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UK Dementia Research Institute
@ukdri.ac.uk
850 followers 190 following 300 posts
The UK’s leading research institute transforming the lives of people affected by neurodegenerative conditions. Principally funded by the Medical Research Council.
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ukdri.ac.uk
UK Dementia Research Institute @ukdri.ac.uk · Feb 3
Hello Bluesky! 👋

We are the UK DRI, the UK's leading research institute transforming the lives of people affected by neurodegeneration 🧠

Find out more about our vision for a future prioritising healthy brain ageing for all 👉 buff.ly/42xTJCJ

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mj3s...
UK DRI Vision: Healthy brain ageing for all
YouTube video by UK Dementia Research Institute - UK DRI
www.youtube.com
ukdri.ac.uk
A pleasure to welcome @sdoughtymp.bsky.social to UK DRI at Cardiff, showcasing the world-leading research taking place here in Wales to accelerate understanding and develop better diagnostics and treatments for everyone living with dementia.
Stephen Doughty MP met with Prof Baljit Khakh, Prof Wendy Larner, Prof Siddharthan Chandran, and Prof Roger Whitaker Centre Director Prof Khakh demonstrates how breakthroughs in imaging technology are unlocking new areas of research Dr Hazel Hall Roberts is shows how iPSC research informs better understanding of Alzheimer's risk Stephen Doughty MP met with early career researchers to discuss the life science ecosystem in Cardiff and the opportunities of being part of UK DRI
September 15, 2026 at 2:22 PM
ukdri.ac.uk
⭐️The UK DRI at Imperial is hiring for a 3-year PhD studentship within Dr Cynthia Sandor’s group⭐️

The project will focus on 'Predicting Insulin Resistance from Blood Transcriptomes: A Peripheral Window onto Brain Insulin Resistance in Parkinson’s & Alzheimer’s Disease'.

More info:
🔗 buff.ly/HJ2LiWw
September 4, 2026 at 2:46 PM
ukdri.ac.uk
⭐️ The UK DRI at UCL is hiring ⭐️

We are seeking a Centre Research Administrator to support the Centre Manager with high-quality operational and administrative support, helping to ensure the smooth running of the Centre.

🔗 www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...

@uclqsion.bsky.social
August 28, 2026 at 3:12 PM
ukdri.ac.uk
What role do supporting brain cells play in cognitive decline and dementia? 🧠

New research led by @mironlab.bsky.social finds cells that produce the protective coating around nerve fibres (oligodendrocytes) can become dysfunctional with age & may contribute to cognitive decline👉 lnkd.in/eWcnSfnf
August 25, 2026 at 3:35 PM
Reposted by UK Dementia Research Institute
soyonhonglab.bsky.social
We argue that understanding how NI crosstalk become dysregulated in NDD & how they might be restored offers powerful framework re: disease mechanisms & therapeutic opportunities. Thanks @chanzuckerberg.bsky.social
and the pioneering neuroimmunologists at the CZI workshop for shaping our thinking!
soyonhonglab.bsky.social Soyon Hong @soyonhonglab.bsky.social · 27d
Excited to share our @cellpress.bsky.social Perspective “Neurodegeneration as a Dysregulation of Neuroimmune Crosstalk”, with
Chris Bennett, Ning Jenny Jiang & Ivan Marazzi.
authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S.... (1/2)
authors.elsevier.com
August 20, 2026 at 5:10 PM
ukdri.ac.uk
What if we could give people with dementia a 'digital safety net' to help them stay living at home for longer?

Minder, our flagship digital care platform, aims to do just that.

Read more in @thetimes.com ⬇️ www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcar...

@lifearc.bsky.social @imperialmed.bsky.social
How smart tech could let dementia patients live at home for longer
Equipping houses with sensors and monitors costs less than the monthly cost of a care home. It would also reduce anxiety and relieve pressure on hospitals
www.thetimes.com
August 24, 2026 at 12:26 PM
ukdri.ac.uk
"The field has completely turned on its head, and now we know inflammation is a huge part of the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's."

Prof @tspiresjones.bsky.social (UK DRI at Edinburgh) discusses the complex role of inflammation in Alzheimer's, on BBC's Inside Health ⬇️

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Inside Health - Is inflammation behind all chronic disease? - BBC Sounds
How understanding inflammation could transform treatments from cancer to Alzheimer’s.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 3, 2026 at 3:41 PM
Reposted by UK Dementia Research Institute
kingsioppn.bsky.social
How can the brain 🧠 promote healthy ageing?

@ulelab.bsky.social at King's and Dr Mathieu Bourdenx (UCL) have been awarded £3.8m by @wellcometrust.bsky.social to study role of interstasis in protecting neurons.

www.kcl.ac.uk/news/3.8m-aw...

