Brace

Brace supports scientific research into dementia, with a focus on Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, and Lewy body dementia. They fund research activities, equipment, and training at academic institutions and university-affiliated groups. All funded work must take place in South West England or South Wales, and the organisation receiving the grant must be based in the same region. The charity is particularly interested in clinical and laboratory research that advances understanding of causes, earlier diagnosis, and novel therapies, often prioritising high-impact, early-stage work that larger funders may overlook.

Registered charities and academic institutions based in South West England or South Wales are eligible to apply. Brace funds organisations that are actively conducting dementia research, typically university departments or university-affiliated research groups. Applicants must demonstrate that their work aligns with the charity’s focus on causation, diagnosis, and treatment of dementia. There is no income threshold, and both established and emerging research groups can apply, provided the research is directly relevant to dementia.

Brace does not accept applications where the primary research focus is not on dementia aspects of the disease. They do not fund service delivery, general organisational costs, or projects that are not directly related to dementia research. Non-research charities and organisations without a scientific focus are also outside the scope of their funding.

Brace offers multi-year grants for research activities, equipment, and training. They do not require match funding. The charity welcomes unsolicited applications and uses a rigorous peer-review process to assess proposals. They are particularly interested in funding high-impact, early-stage research that can catalyse larger national grants, supporting regional research capacity in dementia science.