Volunteer for research

This page lists UK research projects that are looking for volunteers. If you live in one of the locations below and would like to help medical research, click on the links and your support could make a significant difference to research progress in this area. 

You do not have to be personally affected by dementia to help as scientists at these centres need healthy individuals for their important work as well as people diagnosed with dementia or mild memory problems.

If you are not based in one of these locations, then unfortunately we do not know of any dementia research projects for which you could volunteer at the moment. A general lack of funding for dementia research means there are only a small number of projects for which volunteers are suitable. Some institutions specialise in important microbiological research that does not need patients and others recruit volunteers direct from existing clinics. But there are still plenty of ways for you to personally support dementia research - click here for other ways you can help the Alzheimer’s Research Trust.

Please note the Alzheimer's Research Trust is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Cardiff

Geographical restrictions: volunteers in South Wales and surrounding areas
Click here for more details.

Department of Psychological Medicine
Cardiff University School of Medicine
Heath Park
Cardiff
CF14 4XN
tel: 029 207 43427
email: adresearch@cardiff.ac.uk

London: MindSearch, Institute of Psychiatry

Geographical restrictions: volunteers within the M25 or areas with good transport links
Click here for more details.

MindSearch, PO Box 84
Institute of Psychiatry
De Crespigny Park
London SE5 8AF
tel: 020 7848 0909
email: mindsearch@iop.kcl.ac.uk

Oxford: Oxford Project to Investigate Memory and Ageing (OPTIMA)

Geographical restrictions: volunteers in Oxfordshire and bordering neighbours
Click here for more details.

Mrs Elizabeth King
OPTIMA
University Laboratory of Physiology
Parks Rd
Oxford OX1 3PT
tel: 01865 231457 or 01565 617189
email: elizabeth.king@pharm.ox.ac.uk  

Southampton: Memory Assessment and Research Centre (MARC)

Geographical restrictions: volunteers in Hampshire region, transport can be provided if needed
Click here for more details.

MARC, Moorgreen Hospital
Botley Road
West End
Southampton, S030 3JB
tel: 023 80475216
email: Janet.Dearlove@hantspt-sw.nhs.uk  

MRC London Brain Bank for Neurodegenerative Diseases

Geographical restrictions: accepts UK brain donations
Click here for more details.

The London Neurodegenerative Diseases Brain Bank
MRC Centre for Neurodegeneration Research
Box PO 65
Institute of Psychiatry
4 Windsor Walk
London SE5 8AF
tel: 020 7848 0290
email: brainbank@iop.kcl.ac.uk

NHS Cord Blood Bank

Geographical restrictions: accepts cord blood donations from Barnet General Hospital, Northwick Park Hospital, Luton and Dunstable Hospital and Watford General Hospital

Note: The bank collects for the primary purpose of transplant, only those units unsuitable for transplant are used for research provided the donor has given permission.
Click here for more details.

NHS Cord Blood Bank
Deansbrook Road
Edgware
Middlesex
HA8 9BD
tel: 0800 783 5870
email: cordblood.donation@nbs.nhs.uk 

TriMe: Trials in Mental Health

Click here for more details.  This site aims to:

• Give you information about mental health research that is happening, so you can think about getting involved.
  
• Help you make informed choices about the best research for you.
  
• Improve recruitment into high-quality mental health research by improving communication between you and the people running the trials.
  
• Contribute to a better understanding of mental health research by the public.