Dementia Researcher Blogs

Dr Clíona Farrell, narrating her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. In this blog, Clíona reflects on her experience at the UK DRI Vascular ECR conference, where patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) was embedded throughout the event. From shaping research discussions to helping early career researchers improve accessibility, Clíona shares how the inclusion of lived ex...

Marian Montanha, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. In her first blog for Dementia Researcher Marian reflects on her initial nine months working in clinical trials, contrasting her previous patient-centred roles with the highly structured and data-driven nature of research. She discusses the surprising realities she encountered, including the intensity of paperwork, the...

Dr Sam Moxon , narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher. Sam examines the impact of the UK's shifting financial priorities on dementia research funding. While government-backed funds like Innovate UK, MRC, EPSRC, and UKRI face potential budget tightening, charities such as Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society & Race Against Dementia continue to play a crucial role. The blog hi...

Rebecca Williams, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. Rebecca explores how stand-up comedy techniques can enhance science communication. From crafting engaging openings to honing audience interaction, she shares insights on making research talks more compelling. By embracing humour, observation, and performance skills, scientists can captivate their listeners—whether in...

Emily Spencer, narrating her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. Emily discusses the unexpected complexities of balancing PhD fieldwork and family responsibilities. Reflecting on her experiences post-maternity leave, she highlights significant challenges such as scheduling crucial meetings around childcare constraints and the constant need for adaptability. Emily stresses the importa...

Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher. Kamar highlights the importance of using controls in scientific research to ensure reliable, unbiased results. Kam explores different study designs, from clinical trials and case-control studies to neuropathology and animal research, demonstrating how controls help isolate variables and maintain validity. Drawing from their own...

Rahul Sidhu, narrating a new blog he wrote for the Dementia Researcher website. Rahul's blog explores his research and the connection between heart disease and Alzheimer's disease, focusing on how vascular dysfunction may accelerate cognitive decline. He explains the importance of neurovascular coupling, the role of tau protein tangles, and how conditions like atherosclerosis impact brain health....

Dr Jodi Watt, narrating a new blog they wrote for the Dementia Researcher website. Jodi explores the challenges and essentials of working with research data, offering practical steps to find, evaluate, store, and analyse it effectively. Drawing from personal experience, they highlight common pitfalls, the importance of thorough searching, compliance considerations, and the need to truly understand...

Dr Becky Carlyle, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. Becky shares practical insights on hiring your first lab team, from crafting inclusive job descriptions to structuring interviews and making thoughtful selections. Drawing from her own experiences, she offers advice on shortlisting candidates, forming interview panels, and assessing scientific curiosity and critical t...

Dr Emma Law, narrating her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. Emma shares her experiences from her first clinical trial, reflecting on the challenges, surprises, and key lessons learned. From navigating the complexities of trial coordination to overcoming logistical hurdles like sample transportation and time management, she highlights the importance of preparation, organisation, an...

Dr Sam Moxon , narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher. Struggling to turn your thesis into a publication? Dr Sam Moxon breaks down the process in this insightful blog, guiding you through structuring your paper, identifying the core message, simplifying complex content, and navigating peer review. Whether you're overwhelmed by the differences between a thesis and a journal article or un...

Dr Clíona Farrell, narrating her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. Clíona shares her experience of peer reviewing a research paper for the first time, reflecting on the challenges, learning process, and confidence needed to take on this key academic role. From tackling imposter syndrome to using structured resources and thoughtful feedback, she offers valuable insights for early ca...

Rebecca Williams, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. Rebecca reflects on the challenges of academic writing, emphasising the value of producing an unpolished first draft to overcome the difficulty of getting started. She discusses the importance of cutting unnecessary content, refining clarity, and making writing more engaging, while also acknowledging the role of colla...

Emily Spencer, narrating her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. In blog, Emily reflects on the whirlwind journey of juggling a PhD and motherhood as her child turns one. From the emotional shift of leaving the newborn stage behind to the ongoing challenges of making time for work, family, and personal pursuits, she shares the realities of navigating academic life as a parent. With c...

Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher. In this blog Kamar discusses the inequalities in access to new Alzheimer's disease treatments following the UK approval of lecanemab and donanemab in 2024. Although these drugs were hailed as a breakthrough, they were not recommended for NHS use due to their high cost, limited efficacy, and safety concerns, meaning only those wh...

Dr Clíona Farrell, narrating her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. Clíona shares her experience of a collaborative research visit to a US lab, detailing the planning process, securing funding, and navigating visa requirements. She highlights the benefits of international collaborations, from accessing rare samples to gaining new research perspectives. Clíona provides practical advi...

Yasmin Bonsu , narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. In this guest blog, Yasmin Bonsu, a Neuroscience BSc student at the University of Manchester, reflects on the challenges of her final semester. She discusses navigating PhD applications, managing the balance between studies and work, and offers practical advice for students approaching graduation. Find the original text,...

Dr Jodi Watt, narrating a new blog they wrote for the Dementia Researcher website. In this blog Jodi reflects on navigating career uncertainty, securing short-term funding, and reassessing their place in academia. This thoughtful guest blog explores the challenges of balancing professional decisions with personal priorities, offering insights into the realities of short-term contracts and future p...

Dr Becky Carlyle, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. This time Becky discusses the choices between teaching-focused and research-only academic careers in her blog, "To teach or not to teach?" Sharing insights from her own experience and general trends in academic contracts, Becky reflects on the challenges and opportunities associated with teaching roles. Her blog provi...

Victoria Gabb , narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. Join Victoria as she takes us through the fascinating stages of her Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) research. In her latest blog, Victoria shares compelling details from her interviews with patients, families, and professionals, shedding light on the outcomes that truly matter to those affected by MCI. Discover the chal...

Rebecca Williams, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. In this blog Rebecca explores the challenging perceptions and stereotypes that women face in the field of science. She discusses her personal experiences and observations from the Women in Neuroscience UK Awards, highlighting how femininity is often viewed as incompatible with scientific credibility. Rebecca argues ag...

Emily Spencer, narrating her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. In her latest guest blog, Emily shares an intimate look at how she navigates the demanding worlds of academia and motherhood. Emily discusses the real challenges and strategies of managing her PhD responsibilities alongside parenting, offering insights into the delicate balance of maintaining productivity and focus amid...

Dr Yvonne Couch , narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. Explore essential CV tips with Dr Yvonne Couch in "Your CV Needs You! Part Two." This guest blog for Dementia Researcher offers invaluable advice for researchers transitioning from academia to other fields. Dr Couch, an Associate Professor at the University of Oxford, shares expert guidance on tailoring your CV to hig...

Dr Jodi Watt, narrating a new blog they wrote for the Dementia Researcher website. In this blog, Jodi discusses the role of textile arts in dementia care, highlighting how activities such as quilting and knitting can support memory and motor skills in individuals with dementia. They examine the therapeutic aspects of these crafts, noting their potential to enhance mood and provide a sense of achie...

Dr Sarah Griffiths, narrating her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. Explore the concept of emotional labour in dementia research with Dr. Sarah Griffiths. This blog examines the challenges researchers face during the recruitment phase of projects, discussing both personal experiences and practical approaches to managing emotions effectively. It offers insights into the emotional de...