Funding boost for Alzheimer’s research in Lancaster

The UK’s leading dementia research charity, the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, has awarded £175,000 for new research into Alzheimer’s disease at Lancaster University.

Talented local researchers have won a major programme grant and will start their project in the new year. They will investigate the link between amyloid, the toxic protein that builds up in the brain of Alzheimer’s patients, and how copper is removed from brain cells.

Dr Edward Parkin, who is leading the research, said: “These studies have the potential to uncover mechanisms in the cell which might, ultimately, be harnessed to treat or prevent Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, they will shed light on the functions of normal cells and what goes wrong with these processes inAlzheimer’s.”

Rebecca Wood, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, said: “There are 700,000 people in the UK with dementia and this number is expected to double within a generation, we desperately need to fund research looking at different ways to tackle this devastating disease.

“We are pleased to be supporting this cutting edge study and we wish Dr Parkin and his team all the best with their research”