#AgingResearch
@ukdri.ac.uk @uclbrainscience.bsky.social
£3.8m awarded to study protective mechanisms against neuron damage and ageing | King's College London
A new study, co-led by neuroscientists at King’s College London, University College London and the UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI), will investigate how neurons can protect themselves from toxic protein accumulation, with implications for neurodegenerative diseases and ageing.
www.kcl.ac.uk
July 27, 2026 at 10:40 AM
Reposted by UK Dementia Research Institute
jojacksonhere.bsky.social
Glad to see this work finally out! A joy working with the incredible Nurun Fancy to figure out the interaction between TREM2 and CD33, how TREM2 variants differ and what happens to other cell types in cases with TREM2 variants. Thanks to everyone involved in the study, it was a great team effort!
ukdri.ac.uk UK Dementia Research Institute @ukdri.ac.uk · Jul 24
Could a protective gene counteract risk of Alzheimer's in people with a high-risk gene variant? 🧬

Researchers led by Dr @jojacksonhere.bsky.social revealed how TREM2 – a well-known Alzheimer’s risk gene – interacts with CD33, a gene that can reduce disease risk.

ukdri.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
July 28, 2026 at 10:48 AM
ukdri.ac.uk
How might neurons protect themselves from toxic protein build-up?🧠

@ulelab.bsky.social & @mbourdenx.bsky.social have been awarded £3.8m by @wellcometrust.bsky.social to study role of interstasis in protecting neurons

ukdri.ac.uk/news-and-eve...

@kingsioppn.bsky.social @uclbrainscience.bsky.social
Two UK DRI Group Leaders awarded major Wellcome funding to study protective mechanisms against neuron damage and ageing
A new study, co-led by researchers at the UK DRI at King’s and the UK DRI at UCL will investigate how neurons can protect themselves from toxic protein accumulation, with implications for neurodegener...
ukdri.ac.uk
July 27, 2026 at 11:08 AM
ukdri.ac.uk
Could a protective gene counteract risk of Alzheimer's in people with a high-risk gene variant? 🧬

Researchers led by Dr @jojacksonhere.bsky.social revealed how TREM2 – a well-known Alzheimer’s risk gene – interacts with CD33, a gene that can reduce disease risk.

ukdri.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
July 24, 2026 at 3:45 PM
ukdri.ac.uk
What can scientists learn from the brains of centenarians? 🧠

@sj-marzi.bsky.social, Dr Alexi Nott & Prof Henne Holstege investigate what makes some people resilient to dementia into old age, in a major new project 👏

ukdri.ac.uk/news-and-eve...

@alzheimersresearchuk.org
UK DRI researchers awarded Dementia Frontiers Fund project to study centenarian brains
An international team led by Dr Sarah Marzi (UK DRI at King’s), with Dr Alexi Nott (UK DRI at Imperial) and Professor Henne Holstege (Amsterdam UMC and VIB-KU Leuven Center for Neuroscience) has won £...
ukdri.ac.uk
July 17, 2026 at 2:07 PM
Reposted by UK Dementia Research Institute
kingsioppn.bsky.social
What can scientists learn from the 🧠 brains of centenarians 💯?

@sj-marzi.bsky.social co-leads team EMERALD — asking what protects some people's brains from #dementia.

www.kcl.ac.uk/news/what-ca...

@ukdri.ac.uk @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social @amsterdamumc.bsky.social
@alzresearchuk.bsky.social
What can scientists learn from the brains of centenarians? £1.5m awarded from the Dementia Frontiers Fund | King's College London
Dr Sarah Marzi will co-lead team EMERALD, who have been awarded £1.5m from the Dementia Frontiers Fund to study how some people's brains may be more resiliant to dementia, with the aim to leverage these insights to develop therapeutics.
www.kcl.ac.uk
July 17, 2026 at 11:46 AM
Reposted by UK Dementia Research Institute
dementiaresearcher.bsky.social
Join us on 21 July at 2pm to learn about the Race Against Dementia x @ukdri.ac.uk AI Innovation Fellowship Scheme, hear from speakers and get tips on applying.

#AI

youtube.com/live/1XpA9Sk...
Applying for the RAD X UK DRI AI Innovation Fellowship
YouTube video by Dementia Researcher
youtube.com
July 14, 2026 at 2:50 PM
ukdri.ac.uk
We're excited to be taking part in the Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) Black Internship Programme for the second year 🎉

A warm welcome to the five students who will be spending time at our centres across the UK, learning new skills and developing their talents.
July 2, 2026 at 3:36 PM
ukdri.ac.uk
How does the cell's transport network go wrong in neurodegenerative conditions? 🧠

New research led by @avezovlab.bsky.social (UK DRI at @cneurodept.bsky.social ) reveals new insight and a potential therapeutic avenue 👉 ukdri.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
July 1, 2026 at 3:50 PM
Reposted by UK Dementia Research Institute
kingsioppn.bsky.social
King's researchers identify a new mechanism for neuronal death in #dementia, called karyoptosis, that links the build-up of toxic proteins to neurons dying.

