Funding announced for innovation aiming to improve dementia diagnosis and post-diagnostic support 

The UK Government has launched The Dementia Patient Flow Research and Innovation (R&I) Challenge, which is the third of five challenges that are part of the Research and Development Missions Accelerator Programme. 

The Dementia Patient Flow R&I challenge is backed by £5m of funding and aims to harness research and technology to speed up dementia diagnosis by 2029 through innovations such as blood tests and saliva analysis. In relation to post-diagnosis, innovations including AI-powered daily routine assistants (that work through smart speakers or tablet devices and learn the activities someone enjoys and their cognitive abilities) are being backed. 

Science Minister Lord Vallance says: 

“I think we’re on the cusp of an era where we are going to be able to diagnose very early, that will allow people to get the care and help they need. I also think we’re on the cusp of an era where we’re going to see interventions, treatments that really, really do make a difference. You put those two things together and you start to dream that actually we’ll be able to diagnose early, we’ll be able to get some treatment in early and that will delay or prevent the progression of the disease.” 

Alongside this announcement, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) announced £1.2 million for two projects accelerating innovation in digital cognitive assessments. The projects they are backing are Kneu Health’s smartphone-based cognitive assessment technology – running via Dementias Platform UK’s READ-OUT study – and Food for the Brain Foundation’s web-based test that assesses 4 key areas of brain function – thinking speed, memory, recognition and decision-making. 

Professor Siddharthan Chandran, director and CEO, UK Dementia Research Institute says: 

“Precise, early diagnosis isn’t just about giving people information, it’s about giving them agency, choice, and crucially, access to emerging clinical trials and treatments that offer real hope to slow down or stop these conditions. But we must ensure these advances reach all corners of society, through simple blood tests at the GP, digital assessments on your phone, and smart technology seamlessly woven into daily life. 

The UK has, arguably, the greatest cluster of world-leading researchers in this space, working in some of the best universities in the world, in partnership with industry and our NHS. This ambitious commitment will enable these brilliant scientists and clinicians to deliver the breakthroughs in tomorrow’s diagnostics that will transform the lives of people living with and at risk of dementia.” 

Read more from the UK Government here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/advances-in-science-set-to-transform-treatments-for-people-living-with-dementia 

Read more from UK Research and Innovation here: https://www.ukri.org/news/science-minister-announces-dementia-patient-flow-challenge/