Dementia cure moves a step closer thanks to £45million research boost
A CURE for dementia moved a step closer yesterday after a £45million donation boosted the Government’s research fund.
The incredible gift from American charity AARP helped the Dementia Discovery Fund (DDF) meet its £250milion target for further study of the disease.
Hilary Evans, chief executive at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “We have been thrilled to see the incredible success of this pioneering fundraising effort to support early-stage drug discovery.
“Between two major investments this year, first from Bill Gates and now AARP, investment in the fund has risen by a third in just seven months.
“This is a clear demonstration that support for dementia research is continuing to grow, as it must if we are to change the outlook for people with dementia.
“This final investment comes at a pivotal time.
“With an estimated 50 million people living with dementia around the world, we cannot afford to wait any longer to make dementia research a priority.”
Researchers believe there will be more than one million people living with dementia in the UK by 2025. Currently there is no cure.
Dr Rick Livesey, of Gen2 Neuroscience and head of the Alzheimer’s Research UK Stem Cell Research Centre, said: “Our goal is to develop effective disease-modifying treatments for dementia. Investment from the DDF has enabled us to quickly carry out the required research and development with valuable insight.
“This successful fundraising demonstrates the clear need for new approaches to treat dementia and is a great example of how venture funding can provide an impetus to innovation in novel drug treatments.”
Dr Livesey and his team are using human stem cell models of dementia to identify toxic, extracellular forms of the tau protein that promotes disease progression.
They hope to develop antibody therapies that specifically target toxic tau and avoid normal non-toxic tau.
If successful, they will develop a new medicine for clinical trials in people with dementia.
The DDF, set up in part by the Department of Health and Social Care and Alzheimer’s Research UK, makes early-stage investments to develop ground-breaking drugs and treatments for all forms of dementia. It is the largest venture fund in the world focused on a single disease. Since its launch in 2015, the DDF has invested in 16 drug-discovery companies and projects, predominantly in the UK and US. It has set up a scientific advisory board, which includes heads of neuroscience, and research and development, from major pharmaceutical companies and Alzheimer’s Research UK. “Drug development in dementia is not an attractive area for general investors,” Dr Livesey said. “DDF fills a key need in this area.” The AARP is a US non-profit social welfare organisation with a membership of nearly 38 million people. It focuses on elderly people, especially on how they can continue to live well after retirement. Jo Ann Jenkins, chief executive of AARP, said: “Dementia doesn’t just affect those with the disease. It takes a devastating emotional, physical and financial toll on families and carers. “The projected doubling of the size of the 65-plus population over the next generation makes finding new ways to treat dementia, including Alzheimer’s, even more critical.” Caroline Dinenage, UK Minister of Care, said: “Dementia is a global challenge. That’s why cross-border co-operation on research and innovation is so important, and why the UK helped found the DDF to help tackle this devastating disease. “I know our world-leading scientists are making new strides in research and treatment every day, and the DDF will help to support the next generation of discovery.”
THERE will be more than one million people living with dementia in the UK by 2025 and there is no cure. That is the bad news. The good news is that research funding has received a big boost with a £45million donation to the Dementia Discovery Fund (DDF) from an American charity.
Mostly we hear about how patients are helped to manage this cruel disease but the details of the scientific research currently under way is inspiring. The DDF is the largest venture fund in the world focused on a single disease.
This vital work may not, sadly, help so many who are currently struggling with a terrible affliction. But future generations can have hope. How wonderful it would be if – thanks to this new money – we really were on the edge of a breakthrough.