant is big enough to attract researchers from exciting new fields of research to make a career-defining difference to the lives of people living with all forms of dementia, their families and carers, and to have a global impact on the future health and lifestyle outcomes for generations to come."
Consideration will be given to applications from any research discipline. Clinical, biomedical or psychosocial research proposals will be welcome, as long as the project brings something fresh and new to the field and has the potential to translate into the clinic. ---
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