One of 20 designated dementia research nurses across the UK has been brought into Sheffield, in an effort to boost accessibility to dementia trials.

A £3 million investment from the Alzheimer’s Society has funded Jo Howe’s new position in the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation trust making the site one of the UK’s first to have this sole dedication to dementia research.

Mrs Howe, said: “I am honoured to be part of the first UK-wide network of dementia research nurses. My main aim is to promote dementia research to both staff and the public and make it easier for people to get involved. ”

According to Alzheimer’s Research UK dementia is the nations biggest killer and yet less than 1% of people diagnosed with dementia were recruited to early-stage research trials and 95% of those that have are from a diverse background, with 95% being of White British/European origin.

Laura Rooney, Lead research Nurse at Alzheimer’s Society, said: “Research will beat dementia, the UK’s biggest killer. 

We know people living with dementia are keen to take part in research and find it incredibly rewarding, but so few are offered the opportunity.”

One of the specific goals of the Alzheimer’s Society’s UKDTN Research Nurses programme is to tackle barriers which prevent people taking part in clinical trials; focusing on bringing people from a range of backgrounds into dementia research.

Sheffield Memory Hub is an organisation working to support Sheffield locals primarily of African and African Caribbean descent suffering from dementia by using culturally appropriate cognitive simulation activities.

Carl Case, Sheffield Memory Hub’s Co-ordinator, said: “Researchers and organisations need to ask themselves why groups are underrepresented, how they are getting out to them, who they are using, how can they better engage groups and remove barriers?” 

He went on to say that for those in the community frequently engaging in trials and research, there is a developing cynicism in being over researched without feedback, impact and implementation shared.

An important factor in building trust, and confidence in the research process

Mrs Howe’s new role is an important step in the currently lagging dementia research and The Sheffield Memory Hub will also be taking part in piloting the Admiral Nurses’ new face to face support sessions in April.