BRACE and research

Research into dementia is carried out all over the world but we are lucky in South West England and South Wales to have a large group of scientists, clinicians and psychologists working on different aspects of dementia research.

BRACE focuses on supporting scientists in these areas, and currently funds projects at universities in the South West of the UK. The University of Bristol was the first University to recieve funding by BRACE in 1992. In 2007 the University of Bath recieved funding, followed closely by University of the West of England (UWE) in 2009 and Cardiff University in 2010. In 2013 BRACE expanded further into Wales with through collaboration with Swansea University. In 2014 BRACE expanded into Devon through funding of University of Exeter and University of Plymouth research.

BRACE has no particular strategic approach to the type and scope of projects it will consider for funding except that they should be of the highest scientific quality and address an area of research that would ultimately lead to improvements in diagnosis, treatment or quality of life for sufferers of dementing conditions. 

Research funded by BRACE looks at a range of research initiatives and essential facilities including:

• Genetics
• Cellular and molecular mechanisms of disease
• Improving diagnosis, including analysis of cognition and behaviour
• Prevention
• Facilities

Please follow the links in the drop down menu above to view research sorted by institution or by type of research. Please click here to view past research projects funded by BRACE.

For more information about the types of dementia mentioned in these research pages, please visit our FAQ section or Types of dementia.

Applications are invited from researchers in the region on a regular basis, as funds allow. Each research project is assessed for suitability by the Trustees Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) chaired by Professor Stephen Lisney. Each project is then sent out for peer review to experts in the field of research of the project. The SAC then makes its recommendations for funding to the Trustees who approve funding.

Research funded by BRACE is able to make important contributions to our knowledge of dementia - for example, it helped to provide the foundations for a ground-breaking clinical trial known as RADAR. BRACE has also contributed to training the next generation of dementia researchers.