Dementia Researcher Blogs

Leanne Greene & Alex Gude - Judging capacity in dementia studies

Leanne Greene narrates the blog written by herself and colleague Alex Gude written for the Dementia Researcher website.
Current NIHR guidance advocates that research should strive to improve the inclusion of individuals with dementia, including those who lack capacity (i.e. the ability to make one’s own decisions). Despite this guidance, D-PACT is one of few studies actively including adults who lack capacity through an innovative ‘inclusive recruitment pathway’ and the use of consultees.
In this blog Leanne and Alex how D-PACT went about developing a new approach to addressing capasity, and lessons learned from using their new pathway and guidance.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-judging-capacity-in-dementia-studies-insights-from-face-to-face-and-remote-recruitment/
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Leanne Greene is a Programme Manager at University of Exeter. With a background is in neuropsychology, Leanne spent time as an assistant psychologist in the NHS, including working on a specialist dementia ward offering assessment and treatment of organic mental health problems with dementia. Leanee has worked on a number of studies including Dementia- PersonAlised Care Team (D-PACT) project, which aims to develop and evaluate a system for dementia support based in general practice. She is currently, working on developing and evaluating a primary care TaIlored ManagEment of Sleep (TIMES) tool for people living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment.
Alex Gude is a Research Assistant at University of Plymouth. Having worked as a social worker with children and families for 10 years, Alex moved into research in 2016 and has worked on a number of projects as part of the Community and Primary Care Research Group at the University of Plymouth. All the projects she has chosen to work on are aimed at improving the mental health and wellbeing of the participants involved. Alex has a partner and two daughters, who are 11 and 14, who all keep her on her toes.
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Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

Dr Yvonne Couch - Quitting

Dr Yvonne Couch, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.
Don’t panic. The title was not a confession. Yvonne isn't quitting. At least not yet. But she has been thinking about the motivation to quit a lot lately and in this blog Yvonne shares what she has discovered.
First some credit, much of the info in this has been lifted from the amazing A Slight Change of Plans podcast interview with the incredible poker player and psychologist Annie Duke. Annie and the host, Maya Shankar, discuss the psychology behind quitting and the importance of thinking about quitting well, quitting early and deciding to quit.
From a researcher’s point of view this is going to have two important bearings on what we do. First, it’s going to play a role in how we decide the path of our science, both the day-to-day experiments and the big picture stuff. And second, it’s going to play a role in how we decide the path of our careers... listen to learn more.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-quitting/
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Dr Yvonne Couch is an Alzheimer's Research UK Fellow at the University of Oxford. Yvonne studies the role of extracellular vesicles and their role in changing the function of the vasculature after stroke, aiming to discover why the prevalence of dementia after stroke is three times higher than the average. It is her passion for problem solving and love of science that drives her, in advancing our knowledge of disease. Yvonne has joined the team of staff bloggers at Dementia Researcher, and will be writing about her work and life as she takes a new road into independent research.
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Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

Masha Burelo - Pesticides in Cannabis

Masha Burelo narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.
Masha Burelo, PhD Student from University of Aberdeen is back with her third blog in the 'from the plant to the lab series'. Masha is now focussed on dementia research, but her pervious work on cannabinoids, is shared through this series and today she writes about some of the risks... Nowadays, the main source of cannabinoids worldwide is cannabis plants, but we forget that cannabis is a crop that undergoes regular management to improve its growth, development, and yield. Many users only get to see the pharmaceutical products, extracts, edibles, or final buds, but have you ever thought about the chemicals used for growing cannabis or to control its pests? And, since we know the main consumption of cannabis is through smoking, could it be transferred into the smoke?
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-pesticides-in-cannabis/
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Masha Burelo is a PhD Student at the University of Aberdeen. Her research explores Electrophysiology and behavioural evaluation in preclinical models of Alzheimer’s disease. Masha started her studies in veterinary medicine in Mexico and first became interested in cannabinoids when her dog developed epilepsy, then with close family members struck by Alzheimer's Disease her interest in neuroscience, plants and the brain developed.
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Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

Dr Sam Moxon - Do we need to peer review the process of peer review?

