The Medical Research Council (MRC) has today (14 December 2017) announced that world-renowned Belgian scientist Prof Bart De Strooper will take the helm as Director of the UK Dementia Research Institute – a joint £250m investment into dementia research led by MRC alongside founding charity partners Alzheimer’s Research UK and Alzheimer’s Society.
The Director was chosen after a competitive search that has also seen UCL (University College London) named as the Institute’s ‘Hub’ in recognition of its world-class dementia research and state-of-the-art facilities. The Hub will link closely with regional centres across the UK, which are expected to be announced in early 2017, to create a multi-centred national Institute. The UK DRI will also work closely with existing research initiatives in the UK such as the MRC Dementias Platform UK and the Alzheimer’s Research UK Drug Discovery Alliance.
Hilary Evans, Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:
“Today is a significant day for the UK DRI, with the vision for a world-leading national Institute in dementia research starting to become a reality. The UK DRI will become a tour de force for UK dementia science, bolstering existing research efforts through multi-disciplinary approaches that tackle the condition from different angles. Alzheimer’s Research UK has already worked closely with Prof De Strooper in his role as academic advisor to our UCL-based Drug Discovery Institute, and we are delighted he will be leading the work of the UK DRI. Sustained high-level funding for research is vital to drive the advances that will change the lives of people with dementia.”