@alzheimersresearchuk.org @ukdri.ac.uk @rcasterton.bsky.social
New mechanism found for neuronal death in Alzheimer's and frontotemporal dementia | King's College London
Markers of a new mechanism for cell death, called karyoptosis, have been found in brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
www.kcl.ac.uk
June 25, 2026 at 9:25 AM
Reposted by UK Dementia Research Institute
lifearc.bsky.social
Where there’s a common vision, there’s an opportunity for collaboration.

The @ukdri.ac.uk shares our ambition to improve tests, treatments and ultimately find cures for people living with motor neuron disease and rare dementias.

Learn more: https://t.ly/snVaa

#PartnerForChange
June 16, 2026 at 8:01 AM
ukdri.ac.uk
Last month we celebrated the official launch of our Parkinson’s Research Centre, in partnership with @parkinsons.org.uk 🎉

📹 Watch the video below to hear Centre Director Prof Miratul Muqit outline his vision for the new centre.

ukdri.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
June 15, 2026 at 3:48 PM
ukdri.ac.uk
Around six million people live with Down syndrome globally, and around 90% will develop Alzheimer’s in midlife.

Dr Frances Wiseman & colleagues have developed two new models of Down syndrome related Alzheimer’s, that could enable better study of the condition's impact 👉 ukdri.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
June 4, 2026 at 4:20 PM
ukdri.ac.uk
Our researchers at the UK DRI at Edinburgh are featured on the BBC today, highlighting how AI is transforming the search for treatments for neurodegenerative conditions 👏

Thank you to Steve, who generously shared his story and why research gives him hope 💙

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
AI used to speed up search for motor neurone disease drugs
Researchers hope the work will help identify affordable, effective drugs to treat conditions like MND.
www.bbc.co.uk
May 23, 2026 at 8:46 AM
ukdri.ac.uk
This #DementiaActionWeek, we were delighted to welcome @vikkislademp.bsky.social & @alisonebennett.bsky.social to UK DRI at King’s

Researchers showcased how they're uncovering new opportunities to diagnose early & slow onset by studying underlying processes & harnessing data science advances.
May 22, 2026 at 2:15 PM
Reposted by UK Dementia Research Institute
russellgroup.bsky.social
In #DementiaActionWeek learn how our universities are working with @ukdri.ac.uk to spearhead efforts to diagnose and treat this devastating disease.

This includes better testing to enable accessible, accurate and early detection, even before symptoms appear.

www.russellgroup.ac.uk/impact/diagn...
Diagnosing dementia: developing blood tests at the UK Dementia Research Institute | Russell Group
Dementia presents a major health challenge in our ageing society. Its personal, societal and economic consequences are devastating. With disease-modifying therapies finally on the horizon, there is re...
www.russellgroup.ac.uk
May 18, 2026 at 11:39 AM
Reposted by UK Dementia Research Institute
mironlab.bsky.social
🧪I'm deeply honoured to be elected a member of @acmedsci.bsky.social. Very grateful to my wonderful trainees, mentors, collaborators, and colleagues over 22 yrs from @edinunineuro.bsky.social @ukdri.ac.uk @cmvm-edinburghuni.bsky.social @unityhealthto.bsky.social @utoronto.ca @theneuro.bsky.social
acmedsci.bsky.social Academy of Medical Sciences @acmedsci.bsky.social · May 21
Congratulations to the 60 exceptional biomedical and health scientists elected to the Academy Fellowship today in recognition of their outstanding contributions to advancing medical science! 🎉

Meet our new Fellows: bit.ly/3Rb82JT
Text that reads "Congratulations to our 2026 Academy Fellows" within a fireworks graphic
May 21, 2026 at 11:23 AM
ukdri.ac.uk
Only 2% of people with dementia symptoms ever get a specialist diagnostic test

We are developing:
🩸 Blood tests to distinguish between conditions
⌚ Smartwatch AI detecting Parkinson's 7 years early
🛏️ Sleep mats predicting tau accumulation

www.russellgroup.ac.uk/impact/diagn...

#DementiaActionWeek
Diagnosing dementia: developing blood tests at the UK Dementia Research Institute | Russell Group
Dementia presents a major health challenge in our ageing society. Its personal, societal and economic consequences are devastating. With disease-modifying therapies finally on the horizon, there is re...
www.russellgroup.ac.uk
May 19, 2026 at 3:42 PM