Official figures show our Trust now recruits more people for dementia clinical trials than any other NHS trust in England.
The figures, released by the National Institute for Health and Social Care Research, show our Trust recruited more than 3,000 patients for dementia research projects in the last year, almost 2,000 more than the second highest trust.
Sir Jeremy Hunt, MP for Godalming and Ash, welcomed the news: "With dementia affecting so many families, research is vital if we are to develop new treatments and improve people's lives. This achievement reflects the commitment of local clinicians, researchers patients and carers, who are helping to shape the future of dementia care."
Clinical trials help develop new medicines and treatments to improve the quality and length of life for people with dementia. Around one million people in the UK have a diagnosis of dementia, and it is the largest cause of death in the country. One in three people born in the UK today will go on to develop dementia in their lifetime.
As well as topping the list of England’s 43 NHS mental health trusts for dementia trials, our Trust was third overall in the national rankings for the number of recruits across all mental health trials.
Consultant Psychiatrist, Josie Jenkinson said: "Being the top recruiting trust for dementia studies nationally is a great achievement. This result reflects years of dedication from our Research and Development team, clinical colleagues, and most importantly the people with dementia and their carers who give their time to participate. We are enormously proud of what this team has built.
“By taking part in trials, participants not only contribute to improvements and potential breakthroughs in healthcare, but may get access to new treatments and diagnostic techniques not yet freely available.”
Lorna, who has been a participant in a clinical trial, said: "When you're living with dementia, it's easy to feel powerless. I joined the study to see how this research could help improve my own dementia symptoms, but also because I wanted to contribute to something that could benefit others in the future.
“The Research and Development team supported me throughout the study with kindness, patience, and clear communication, making the whole experience positive and reassuring. I feel proud to have been involved and hope this research will help lead to better treatments for people living with dementia around the world."
Recent studies supported by our Trust include:
Trontier – A major international trial of trontinemab, a next-generation Alzheimer's treatment designed to remove harmful amyloid plaques from the brain more effectively. Early results suggest it could offer significant benefits with fewer side effects for people in the early stages of the disease.
Trailblazer-V – This study is evaluating donanemab (Kisunla), one of the first drugs shown to slow the progression of early Alzheimer's disease. The trial is helping researchers understand who benefits most and how the treatment could be used more widely in the future.
ADAGIO – The ADAGIO study is investigating a new treatment for the agitation and distress that can affect people living with Alzheimer's disease. The research aims to improve quality of life for both patients and those who care for them.