Dementia Researcher

In this short audio message, we share details of AAIC Neuroscience Next 2026, a free global hybrid meeting bringing together dementia and neuroscience researchers from around the world.

Running from 23 to 26 February 2026, the core scientific programme will be streamed worldwide, with opportunities to engage online wherever you are based. Alongside this, selected in person hubs will take place, including the UK hub in Manchester on Thursday 26 February.

The Manchester hub focuses on biomarkers in dementia research, with a full day of talks, lightning sessions, posters, panel discussion, and time to connect with others working in the field.

Attendance is free, but in person places in Manchester are limited. At the time of recording, just 50 tickets remain, and registration will close when they are taken or on 30 January, whichever comes first.

Full details and registration links are available at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/aaicneuro

This episode shares highlights from the UK Dementia Research Institute Connectome Conference. Host Dr Anna Mallach is joined by Dr Dayne Beccano Kelly, Dr Beth Eyre, and Tom Adam to reflect on talks, posters, and discussions that stood out.

The conversation covers lived experience sessions, keynote talks, early career presentations, and how informal conversations and parallel sessions shaped ideas and potential collaborations. The episode offers a snapshot of the breadth of work presented across the institute and the importance of connecting people as well as science.

Topics covered:

• Conference scale and structure
• Lived experience contributions
• Keynote and plenary talks
• Flash talks and posters
• Early career researcher sessions
• Collaboration and translation
• Informal discussion and networking

Find out more about the UKDRI:
https://www.ukdri.ac.uk/

Watch our YouTube Shorts Series, with conference attendees presenting their posters in under 3 minutes:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeUI1GHB4EvRFJl8tRC-wq5RxkDKF9twU

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A transcript of this show, links and show notes and profile on all our guests are available on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
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Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the UK Dementia Research Institute Conference
05:01 Research Highlights and Personal Experiences
09:54 Lived Experience and Its Impact on Research
11:20 Quality of Research and Early Career Insights
13:23 Plenary Speakers and Their Contributions
17:07 Innovative Approaches in Research
20:02 The Role of Collaboration in Research
24:10 Engagement and Networking Opportunities
28:11 Parallel Sessions and Emerging Ideas
33:26 Final Thoughts and Future Directions

This festive special flips the script on polished papers and perfect protocols. Dr Fiona McLean is joined by Dr Ian Harrison, Dr Soraya Meftah, and Dr Kate Harris to share the research moments that did not go to plan but taught them far more than success ever could.

From ELISAs gone rogue and antibodies that refuse to behave, to admin systems that quietly derail months of planning, this episode is a reminder that real research is messy, unpredictable, and occasionally hilarious. The conversation moves easily between lab disasters, student supervision realities, near misses with fire, and the emotional rollercoaster of academic life.

It is light hearted, reassuring, and (hopefully) relatable. A permission slip to laugh, reflect, and remember that being wrong is often part of doing good science.

Merry Christmas from all of us!
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Top takeaways

- Most experiments do not fail, they redirect
- Unexpected results often open better research questions
- Rushing protocols almost always backfires
- Admin failures can be as stressful as lab failures
- Talking openly about what went wrong saves time and money
- Students learn more from troubleshooting than from perfect results
- Publishing negative findings can help an entire field
- Being wrong is built into the scientific method
- Giving yourself time and mental space matters
- If no one was hurt, it is probably recoverable

A transcript of this show, links and show notes and profile on all our guests are available on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
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https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/
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https://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiare…archer.bsky.social
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Download and Register with our Community App:

https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher
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Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Research Fails
02:07 Learning from Mistakes in Research
04:53 Unexpected Outcomes and Their Value
05:53 The Importance of Data in Research
08:38 Navigating Challenges in Experiments
11:33 The Role of Collaboration in Research
14:40 Discovering New Avenues from Failures
15:40 The Importance of Literature in Research
16:41 Experiences of Discovery and Optimization in Research
17:51 Near-Death Experiences in the Lab
19:34 Lessons from Lab Mishaps
20:57 Administrative Chaos in Research
26:52 The Culture of Silence Around Research Failures
33:16 Navigating Criticism and Feedback in Academia
36:51 Navigating Experimental Challenges
38:43 The Temptation of Over-Experimenting
40:03 Learning from ELISA Mishaps

This festive charity debate asks a question nobody saw coming but everyone had an opinion on. Would Santa Claus make a good principal investigator?

Recorded live in the Dementia Researcher Community, this Christmas special brings humour, sharp thinking, and real reflections on leadership, research culture, ethics, and academia.
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The debate is hosted by Adam Smith and Dr Anna Volkmer.

Speaking for the motion is Rebecca Williams, PhD researcher exploring FTD and apathy.

Speaking against the motion is Dr Connor Richardson, Research Fellow working in data science, epidemiology, and machine learning in dementia research.

Through opening statements, rebuttals, and audience questions, the discussion ranges from logistics and mentorship to ethics, transparency, wellbeing, and what good leadership really looks like in research. While lighthearted on the surface, the debate reveals some very familiar academic tensions beneath the tinsel.

Vote now:
🎅 https://8k3qel8nuxc.typeform.com/to/tXVIkWRe
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This episode was recorded as a charity event in support of Dementia UK and their Admiral Nurses, who provide vital support to people living with dementia and their families, especially during the Christmas period.

If you enjoyed the debate and would like to support their work, you can donate here:
👉 https://buy.stripe.com/28EfZj1G37zIcrF2wA77O00

Thank you for listening, watching, and supporting dementia research and care.
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https://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiare…archer.bsky.social
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The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of Santa Clause, The North Pole or Dementia Research.

In this episode of the Dementia Researcher podcast we look at how dementia clinical trials reach far beyond medicines. Host Dr Annalise Rahman Filipiak speaks with Dr Elizabeth Rhodus, Dr Inga Antonsdottir, and Dr Elisa França Resende about entering the field, working with behavioural and community based interventions, and learning the skills needed to deliver rigorous, reproducible studies that still respect the individual needs of participants.

The guests discuss their routes into trials, what surprised them, what they wish they had known earlier, and how mentorship and collaboration shaped their progress. They touch on trial design, regulatory processes, cultural considerations, and the value of early career networks that support researchers across different countries.
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Topics covered

🔹What early career researchers find challenging about trial methods
🔹Working in homes and communities
🔹Designing sensory and environmental interventions
🔹Literacy based trials in Brazil and issues of inclusion
🔹Mentorship, networks and training programmes
🔹Trial rigour, manuals, assessments and reproducibility
🔹Regulatory hurdles and timeframes
🔹Practical advice for researchers wanting to deliver a trial as part of their research
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Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast
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Follow us on social media:

https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/
https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/
https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher
https://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiare…archer.bsky.social
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Download and Register with our Community App:

https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher
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Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Dementia Research and Clinical Trials
05:01 Early Career Researchers in Clinical Trials
11:31 The Role of Mentorship in Research
18:46 Innovative Interventions Beyond Pharmacology
25:41 Community Engagement and Methodological Considerations
33:32 Overcoming Barriers in Clinical Trials
38:22 Advice for Aspiring Clinical Trialists
41:00 Whimsical Research Questions and Closing Thoughts

#dementiaresearch #methodology #dementia #ClinicalTrials @alzassociation #ISTAART