Some of our successes to date
In August 2008 the network was set objectives by the Chief Scientist Office.
Objective 1
FORMAL LINKS WITH OTHER NATIONAL DEMENTIA RESEARCH NETWORKS
This has been achieved we have input to the Clinical Studies Group and the Operational Services Group of DeNDRoN. We completed a joint training initiative with the Northern Ireland research network. The manager as a member of the network manager’s group of DeNDRoN attends meetings on a regular basis in the Co-ordinating Centre in London and has attended a joint training session which included the English and Welsh network managers.
The network has formally adopted an MRC funded study assessing appropriate drug regimes in moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease (DOMINO). In addition we have contributed to HTA applications by Professor Robert Howard from the Institute of Psychiatry and Professor Rupert McShane from the University of Oxford. Most recently we have supported the extension to Scotland a Multicentre Study on Cognition in Parkinson’s disease (MUSTARRD PD) and are also recruiting on a international observational study in Alzheimers disease and the cost of care.
Objective 2
RECRUITMENT OF KEY PERSONNEL
We now have staff in the four teaching board areas. We have recruited a nurse from the clinical research facility one day a week in Grampian, Fife, Forth Valley and the Borders as well as two in Dumfries & Galloway. We plan to recruit more in 2011. We have administration support in place in Lothian and in Tayside.
Objective 3
ESTABLISH DATABASE OF CURRENT DEMENTIA RESEARCH IN SCOTLAND
On this website we hope to have an inclusive database of researchers and also have current dementia research in Scotland. This allows researchers in different parts of Scotland to link up and be better informed about what is going on in the rest of the country. It should also enable collaborative reserach.
Objective 4
DEVELOP A RESEARCH REGISTER OF USERS AND CARERS INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN RESEARCH
Our register of people with dementia and their carers who are interested in participating in research is growing rapidly. Our database has been designed by staff at Dundee University and is now operational. There are now 1100 patients and carers details on the database.
Objective 5
TRAINING OF NETWORK MEMBERS
We use the e-KSF methodology to identify training needs. We had a shared training event with Northern Ireland which was very successful.
Objective 6
INCORPORATE USERS AND CARERS INTO NETWORK MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE
We have people with dementia and carers represented on the Network Advisory Group which independently oversees network management and staff activity.
Patient and public involvement into the dementia network is something to be worked on over the next year and started with the topic specific Networks PPI event in June 2010 looking at some of the complexities involved for both researchers, and patients or their carers in influencing dementia research.
Alzheimer Scotland has funded a research fellow who works within our network. He took up post in September 2009 for three years.