The Government is investing in dementia research, through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and the Medical Research Council . By 2011, the National Institute for Health Research budget will be nearly £1 billion. The MRC and Wellcome Trust have also recently issued a £30m funded Joint Call for research proposals in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Today’s attendees will look at ways of building on existing investments in this area.

Phil Hope MP, Minister of State for Care Services, said:

‘One million people will develop dementia in the next ten years. Our National Dementia Strategy will help people live well with dementia by improving diagnosis, care and support, but research is the key to developing new treatments, transforming care and ultimately finding a cure for this devastating condition.

Today is a vital step towards a more co-ordinated approach to dementia research. The Government is already investing strongly in research and we have some of the best researchers in the world. By 2011, the total National Institute for Health Research budget for all health science will be nearly £1 billion. We now need to increase the number of successful dementia research proposals to access to this investment.’

MRC Chief Executive Sir Leszek Borysiewicz said:

‘Following on from the MRC Strategic Review of Neurodegeneration, this is an opportunity to bring together experts from the whole spectrum of dementia research and key stakeholders to help the funders set priorities for the future research agenda. Recent MRC initiatives in this area will provide the necessary platform for future research, by bringing together new research consortia and support for brain banking and imaging. MRC has also been playing a leading role in developing the new EU initiative in neurodegeneration and dementia.’

Dame Professor Sally Davies, Director General of DH Research and Development Directorate, said:

‘The DH is very pleased to be jointly hosting this important event with the MRC. We have made significant investment in research for dementia and related conditions over the years and the Summit will help to ensure that the research we commission continues to improve the quality of care provided for people with dementia and their families.’

On 22 July the European Commission will confirm EU participation in a joint research programme on neurodegeneration and in particular Alzheimer’s. This is the first joint initiative of this type and the UK Government and Medical Research Council are committed to playing an active role in the programme.

For further information, please contact Sarah Fenlon, Department of Health press office, 0207 210 5472 or Steve Pogonowski in the MRC Press Office on 0207 670 5139 or stephen.pogonowski@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk