Government commits more funding to dementia
Thursday 30th June 2011
More money is to be dedicated to moving closer to better treatments and a cure for dementia, the government has announced.
Care Services minister Paul Burstow has announced that more money and expertise will be allocated to dementia research.
The minister teamed up with 17 experts from the government, universities, charities, industry and research organisations in order to increase the dementia research being conducted in the country.
This team has launched a "Route Map for Dementia Research" which pledges up to £20 million from the Department of Health over the next five years to create four new National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Units.
In addition, the Medical Research Council is to step up its funding for research into neurodegenerative disorders by ten percent over the next four years, with an aim of £150 million.
Moreover, new Academic Clinical Fellowships will heighten the number of experts in the field of dementia and links between public and private sector research will be strengthened.
Moreover, the NIHR's Dementia and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Network will get more patients and carers involved in research by facilitating studies in the NHS and care homes.
Burstow said that dementia is "one of the biggest challenges we face".
"We need to better understand dementia if we are to counter its effects more successfully. Research is the key to developing new treatments, transforming care and ultimately to finding a cure for this devastating disease," he continued.
Hannah Clack, media manager at The Alzheimer's Society. said that this funding is providing the "opportunity of a generation" to transform not only the research landscape, but the lives of those affected by the condition.
She emphasised the importance of ensuring the commitment is translated into action as soon as possible, saying "the need couldn't be greater at the moment".
Written by Mathew Horton
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