DEM-COMM Programme
The DEM-COMM programme, funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research and the Alzheimer's Society, has been granted an extra £6 million to extend its duration by 18 months and provide internship opportunities. This initiative supports new leaders in dementia research by bringing together diverse researchers for community-focused projects addressing critical gaps in evidence.
ARC-GM Fellows, alongside those from universities of Liverpool, Oxford, Southampton, and King’s College London, have secured £266K in seed funding for cross-ARC projects tackling dementia challenges. Projects include developing a virtual reality platform to promote dementia awareness among youth and using artificial intelligence to optimise medication for dementia patients.
The fellows are working with Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership and Dementia United to establish DRAGON, a public involvement network promoting awareness of dementia research in Greater Manchester.
Its goals include fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, addressing community needs, and encouraging public participation in research advocacy.
Contact Information
Alison Littlewood
Programme Manager
DEM-COMM Fellows
Jaheeda Gangannagaripalli - Keep On Keep Up (KOKU) Digital technologies for falls preventions for people with dementia: The digital exercise programme is being modified for people with dementia. This fellowship will build on this to develop an intervention modification and feasibility RCT. Read more
Sarah Fox - Everyday aesthetics and the intersection of arts and health: Everyday aesthetics and the intersection of arts and health: Involves the use of a participatory approach to develop, deliver and evaluate a tailored, multi-arts social intervention with people with dementia living at home. Read more
Emma Elliott - Deconditioning in hospitalised patients with dementia This research involves:
- A systematic review to examine evidence of physical activity interventions for hospitalised patients with dementia. The protocol is registered on PROSPERO here.
- A quantitative study to understand the impact that increased ward moves/changes have on people with dementia.
- A qualitative study, involving interviews with a) patients with dementia, b) their caregivers, and c) healthcare professionals, to understand their experiences of hospitalisation and deconditioning.
Sarah Smith - Assessing the effects of physical activity interventions on the maintenance of cognitive function in midlife to reduce the risk of cognitive decline
The results of this systematic review will be explored with Public and Community Involvement and Engagement (PCIE) representatives and relevant stakeholders. Assessment of the need for a feasibility study will then follow. The protocol can be found on PROSPERO here.
DEM-COMM Fellow
Dr Emma Elliot from the University of Manchester talks about her dementia research.
DEM-COMM Fellow
Dr Sarah Smith explains how her research hopes to find ways of preventing dementia.
Dementia Research Assistant Internship
We are offering part-time internship opportunities (6-12 months) for Research Assistants to work alongside the DEM-COMM Fellows.
Interns will have the opportunity to contribute to a variety of ongoing projects within the ARC-GM DEM-COMM programme. While interns can indicate their preferred areas of focus, project assignments will also depend on immediate needs.
Candidates must be graduates currently employed by either an organisation delivering health or social care services or research in Greater Manchester, or a Higher Education Institution in the region.
Applicants should specify their interests in the application form.
Current projects include:
- KOKU-LITE: A digital program aimed at preventing falls and enhancing well-being in people with dementia (feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial). Tasks include recruitment, data collection, and analysis.
- Acute Hospitalisation Experiences: A qualitative study exploring hospitalisation experiences of people living with dementia. Tasks include recruitment, data collection, analysis, and write-up.
- Physical Activity and Dementia Prevention: Focused on stakeholder engagement and data analysis.
- Meaningful Everyday Connections: Dissemination of study findings and development of future research ideas.
Interns will receive tailored training to match their interests and project requirements. Both formal courses and informal mentorship opportunities will be provided, supported by a dedicated training budget.
Examples of training options:
- Good Clinical Practice (NIHR)
- Qualitative Research Methods
- Introduction to Qualitative Data Analysis using NVivo
- Data Analysis Skills
How to Apply
Please include your project preferences and areas of interest in the application form. Please refer to the guidance here.
Applications should be submitted using the online application form here
Important dates
Application deadline: Monday 27th January 2025
Interviews: Tuesday 11th February 2025
Interview outcome: Week commencing 17th February 2025
Start date: Saturday 1st March 2025