Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has appointed the first dementia research nurse in the country, after a £3 million nationwide investment from Alzheimer’s Society.
Alzheimer’s Society investment has been dedicated towards the UK Dementia Trials Network (UKDTN), specifically to help the recruitment of specialised dementia research nurses.
Jo Howe, a Senior Dementia Research Sister at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, said, “I am honoured to be part of the first UK-wide network of dementia research nurses.”
Howe, when talking about her reasons for wanting to get involved in Alzheimer’s Society UKDTN Research Nurses, said:
“I want to raise awareness of available research opportunities and support individuals in taking part. Through this, I hope to make dementia research more inclusive and accessible for everyone.”
This investment will create a number of places for hospitals to recruit Alzheimer’s Society UKDTN research nurses across the country.
Their job will be to focus on research trials, encouraging participation and diversity while helping raise awareness.
Dementia research is currently far behind compared to other medical conditions, despite being the UK’s biggest causes of deaths, with one in three people born today likely to develop this condition in their lifetime.
This funding will help find new ways of treatment whilst also helping to find easier ways to diagnose the disease by exploring new research opportunities and expanding availability in clinical trials.
Lead Research Nurse at Alzheimer’s Society, Laura Rooney said:
“We urgently need to expand the number of clinical trials available, with our research nurses increasing visibility and access to opportunities so that more people living with dementia from all backgrounds can take part.”
Rooney continues on to say:
“Research will beat dementia, the UK’s biggest killer.”