UKRI Unveils Funding for Two Innovative Dementia Technology Initiatives
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has unveiled £8 million in funding initiatives aimed at advancing technologies to assist people with dementia.
£6 million of the funds will be directed to four new networks focused on developing technologies to help individuals with dementia live independently at home.
An additional £2 million, provided by Innovate UK, will support the development of digital tools for assessing the condition.
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and the Alzheimer’s Society are collaborating to finance these projects, which involve partnerships between academia, healthcare, charities, and people with lived dementia experience.
Network Initiatives
There are various network initiatives
- University of Sheffield: Developing tools to address progressive cognitive and sensory impairments, focusing on themes like indoor/outdoor spaces, culture, communication, and digital technology.
- Heriot-Watt University: Exploring how technology can enhance the social, mental, and physical well-being of people with dementia while adapting to their evolving needs.
- Northumbria University: Establishing regional hubs to support dementia care pathways, including technology access for rural and remote areas.
- Imperial College London & UK Dementia Research Institute: Creating sustainable, low-burden technologies for independent living, family and caregiver support, and health system integration.
Health Minister Karin Smyth highlighted the transformative potential of these innovations, aiming to empower individuals to stay in their homes while receiving smart, community-based care.
The projects also aspire to position the UK as a leader in dementia-related technological advancements.
Digital Assessment Tool
Researchers at the University of Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial College London are leading efforts under Dementias Platform UK, supported by the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaboration.
They aim to combine a quick digital cognitive test with blood biomarkers to enhance dementia diagnosis efficiency across NHS memory clinics.
Science Minister Lord Vallance emphasized the importance of tackling dementia as a pressing healthcare challenge, with these initiatives poised to significantly improve the lives of those affected by the condition.
