Special Interest Group
Technologies for Brain Health and Dementia Prevention
Innovative technologies to enhance brain health and support people affected by dementia and their caregivers are growing as fast as their rapidly changing needs. Scotland is a hub of technological innovation. We therefore have the knowledge, experience, and expertise among us to leverage this wealth of innovation to support those affected by dementia or are at risk of developing the condition.
This Special Interest Group will bring together stakeholders from a range of experiences to share their knowledge and expertise to discuss innovations to support people living with dementia and those who care for them.
Click here to find out more about the Special Interest Group’s recent activity
Latest News
This Special Interest Group is proud to be supported by:
What are the aims of the SIG on Technology for Brain Health and Dementia Prevention?
The Technology and Informatics theme of the Scottish Dementia Research Consortium (SDRC) and the Healthy Ageing Innovation Cluster of the Digital Health and Care Innovation Centre (DHI) have decided to support the creation of spaces where the communities involved in technological innovations for Brain Health and Dementia Prevention can come together to:
- Discuss ideas of how supportive technologies can best meet the needs of people affected by dementia.
- Encourage discussions on theories and applications of emerging technologies with an emphasis on brain health and dementia prevention.
- Explore synergies among ongoing initiatives in technologies for brain health to harness the power that Scotland hosts to contribute to the emerging challenges identified by the UK government.
Special Interest Group Activity
Recent Activity
UWS Creative Computing Technologies Symposium, 23 June 2023
With the aim to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration the First UWS Creative Computing Technologies (CCT) Symposium was officially launched. The Symposium provided a forum for discussing applications of creative computing to health, and in particular ageing and the reducing intergenerational gap. This showcased the activity of the group, which aims to develop new knowledge, understanding, technologies, and applications of creative computing to areas outside of the entertainment and film industry.
One of the speakers at the Symposium was SDRC Executive Committee member, Mario Parra Rodriguez who presented how virtual reality and technology could potentially be applied to the diagnosis and support of patients with dementia.
Participants of the Symposium actively engaged in the development of new ideas and collaborations which will be followed up for potential funding applications.
The Special Interest Group will continue to work with the CCT, sharing experience and expertise to further our aims of using technology to support people living with, or at risk of dementia and those who care for them.
Publications by SIG members
This section will showcase relevant publications to academic journals authored by members of the Special Interest Group. Please email us if you have a publication that you would like to share.
Funding Opportunities
Please see below a list of potential relevant funding opportunities. If you are aware of any opportunities you would like to share with the group, please get in touch.
Projects of the SIG
Here we will record projects that have emerged from interactions within the group. This will be updated in due course.
Governmental Commitments to Supportive Technology
At a Scottish Government level, the Technology section of the Scotland’s National Dementia Strategy states that the “Technology Charter will ensure that everyone with a diagnosis of dementia and those who care for them are aware of, and have access to, a range of proven technologies to enable people living with dementia to live safely and independently”.
Furthermore, the UK Industrial Strategy has “Ageing Society” as one of its Grand Challenges. By integrating medical, social and technological development, the challenge will develop new products and services that offer choice, meet the aspirations of stakeholders through better, more effective care, support an independent lifestyle as they age. The strategy acknowledges that by working together, the government, academics, and industry can address the challenges of ageing whilst capturing a growing global market.
Who are the members of the SIG and how can I join?
The following are members of the Special Interest Group. If you would like to register and be added to this list, please fill in the form below
Who are the Special Interest Group Members and How Can I Join?
See the dropdown list below for a full list of members. If you would like to join this group, please do so by filling out the short application form.
List of Special Interest Group Members
| Name | Affiliation |
| Bettina Platt | University of Aberdeen |
| Samantha Wilson | University of Liverpool |
| Louise McCabe | University of Stirling |
| Claire Cleland | Queen’s University Belfast |
| Mizan Rambhoros | |
| Alison Porter | Edinburgh Napier University |
| William McGeown | University of Strathclyde |
| Tom Russ | University of Edinburgh/NHS |
| Javier Escudero | University of Edinburgh |
| Marion MacInnes | NHS |
| Ailin Chen | University of Stirling |
| Harleen Rai | University of Strathclyde |
| Coco Newton | Cambridge |
| Wyn Fanshawe | Capture the Event Services Ltd |
| Alan Gow | Heriot-Watt University |
| Mohammad Mainuddin Mollah | The University of the West of Scotland |
| Darren Evans | After Cloud |
| Zeke Steer | Milbotix Ltd |
| Gaetano Di Caterina | University of Strathclyde |
| Carla Resendiz | Norscot Joinery & Teesside University |
| Mario A Parra | University of Strathclyde |
| Roma Maguire | Strathclyde |
| Ruaridh Clark | University of Strathclyde |
| Tracey Ward | Scottish Enterprise |
| Janette Hughes | Digital health and care innovation centre |
| Subramanian Ramamoorthy | University of Edinburgh |
| Donald MacIntyre | University of Edinburgh |
| Avalon Campbell-Cousins | University of Edinburgh |
| Kerry Kilborn | Glasgow University |
| Vivek Pattan | NHS Forth Valley |
| Danial of Kahani | Strathclyde |
| NICOLAS RUBIDO | UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN |
| Avalon Campbell-Cousins | Edinburgh University |
| Nicolas Rubido | University of Aberdeen, King’s College |
| Mark Dunlop | Strathclyde |
| Sarah Whear | University of Glasgow |
| Scott MacLeod | Heriot-Watt University |
| Jeanette Maitland | Founder Member of NDCAN |
| Annabel Young | University of Stirling |
| Geoff Orry | SDWG Alzheimer Scotland |
| Stephen Butler | University of Strathclyde |
| Daniel Abasolo | University of Surrey |
| Grant Gibson | University of Stirling |
| Kieren egan | University of Strathclyde |
| Meiyii Lim | Heriot Watt University |
| Desmond Mansfield | Scottish Enterprise |
| Mauro Dragone | Heriot-Watt University |
| Sarah E MacPherson | University of Edinburgh |
| Suvish S Kumar | Glasgow Caledonian University |
| Gary Conelius | |
| Diane Rasmussen Pennington | University of Strathclyde |
Application Form
Past Events
Past SDRC Conferences
Take a look back at previous years’ SDRC Conferences. We have photos, videos and summaries of the discussions on the day.
Webinar Series
The SDRC webinar series feature world-leaders and contain a wealth of information on a variety of topics, including on brain health and dementia research topics and career advice.