UK Dementia Research Institute

The UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI), established in 2017 with a landmark £300 million investment from the Medical Research Council, Alzheimer’s Society, and Alzheimer’s Research UK, is the UK's premier hub for dementia research. Spanning hubs at University College London and centres across universities like Cambridge, Edinburgh, Oxford, and others, it operates as a unique 'virtual' institute uniting nearly 1,000 multidisciplinary researchers in neuroscience, genetics, technology, and clinical studies. Its mission is to uncover dementia causes—encompassing Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, Parkinson’s, frontotemporal dementia, and rarer syndromes—while accelerating diagnostics, therapies, and healthy brain ageing solutions. Core values emphasise scientific excellence, bold innovation, collaboration, inclusivity, and urgency to transform lives affected by this escalating crisis.

UK DRI funds discovery-driven and translational projects, including high-risk 'Key Questions' initiatives on synapses, biomarkers, gene therapies, AI innovations, and care technologies. It supports investigator-led academic research on fundamental mechanisms, prevention, experimental therapeutics, and public health strategies, prioritising transformative impact for current and future generations at risk of dementia.

Eligibility is restricted to UK-based academic institutions and research groups with strong infrastructure; small charities or non-academic entities are ineligible. No unsolicited applications; funding occurs via competitive biannual calls (next deadline: 4 December 2025 for the UK DRI/Race Against Dementia Fellowship). Typical grants range £250,000–£1,000,000 (e.g., £500,000 fellowships over 4–5 years) via online forms, peer review, and interviews. Exclusions include service delivery, core costs, or non-research activities; its scale, national integration, and focus on high-reward dementia breakthroughs set it apart as a beacon for collaborative academic excellence.