Government pledges new dementia research funding

More funding is to be provided for dementia research in the UK under new plans unveiled by the Department of Health (DH).

In association with experts and stakeholders from across government, academia, charities and the industry, care services minister Paul Burstow has unveiled plans to examine ways of improving research quality in Britain.

The Route Map for Dementia Research scheme involves a pledge of up to 20 million pounds from the DH for four new National Institute for Health Research biomedical research units, as well as a ten percent boost to Medical Research Council funding for studies into neurodegeneration.

It will also encourage more public/private partnerships in this field and will call on patients and carers to participate in research programmes.

Mr Burstow said: "Research is the key to developing new treatments, transforming care and ultimately to finding a cure for this devastating disease."

The news has been welcomed by bodies such as Alzheimer's Research UK, which said it will be working with the government to ensure these proposals are acted upon successfully.