Representing the ARC, Prof Terry Quinn was invited to join a roundtable in Bute House with the First Minister to discuss how research and innovation can improve the lives of people living with advanced dementia and their care-partners.

Alongside Terry were ARC vice chair and NRS dementia lead, Dr Tom Russ, ARC collaborator and care-home researcher, Dr Jenni Burton, and providing the voice of lived experience, long-time supporter of the ARC, Sir Iain Anderson. The group discussed the progress that has been made in dementia care, but also the substantial work still to be done.

Throughout the discussions, key themes were around the need for cross-disciplinary collaboration, the need to include all stakeholders, and the need for robust evidence to underpin innovation, all central components of the Brain Health ARC’s work.

Since then, there has been ongoing activity and discussions as members of the Brain Health ARC collaborate with the Scottish Government on next steps and we are delighted that these efforts have been mentioned in the First Minister’s Question Time. Watch this space for more to come!

On Thursday 25th September, the Brain Health ARC hosted a meeting at the University of Strathclyde's Neurotechnology Centre for the Alzheimer’s Research UK Drug Discovery Alliance. This was part of the ARUK-DDA “Scottish tour” which had previously encompassed both Edinburgh and Dundee.