Dementia Researcher

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 -- 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 -- 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 -- Download and Register with our Community App: https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher -- 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! -- 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 -- 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 -- Download and Register with our Community App: https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher -- 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. -- 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 -- 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. -- 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 -- Download and Register with our Community App: https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher -- 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. -- 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 -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- 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 -- Download and Register with our Community App: https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher -- 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

In this episode of the Dementia Researcher - Xxplored Women’s Brain Health podcast, host Dr Laura Stankeviciute speaks with Professor Claudia Barth from Charite University and Dr Gillian Coughlan from Harvard Medical School to examine the midlife transition, menopause and its significance for women’s brain health. Together they outline what the menopause truly involves across the early, late, and post stages, and explain how hormonal change affects brain structure, energy use, mood, and cognition. They also explore why this period may coincide with greater vulnerability to later Alzheimer’s disease and discuss the role of early or surgical menopause, symptom severity, and gaps in existing research cohorts. The episode highlights the need for richer reproductive data, real time biomarker studies, and closer collaboration with digital health tools to better capture women’s lived experiences. It reflects a growing wave of research and public interest aimed at improving understanding, support, and evidence based care during this important life stage. -- Takeaways ● Menopause is a long transition shaped by fluctuating hormones. ● Cognitive and mood symptoms reflect changes in brain networks. ● Earlier menopause is linked with increased later Alzheimer’s risk. ● Major research cohorts lack detailed reproductive data. ● New real time studies are beginning to track symptoms and biomarkers. ● Digital tools will be key for future research. ● Better global representation is needed across studies. ● Momentum is building to close long standing gaps in women’s health. -- Find bios on all our speakers, a full transcript of the show and more on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk - 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 -- Download and Register with our Community App: https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher -- Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Menopause and Research Focus 07:25 Understanding Menopause: Definitions and Stages 16:27 Menopause and Alzheimer's Disease: A Critical Connection 22:43 Understanding Menopause and Brain Health 25:21 Historical Blind Spots in Alzheimer's Research 26:38 The Importance of Reproductive Variables 31:46 Biomarkers and Methodologies in Women's Health Research 35:28 Industry Collaboration in Research 39:00 Personal Reflections on Women's Brain Health