Dr Sam Moxon, narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher.
Sam has previously shared his challenges of living with ulcerative pancolitis, sadly this recently landed him in hospital as an inpatient, and in this blog he shares experiences from his stay - we are sure you join us in wishing him a speedy recovery.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-do-we-need-to-peer-review-the-process-of-peer-review/
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Dr Sam Moxon is a biomaterials scientist at the University of Manchester. His expertise falls on the interface between biology and engineering. His PhD focussed on regenerative medicine and he now works on trying to develop 3D bioprinting techniques with human stem cells, so that we better understand and treat degenerative diseases. Outside of the lab he hikes through the Lake District and is an expert on all things Disney.
Enjoy listening and reading our blogs? We're always on the look out for new contributors, drop us a line and share your own research and careers advice dementiaresearcher@nihr.ac.uk

Dr Anna Volkmer - The making of the clinical academic…the façade is slipping

Dr Anna Volkmer, narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.
Anna questions how you sustain the Academic element of being a 'Clinical Academic', and how many hours per week justtifies keepin the title? And is it possible to be a commited academic whilst also being a dedicated clinician?
A solid bout of imposter syndrome coming through whilst waiting on Fellowship application decisions...
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-the-making-of-the-clinical-academicthe-facade-is-slipping/
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Dr Anna Volkmer is a Speech and Language Therapist and researcher in Language and Cognition, Department of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London. Anna is researching Speech and language therapy interventions in language led dementia and was once voted scariest speech and language therapist (even her children agree).
If you would like to write for us, or join out team of regular contributors, drop us a line - dementiaresearcher@nihr.ac.uk

Meet Dr Emmanuelle Vire, University College London

Last week we attended the Alzheimer's Research UK Conference in Brighton. We took time out from the programme to talk with early career dementia researchers to ask them about their work, the challenges they have faced and how they overcame them, and to share a highlight from the conference.
In this short interview we talk with Dr Emmanuelle Vire, Associate Professor in the University College London Institute of Prion Diseases. Emmanuelle explores if epigenetics is a hallmark of protein-based inheritance in neurodegeneration. Our research specifically investigates epigenetic mechanisms in human prion diseases. Emmanuelle and her colleagues employ a large array of technologies (transcriptomics, epigenomics, cell-based assays, animal models, patients samples) to determine if, where, when and how epigenetics contribute to disease susceptibility, onset, and progression. Using next-generation technologies we profile DNA, RNA, and histone modifications and identify disease-specific gene (coding and non-coding) signatures and pathways. Some their current projects also involve machine learning, nanopore sequencing, small molecule inhibitor and genome editing.Find out more about Emmanuelle and her work on our website:
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/profile-dr-emmanuelle-vire-university-college-london/
If you would like to join us and add your profile and short interview to our researchers profile, drop us a line to dementiaresearcher@nihr.ac.uk 

Meet Dr Soraya Meftah, The University of Edinburgh

Last week we attended the Alzheimer's Research UK Conference in Brighton. We took time out from the programme to talk with early career dementia researchers to ask them about their work, the challenges they have faced and how they overcame them, and to share a highlight from the conference.
In this short interview we talk with Dr Soraya Meftah, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh. Soraya works in Neurophysiology of dementia (synaptic, neuronal, network dysfunction).
Find out more about Soraya and her work on our website:
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/profile-dr-soraya-meftah-the-university-of-edinburgh/
If you would like to join us and add your profile and short interview to our researchers profile, drop us a line to dementiaresearcher@nihr.ac.uk 

Meet Beth Eyre, University of Sheffield

Last week we attended the Alzheimer's Research UK Conference in Brighton. We took time out from the programme to talk with early career dementia researchers to ask them about their work, the challenges they have faced and how they overcame them, and to share a highlight from the conference.
In this short interview we talk with Beth Eyre, PhD Student at University of Sheffield. Beth is researching Neurovascular and cognitive function in preclinical models of Alzheimer’s disease. With a background in psychology, where she gained her degree from the University of Leeds. Inside and outside the lab, Beth loves sharing her science and we are delighted catch up with her and for her ongoing contributions as a regular blogger with Dementia Researcher, sharing her work and discussing her career. 
Find out more about Beth and her work on our website:
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/profile-beth-eyre/
If you would like to join us and add your profile and short interview to our researchers profile, drop us a line to dementiaresearcher@nihr.ac.uk 

Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali - What is “brain health” and is it important?

Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.
With populations getting older, age-associated disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, are projected to place significant demands on global health systems over the coming years. There is therefore an increasing need to understand how to improve and preserve our brain health, but how can we do this when no consensus definition exists of what brain health actually is and what it looks like? In this blog Kamar discusses the challenge of trying to understand brain health, and why it is important.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-what-is-brain-health-and-is-it-important/
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Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali is a Research Associate at University of Glasgow, exploring how neuroinflammation following traumatic brain injury contributes to the progression of neurodegenerative diseases that lead to dementia. Having first pursued a career as an NHS Psychologist, Kamar went back to University in Durham to look at rodent behavioural tasks to completed her PhD, and then worked as a regional Programme Manager for NC3Rs. Kamar brings a wealth of experience and writes on a range of topics from her time in the NHS, working for a Research Funder and from her work and life in the lab.
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Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.