The NHS Research Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network work closely with the SDRC to ensure everyone with a neuroprogressive condition or dementia has the opportunity of taking part in research. We share the same aim of collaboration and we know that inter-disciplinary research is crucial to advance understanding of the diseases and new treatments. Read below this extract from the SDRC Annual Report 2022/23 which gives an update on the NDN’s most recent activity and achievements.
The purpose of the NDN is to help researchers from across a range of disciplines deliver research across Scotland in a wide range of healthcare settings, including primary and community care, mental health services and acute hospitals. They oversee a wide range of research studies which are conducted within the NHS and care home settings including: research into the underlying mechanisms and causes; prevention; new symptoms; disease-modifying treatments and better care. Their work provides clinicians early access to the latest treatments and technologies for diagnosing and treating disease, whilst offering more opportunities for people living with dementia and neuroprogressive conditions to take part in cutting-edge research.
In addition to cross-institution and cross-disciplinary non-commercial research, the NDN has also developed a portfolio of commercial research. Working closely with industry is an important part of keeping the NHS at the forefront of modern treatments and research. However, it should be noted that no individual profits are received by the network for working with industry. Commercial research is funded by pharmaceutical or medical technology companies and helps to generate further research capacity and cover study related and overhead costs.
For the 2022-23 financial year the NDN has:
- Maintained a complex and changing academic and commercial portfolio, with 62 unique studies being supported across 8 health boards, often in multiple locations.
- Supported academic research studies such as TOPHAT (Ondensetron in Parkinson’s and Lewy Body Dementia) as well as larger commercial endeavours with pharmaceutical companies such as Roche, Biogen, Abbvie, Novo Nordisk and Merck which has supported participants from all over Scotland to take part in high quality research into some of the most impactful medical issues we face today.
- Delivered a successful hybrid conference in September 2022, focusing on the patient and public involvement aspect of the NDN, that brought together researchers, charity organisations and those with neuroprogressive diseases to talk about how the research landscape has changed, and what benefits the inclusion of more voices in research delivery from protocol design to co-production of research have brought about. The talks were delivered in triads of researcher, research participant and charity representative.
- Supported “Partners in Research” by funding Dr Rosie Ashworth to spearhead the group and has produced an internationally renowned presence and the delivery of a co-produced book about living with dementia, which will be launched on the 1st of September this year in the V&A in Dundee.
Click here to read the SDRC Annual Report 2022/23 in full. You can find out more about the Neuroprograssive and Dementia Network on Twitter: @NRS_NDN