Six new Clinical Fellowships announced today will support clinicians to bring cutting-edge research closer to the people who need it most, from making brain scanning more accessible, to improving diagnosis for less common forms of dementia, exploring new ways to treat symptoms, and helping more people take part in clinical trials.
Backed by £2.6 million in new funding, the awards will support research that could improve how dementia is diagnosed, monitored and treated, while strengthening the UK’s ability to deliver more clinical studies in dementia.
For people living with, or at risk of, dementia, this major investment means greater hope for a future where diagnosis is more accurate, treatment options are improved, and more people can access research that could change lives.
Why clinical research matters
Recent years have seen remarkable advances in our understanding of dementia. But discoveries in the lab only make a difference if they lead to better tests and more effective treatments for people.
Clinical research is the bridge that makes this possible. It helps promising ideas move from scientific discovery into real-world studies, where they can be tested with and for people affected by dementia.
To deliver this progress, the UK needs more clinicians, including doctors and other healthcare professionals, who can combine research with patient care, test new ideas in real-world settings, and work closely with researchers, healthcare teams and people affected by dementia.
A programme designed to deliver change
The fellowships are part of Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Clinical Accelerator Programme, created to bring more dementia clinical trials to the UK and accelerate progress towards a cure.
Made possible by £3.1 million raised through the Omaze Mallorca Superdraw, the programme aims to ensure more people living with, or at risk of, dementia can take part in cutting-edge research here in the UK.
It focuses on three key priorities:
- Building expertise by increasing the number of clinicians working in dementia research
- Nurturing innovation by supporting research-active clinicians to develop promising trial ideas
- Accelerating trials by helping more potential treatments move into clinical testing
The new fellowships sit at the heart of this effort, equipping clinicians at different career stages with the skills, experience and support they need to become future leaders in dementia research.
Meet the new Clinical Fellows
The six newly funded fellows are tackling a diverse set of challenges that could make a tangible difference to people’s lives.
Their projects span diagnosis, treatment, prevention and trial delivery, all areas that are vital if research is to translate into better outcomes for people affected by dementia.
Together, these researchers will help drive forward new approaches that bring us closer to a future where dementia is accurately diagnosed, effectively treated and ultimately prevented.
Improving access to earlier diagnosis
Dr Ashwin Venkataraman at the Kings College London is developing portable brain scanners to improve how dementia is diagnosed and monitored.
His team is testing smaller, quieter devices that could be used in memory clinics, hospitals and care homes. This could make brain scans more accessible for people who find it difficult to travel to hospital scanners, including those living in rural areas or with limited mobility.
The approach could also provide a lower-cost way to monitor side effects in people receiving new Alzheimer’s treatments.
Dr Sabbiha Majumder at University College London is developing new tools to improve diagnosis for people with primary progressive aphasia, a form of dementia that affects speech and communication.
She is designing culturally fair assessments that better reflect real-world communication skills, rather than relying mainly on memory-based tests that can miss the condition. Her work will also address barriers faced by people who do not speak English, who are currently more likely to experience delayed or incorrect diagnosis.
The project aims to help people receive an accurate diagnosis sooner, so they can access the right support, therapy and clinical trials.
Identifying and reducing dementia risk
Dr Rachael Matthews at the University of Liverpool is investigating why some people who experience delirium during infections, including COVID-19, later develop cognitive decline and dementia.
She will combine brain scans, memory and thinking tests, blood biomarkers and genetic information to look for early signs of increased risk. By studying a large group of people several years after infection, she hopes to develop a tool that can identify who may be most vulnerable to future dementia.
This could help doctors spot people at higher risk earlier and create opportunities to intervene before significant brain damage occurs.
Dr Dexter Penn at Imperial College London is investigating whether pacemakers could be adjusted to improve blood flow to the brain and reduce dementia risk.
He is testing the idea that current pacemaker settings may slow the heart too much for some people, potentially reducing brain circulation over time. His fellowship will explore whether slightly increasing heart rate can improve blood flow and help protect brain vessels and cells.
If successful, this could point to a new use for an existing, widely used technology.
Predicting progression and testing potential treatments
Dr Abdulwarrith Olawale at the University of Cambridge is using artificial intelligence to improve the quality of NHS brain scans for people with frontotemporal dementia.
He will analyse MRI scans to identify patterns that could help predict how the disease will progress and how individuals might respond to treatments. By making routine NHS scans more useful for research and clinical trials, the project could reduce costs and allow more people to take part in studies.
Dr Olawale is also the first fellow to have a clinical trials placement as part of our partnership with the UK Dementia Trials Network, giving him hands-on experience in how dementia trials are designed and delivered.
The placement helps early-career researchers develop the skills needed to turn promising discoveries into real-world studies that could improve the lives of people living with dementia.
Dr Harry Costello at University College London is testing whether a slow-release ketamine tablet can safely and effectively treat depression in people living with Alzheimer’s disease.
Depression affects more than 40% of people with Alzheimer’s, but current treatments often have limited benefits and can cause unwanted side effects. If successful, this research could improve mood, motivation and quality of life, while helping people with Alzheimer’s maintain their independence for longer.
This project is generously partly funded by Rosetrees Trust.
How the fellowships were selected
The Doctoral and Advanced Clinical Fellows were selected following a competitive process led by Alzheimer’s Research UK’s newly established Clinical Committee at its January 2026 meeting.
The Clinical Committee provides independent advice to help ensure the clinical research supported through the programme is high quality, feasible and focused on where it can have the greatest impact.
It brings together experts in clinical research, trial design and lived experience, and will continue to help shape the direction of the programme, review future funding proposals and support promising ideas to move closer to being trial-ready.
Dr Leah Mursaleen, Head of Clinical Research at Alzheimer’s Research said:
“Dementia research in the UK has huge strengths, but we need to keep building the clinical research system that will turn scientific progress into better tests, better treatments and more opportunities for people to take part in research.
“These fellowships are an important part of that. They will support talented clinicians to develop research careers, while focusing on practical questions that could improve diagnosis, make studies more inclusive and help bring more clinical trials to the UK.
“The Clinical Committee also has an important role in helping invest in research that is scientifically strong, realistic to deliver and focused on the areas of greatest need. That kind of strategic support will be vital if we are to speed up progress and help more promising ideas move forward.”
Turning ambition into action
The Clinical Accelerator Programme is one of the ways Alzheimer’s Research UK is working to close the gap between scientific discovery and real-world impact for people affected by dementia.
By supporting clinical fellowships, strengthening links with trial networks and utilising expert advice to support funding decisions, the programme is helping to build the skills, partnerships and infrastructure needed to deliver more dementia clinical research in the UK.
And there is much more to come. In the coming weeks, Alzheimer’s Research UK will launch new funding opportunities for clinical trials, alongside the next round of Doctoral and Advanced Clinical Fellowships.
For people affected by dementia, this growing momentum means greater hope, and faster progress towards a future where dementia is accurately diagnosed, effectively treated and ultimately prevented. Watch this space.
