Our Network

The Alzheimer's Research Trust Network links fifteen of the UK's strongest centres of research, each headed by an internationally distinguished research scientist. Network centres share data and findings, pool resources when advantageous and have an annual conference to exchange ideas and results.

Aberdeen
Network Coordinator, Dr Donald Mowat
This group, located at the University of Aberdeen, has established a multi-disciplinary centre to develop and test treatments that aim to prevent the neurofibrillary degeneration found in Alzheimer's disease. Their research will bring tangible benefits to patients and help expand the number of possible treatments.

Bristol & Bath
Network Coordinator, Prof Seth Love
The Bristol Dementia Research Group, located at the University of Bristol, has a research programme that spans the spectrum from the patient to the laboratory. The Research Institute for the Care of the Elderly, located at the University of Bath, has joined Bristol to become a partner in the Bristol/Bath Alzheimer's Research Trust Network Centre. They have a multidisciplinary approach, including experts in neuropathology, clinically related genetic technology, molecular genetics, neuropsychology, psychiatry, and other clinically relevant disciplines. The group has extensive collaborative ventures with colleagues throughout the UK and abroad.

Cambridge
Network Coordinator, Prof Carol Brayne
This group, located at Addenbrook's Hospital and the University of Cambridge, has a long-standing commitment to Alzheimer's research and many world-class investigators. It is focused upon characterizing Alzheimer's in its early stages, imaging techniques, neuropsychiatry and psychology, clinical genetics, epidemiological studies of Alzheimer's disease and its basic biology.

Cardiff
Network Coordinators, Prof Julie Williams and Prof Michael Owen
The Neuropsychiatric Genetics Unit, located at the University of Wales College of Medicine in Cardiff, is working on the genetics of Alzheimer's disease. It is hoped that identification of the genes responsible will lead to more effective tests and treatments for this terrible disorder.

Dundee
Network Coordinator, Prof David Balfour
This group, located at the Ninewells Hospital at the University of Dundee Medical School, is studying the biochemical mechanism underlying Alzheimer's disease in order to identify early markers that may serve as potential therapeutic targets. The establishment of an Alzheimer's Network Centre has helped integrate the diverse strands of clinical and non-clinical research at Dundee.

Institute of Neurology, London
Network Coordinator, Prof Martin Rossor
The Dementia Research Group, located at Queen's Square at the Institute of Neurology, is studying early onset and familial dementias with multi-disciplinary studies of the molecular genetics, neuroimaging, neuropsychology and treatment of this group of diseases. These studies have provided important insights into the disease mechanisms and potential treatments.

Institute of Psychiatry, London
Network Coordinator, Prof John Powell
The Neurodegeneration Interdisciplinary Research Group, located at the Institute of Psychiatry's Denmark Hill centre, has brought together molecular biology, genetics, clinical studies, neuroimaging, neuropathology, psychology and epidemiology. Some members of the NIRG form the MRC cooperative group in neurodegeneration and all have contributed to the five star status of the Institute of Psychiatry. This group focuses on collaboration and believes that, "Science of the present, and even more of the future, can only be achieved by groups working together. Good collaboration equals good science."

Manchester
Network Coordinator, Prof David Mann
The AD Research Group, located at the University of Manchester, has a unique range of expertise in Alzheimer's and other dementias ranging from clinical perspectives to molecular biology. The support from the ART has served as a catalyst for further collaborative work in Manchester and around the UK.

Midlands
Network Coordinator, Dr Chris Talbot
This Network Centre brings together researchers on Alzheimer's disease from the universities of Aston, Birmingham, Leicester, Loughborough and Warwick. Expertise includes epidemiology, genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, proteomics, amyloid biology, oxidative stress, geriatric psychiatry, imaging, cognitive psychology and cell biology. Together the centre aims to build interdisciplinary research collaborations to shed light on the fundamental processes underlying dementia and to work towards effective therapies.

Newcastle
Network Coordinator, Prof Ian McKeith
The Newcastle Dementia Research Group, located at the Newcastle University's renowned Institute of Ageing and Health, focuses upon brain ageing and dementia and was pivotal in establishing Alzheimer's disease as the major cause of dementia in old age. Recent work has investigated other important disorders such as dementia with Lewy Bodies. The Institute of Ageing and Health shares the Alzheimer's Research Trust's vision of collaboration between research centres.

Northern Ireland
Network Coordinators, Dr Christian Holscher and Dr Janet Johnston
This Network centre includes researchers based at Queen's University in Belfast and the University of Ulster. Researchers within the centre employ a wide range of different approaches to studying Alzheimer's disease. The spectrum of activity encompasses mechanistic research in animal and cell culture models, through clinical and experimental medicine, to development of improved approaches to care of individuals with Alzheimer's disease.

Nottingham
Network Coordinator, Prof Kevin Morgan
The Nottingham Group for the Study of Neurodegenerative Disorders, located at the University of Nottingham, has had a research interest in neurodegenerative disorders since 1986. The group is comprised of three units, bringing together expertise in the fields of protein chemistry, neuropathology and molecular genetics. In recent years, in collaboration with other national neuroscience units, they have established an anonymised DNA bank that currently holds over 500 samples from various neurodegenerative diseases together with age-matched controls. As a result of joining the ART Network, the DNA bank has grown and collaborative studies with other Network members have maximized the benefit of this collection.

Oxford
Network Coordinator, Prof Gordon Wilcock
The Oxford Project to Investigate Memory and Ageing (OPTIMA), located at the University of Oxford, compares changes to the brain in normal ageing with those that occur in dementia and is based on the philosophy that research into dementia can be facilitated by a caring environment. Participants in the centre cover a wide range of disciplines, including psychiatry of old age, nursing, neuropathology, radiology, epidemiology, experimental psychology, molecular biology and genetics. Participation in the Network has facilitated the exchange of ideas and has been a powerful stimulus for new research.

Southampton
Network Coordinator, Dr Delphine Boche
The Southampton Dementia Research Group, located at the University of Southampton, comprises a multidisciplinary team with expertise in molecular biology, neuropathology, neuroinflammation, genetics and clinical treatment studies. Membership of the ART Network has helped forge collaboration between research centres and expand the scope of possible research.

Yorkshire
Network Coordinator, Prof Chris Peers
The Yorkshire Alzheimer's Research Group, formed from researchers at the Universities of Leeds, Hull, Sheffield and York, studies a wide range of topics related to ageing and dementias, with a primary focus on Alzheimer's disease. Their research expertise extends all the way from molecule to man, covering cellular and molecular aspects of Alzheimer's disease through brain imaging and cognitive psychology to clinical neuropathology.