Dementia Researcher Blogs

Dr Sam Moxon - Are We Entering a “Golden Age” of Dementia Research?

Dr Sam Moxon, narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher.
Dementia has been a part of society for at least 1400 years, in this blog Sam provides a quick romp through the history of the disease and explores the drugs that have been used to treat the symptons of Alzheimer's and some of the latest research into new treatments.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-are-we-entering-a-golden-age-of-dementia-research/
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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 Gaia Brezzo - Teaching as an ECR, why take the time to do it?

Dr Gaia Brezzo narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.
As Gaia mentioned in her first blog, she had a slightly different PhD experience to most. Her funding and course enrolment fees were paid for by a Teaching Fellowship. This provided four years in which to run experiments, write up a thesis and teach for up to 180 hours in her department every year. In this blog, Gaia explores how this joint research-teaching experience helped her as an ECR, shaped her research and career to date and opened up other avenues and opportunities along the way - it also includes a few tips on how to get teaching.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-teaching-as-an-ecr-why-take-the-time-to-do-it/
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Dr Gaia Brezzo is a Research Fellow based within the UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh. Gaia's research focuses on understanding how immune alterations triggered by stroke shape chronic maladaptive neuroimmune responses that lead to post-stroke cognitive decline and vascular dementia. Raised in Italy, Gaia came to the UK to complete her undergraduate degree, and thankfully, stuck around. Gaia writes about her work and career challenges, when not biking her way up and down hills in Edinburgh. Follow Gaia on Twitter: @Gaia_Brezzo
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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.

Beth Eyre - Two–photon microscopy: How can it be used in Alzheimer’s research?

Beth Eyre narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.
When you think about it, it’s pretty amazing how far technology has come on in recent decades. One field in which technology has come on leaps and bounds is within neuroscience. Imaging the brain has always been a little tricky, because it’s encased in a skull. Obviously having a skull is important as it protects our precious brain from damage, but it has made looking inside our brain a little tricky. For example, even 50 years or so ago there was no way we could see what was going on inside a living brain. In the past, we used to get our information about the brain from autopsy studies, where correlations could be made between damage to a specific part of the brain and a person’s behaviour (an area of research called neuropsychology). But, we now have some astounding techniques that can give us an insight into what’s happening inside the brain, even at the single blood vessel and cellular level! These relatively new technologies are now being utilised to study some of the most pressing public health issues of our time.
In this month’s blog to Beth discusses a new technique she is learning, and how two-photon microscopy can be used to help us learn more about Alzheimer’s disease.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-two-photon-microscopy-how-can-it-be-used-in-alzheimers-research/
We're always on the look out for new contributors, if you would like to write and narrate your own blog - drop us a line to dementiaresearcher@nihr.ac.uk
Don't forget to also listen to our fortnightly - published fortnightly, just look for Dementia Researcher in your podcast app.
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Beth Eyre is a PhD Student at The University of Sheffield, researching Neurovascular and cognitive function in preclinical models of Alzheimer’s disease. Beth has 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 to have her contributing as a regular blogger with Dementia Researcher, sharing her work and discussing her career. 
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This podcast is brought to you from University College London in association with the National Institute for Health Research, Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support. Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line dementiaresearcher@ucl.ac.uk  

Nathan Stephens - A guide to mixed methods research design

Nathan Stephens narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher.
In this blog, Nathan provides summarises the things you’ll need to think about when planning a mixed methods research study, including characteristics and key design elements like sequencing, point of interface, and methodological priority.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-a-guide-to-mixed-methods-research-design/
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Nathan Stephens is a PhD Student and unpaid carer, working on his PhD at University of Worcester, studying the Worcestershire Meeting Centres Community Support Programme. Inspired by caring for both grandparents and personal experience of dementia, Nathan has gone from a BSc in Sports & Physical Education, an MSc in Public Health, and now working on his PhD.
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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.

Dr Anna Volkmer - The outcome: My NIHR Advanced Fellowship Application

Dr Anna Volkmer, narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.
So the big news is... Anna was successful in her NIHR Advanced Fellowship application. It's been a long old road. It started with an application submission in January 2021 (and there was lots before that) and it’s finally official- signed and sealed. In this blog Anna provides an overview of actual timelines, of key milestones and some tips and hints in case you are considering embarking on the same journey.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-the-outcome-my-nihr-advanced-fellowship-app/
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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

Dr Clarissa Giebel - World Alzheimer Report 2022, Post-diagnostic care or lack thereof

Dr Clarissa Giebel narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.
It's World Alzheimer's Day, and Alzheimer's Disease International have published their annual worldwide resport. Clarissa has been reviewing the report and she shares her thoughts in her latest blog. The common theme of this year’s dementia reports seems to be post-diagnostic care and support, or rather the lack thereof. Listen or read the blog in full to get the full round up and download from the ADI website.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-world-alzheimer-report-2022-post-diagnostic-care-or-lack-thereof/
Download the report:
https://www.alzint.org/resource/world-alzheimer-report-2022/
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Dr Clarissa Giebel is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Liverpool and NIHR ARC North West Coast. Clarissa has been working in dementia care research for over 10 years focusing her research on helping people with dementia to live at home independently and well for longer, addressing inequalities that people with dementia and carers can face. Outside of her day work, Clarissa has also organised a local dementia network - the Liverpool Dementia & Ageing Research Forum, and has recently started her own podcast called the Ageing Scientist.
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If you would like to write your own blog drop us a line, we're always on the look out for new contributors to write about their research, careers + more dementiaresearcher@nihr.ac.uk

Dr Yvonne Couch - Angiogenesis

Dr Yvonne Couch, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.
Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels - this process involves the migration, growth, and differentiation of endothelial cells, which line the inside wall of blood vessels. Todays blog by Yvonne is all about Angiogenesis, a bit of history and a bit of how angiogenesis after brain injury and in old age may contribute to brain health.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-angiogenesis/
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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

Introducing Dr Gaia Brezzo

Dr Gaia Brezzo narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.
We are delighted to welcome Dr Gaia Brezzo as a regular monthly blog contributor to the Dementia Researcher website. Gaia will be sharing stories of her research, field of discovery and providing top tips and careers advice coming from her experiences.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-dr-gaia-brezzo-introduction/
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Dr Gaia Brezzo is a Research Fellow based within the UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh. Gaia's research focuses on understanding how immune alterations triggered by stroke shape chronic maladaptive neuroimmune responses that lead to post-stroke cognitive decline and vascular dementia. Raised in Italy, Gaia came to the UK to complete her undergraduate degree, and thankfully, stuck around. Gaia writes about her work and career challenges, when not biking her way up and down hills in Edinburgh. Follow Gaia on Twitter: @Gaia_Brezzo
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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.

Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali - From Postdoc to Lecturer

Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.
In February 2022 Kamar started a new academic position as a lecturer in biomedical science at Teesside University. This marks a significant step-up both in terms of opportunities it would present, and the new challenges she would face. In this blog, Kamar shares her experience of the first six months of my lectureship. This might be helpful for anyone wanting to know what they can expect, and how you can balance the work, and keeping your research interests alive.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-from-postdoc-to-lecturer-my-first-six-months/
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Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali is a Lecturer in Biomedical Science at Teesside University & Affiliate Researcher at Glasgow University. In addition to teaching, Kamar is 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.
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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.