Ten years ago today, on the 28 August 2013, the Scottish Dementia Research Consortium was established at the Surgeon’s Hall, Edinburgh.

The SDRC was created to enable greater co-ordination by pooling the resources, experience and expertise of the wide-ranging and multi-disciplinary dementia research community in Scotland. The aim of this was to build relationships with funding bodies, governmental organisations, and each other, to grow funding and career opportunities for academics in the field. See the video below which was produced when the SDRC first launched.

The SDRC grew steadily, in the first 5 years its members formed meaningful collaborations and connections. It gained 200-300 members and the SDRC Annual Conference quickly became a key date in the calendar, becoming the primary networking and learning opportunity for dementia researchers, showcasing the wonderful work ongoing across disciplines. The SDRC Executive Committee, who oversee the SDRC’s operations and strategy, has been made up of world leading researchers from the beginning and were key in building the organisation and ensuring fulfills its purpose. 

Here are just a few of examples of what the SDRC has done in the past 10 years: 

  • Events for networking and learning opportunities
  • Annual mapping of the Scottish dementia research landscape, which allows the Executive Committee to benchmark activity and identify areas for development
  • Producing an Annual Report which promotes ongoing dementia research activity and celebrates success
  • Highlighting the work of researchers and research participants by publishing blogs on the SDRC website
  • Promoting the research and playing a key role in translating research findings into practice. By working closely with policy-makers, care providers, and other stakeholders we help ensure that research findings are incorporated into policy and practice, and that people with dementia and their families are able to benefit from the latest research.
  • We have supported early career researchers through schemes such as the mentorship programme and webinar series
  • Keeping members up to date with the latest news in dementia and brain health in our mailing list
  • Supporting funding schemes, for example: awarding small grants to help early career researchers during COVID; working with Alzheimer Scotland to deliver their Student Research Programme; providing support to the Scottish Neurological Research Fund 

Now, as we approach the end of the first decade of the SDRC, we have a lot to celebrate, but we know we still have a lot to do. We now have almost 1100 members and we will continue to listen to them and work together to nurture and grow dementia and brain health research in Scotland.

 

Read more SDRC Latest

New SDRC Executive Committee Member: Dr Tom Russ

Following our recent SDRC Executive Committee election, we have seven new researchers join us.  The full list of members is available here. We are delighted to announce Dr Tom Russ as one of the newest members. Find out more about Tom below.  I trained in medicine and...

Celebrating Scottish Research Award Winners 2024

We have produced a report based on the findings of how COVID-19 has impacted our members’ research- with particular focus on ECRs

Do you have insights to share with other researchers? Write a blog for the SDRC!

We are always looking for SDRC members to feature on our website and write a guest blog for the SDRC. You may already be familiar with our blog series, where we welcome contributions from people with an experience of brain health or dementia research. Blogs are an...

Alzheimer Disease International Clinician Survey

This year Alzheimer's Disease International has commissioned McGill University, Montreal, Canada to produce this year's World Alzheimer Report on diagnosis, as well as the 2022 World Alzheimer Report on post-diagnostic support. The first of three surveys is now ready...

Research in the News: Football Heading and Dementia Risk

Researchers Glasgow Brain Injury Research Group (GBIRG) led by Associate Professor Willie Stewart, have published their findings reporting a link between a footballers' outfield position and neurodegenerative risk.  Taking place at the University of Glasgow, as part...

Call for new members: Scottish Cognitive Ageing Network

The Scottish Cognitive Ageing Network (SCAN) was established in 2022, aimed at formalising and building on cross-institutional links in cognitive ageing research across Scotland. The inaugural meeting took place at the University of Strathclyde in May, with a second...

Professor John Starr: A tribute

We're deeply saddened to hear that Professor John Starr has passed away. Prof Starr supported our work for many years as an Alzheimer Scotland Trustee, and as the Director of the Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre at the University of Edinburgh....

Research Recruitment Support for Primary Care Researchers

The NRS Primary Care Network is the national primary care research network operating in Scotland. The network was established in 2002 as a framework to co-ordinate national research activity in primary care. The overall aim of the network is to increase the amount of...

Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice recognised at the Herald Higher Education Awards 2023

Congratulations to the Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice (ASCPP) at the University of the West of Scotland on winning the for Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community at the Herald Higher Education Awards 2023. The specific project was...

Life Sciences Event with the SDRC, SULSA, Brain Health Scotland & Alzheimer Scotland

On the 26-27 May 2022, the Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance (SULSA), the Scottish Dementia Research Consortium, Brain Health Scotland and Alzheimer Scotland hosted world leaders in Life Sciences at a summit at the University of St Andrews.  This two-day...