Alzheimer’s Research UK launches £30m dementia drug discovery alliance

The launch of three drug discovery institutes at the University of Cambridge, University of Oxford and University College London (UCL) will see 90 new research scientists recruited over the next five years, to fast-track the development of new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

In the UK, dementia affects more than 830,000 people and costs the economy £23bn per annum.

The last treatment for dementia was licensed in the UK 12 years ago, while the existing treatments are only modestly effective and not suitable for all dementias.

As part of the Drug Discovery Alliance, each Institute will be led by a chief scientific officer working with some of the UK’s leading academic researchers based at each of the three universities and Alzheimer’s Research UK’s own in-house research leaders.

Alzheimer’s Research UK director of Research Dr Eric Karran said: "Academic research is a goldmine of knowledge about diseases such as Alzheimer’s, and by tapping into the innovation, creativity, ideas and flexibility of scientists in these universities, we can re-energise the search for new dementia treatments.

"Working in universities and hospitals alongside people affected by dementia and their families, academic researchers are best placed to take research breakthroughs and progress them into real world benefits for the people that so desperately need them."