Alzheimer’s Research UK to join new Dementia Consortium

News has emerged surrounding the creation of a brand new Dementia Consortium, which aims to give hope for discovering a potential cure for the condition.

In what could serve as a superb aid for those in dementia care and their family members, the consortium will see the charity, academic and private sectors link up in search of new treatments. The charity Alzheimer’s UK will be joining life science technology transfer experts MRC Technology, as well as the two pharmaceutical firms Eisai and Lilly.

The consortium will provide funding for leading academic research from Alzheimer’s Research UK and MRC Technology’s partners in both the UK and overseas. The academic teams which are chosen will work alongside the world-leading centre for Therapeutics Discovery at MRC Technology, allowing for further research. All initial findings will first be made available to Eisai and Lilly, which will then facilitate more in-depth study.

The consortium currently has £3 million available, with £2 million coming from Alzheimer’s UK and two contributions of £500,000 each given by Eisai and Lilly.

With over 35 million people living with dementia across the world, there has never been a more suitable time to apply sustained efforts towards finding treatments for the condition.

The Director of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, Dr Eric Karran, said that the Dementia Consortium draws on the strengths of both the academic and industrial research sectors, uniting them to help produce aids for those in dementia nursing care facilities far quicker than previously possible.

MRC Technology were also elated about the decision, with Professor Justin Bryans, Director of Drug Discovery, saying that they were delighted that their facility had been chosen to successfully validate potential dementia treatments.

Academic teams have until April 2014 to submit their applications to the consortium, with the first projects getting underway by next year.

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