DH funding for 21 dementia research projects announced

In December 2012, England’s Department of Health revealed the 21 pioneering research projects which had won £22 million to boost dementia diagnosis rates and trial ground-breaking treatments. Awarded by the National Institute of Health Research matching the remit of its seven participating programmes, the funding will cover all areas of scientific activity relevant to dementia, across the fields of care, cure and cause, including prevention.

The projects by programme are:

Health Services and Delivery Research (HS&DR) Programme:

The detection and management of pain in patients with dementia in acute care settings: development of a decision tool
Improving care for people with dementia: development and initial feasibility study for evaluation of Life Story work in dementia care
The prevalence of visual impairment in people with dementia
Service provision for older people who are homeless and have memory problems
A multi-site evaluation of the Person, Interactions & Environment (PIE) tool to improve person-centred care for people with dementia admitted to acute hospital wards
Comorbidity and dementia: improving healthcare for people with dementia (CoDem)

Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme:

Assistive Technology and Telecare to maintain Independent Living At home for people with dementia: The ATTILA Trial
Goal-oriented cognitive rehabilitation in early-stage Alzheimer's disease: multi-centre single-blind randomised controlled trial (GREAT)
Evaluating the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of Dementia Care Mapping (DCM) to enable person-centred Care for people with dementia and their carers: A UK cluster randomised controlled trial in care homes (DCM EPIC trial)

Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) Programme:

Reducing pathology in Alzheimer’s disease through Angiotensin TaRgeting - The RADAR Trial
Minocycline in Alzheimer's disease Efficacy Trial: The MADE Trial

Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Programme:

Investigation of screening tools for amnestic mild cognitive impairment (a-MCI)
Strategies for managing Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms in Dementia (BPSD) for community dwelling older people: evidence into practice
Using Conversation Analysis in the differential diagnosis of memory problems: a pilot study
Prevention of falls in cognitively impaired older adults living in residential care (PROF-COG)
Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibition with simvastatin in mechanically ventilated patients at high risk of delirium
Shared decision making in mild to moderate dementia

Programme Grants for Applied Research (PGfAR):

Improving the diagnosis and management of dementias of Lewy body type in the NHS (DIAMAND-Lewy)
Effective home support in dementia care: Components, impact and costs of tertiary prevention
Peri-operative Enhanced Recovery hip Fracture Care of patients with Dementia-"PERFECTED" project
Supporting Excellence in End of life care in Dementia via an integrated care pathway (SEED programme) Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Website: NIHR Dementia Research