Grant rejection is part of every researcher’s journey — and it never stops, no matter your career stage. In this episode of the Dementia Researcher Podcast, host Dr Fiona McLean (Alzheimer’s Research UK Fellow at the University of Dundee, studying links between metabolic syndrome, learning and memory) speaks with:

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Dr Sarah Marzi — Senior Lecturer at King’s College London and UK DRI group leader, researching the epigenome in neurodegenerative diseases.

Dr Kate Harris — Research Fellow at Newcastle University, soon to be Senior Lecturer, specialising in drug discovery for neurodegenerative diseases.

Dr Dayne Beccano-Kelly — UK DRI Future Leader Fellow and group leader at Cardiff University, focusing on synaptic dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease.

Together they share personal experiences of failed applications, from crushing first rejections to the resilience that comes with time, blending honest stories with practical strategies.

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In this episode:

💬 First-hand stories of fellowship and project grant rejections

📝 How to use reviewer feedback — even when it’s unhelpful

✍️ Why writing style and clarity can change your funding chances

🎯 Choosing funders whose remit truly fits your work

🍦 Coping strategies, from ice cream to badminton to music

💪 Building resilience and knowing when to rework or drop an idea

🤝 The value of mentors, networks and peer support

🎧 Listen to learn why rejection isn’t the end — and how it can be the start of a better grant.

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Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast

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The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

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Follow us on Social Media:

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Download and Register with our Community App:

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In this podcast we share a few selected highlights from the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) day two and day three of the main event in Toronto and Online, 27the - 31st July.

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Dr Shea Andrews, Assistant Professor at University of California San Francisco hosts the show with special guests:

Dr Joe Butler, NIHR ARC Research Fellow at University of Sunderland

Dr Lindsey Sinclair, Clinical Research Fellow & Consultant in Old Age Psychiatrist at University of Bristol

Dr Harriet Demnitz-King, Post-doctoral Research Fellow at Queen Mary University of London

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The AAIC brings together distinguished basic scientists, clinical researchers, early career investigators, clinicians and the care research community at the largest and most influential international conference on dementia science. They share theories and breakthroughs while exploring opportunities to accelerate work and elevate careers.

Main plenary talks from the day came from Professor Sharon Naismith from University of Sydney, Australia giving a talk titled "Waking Up to the Importance of Sleep in MCI and AD" and Professor Katrin Andreasson, M.D. with a talk titled "Restoring Hippocampal Glucose Metabolism Rescues Cognition Across Alzheimer’s Disease Pathologies".

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Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast

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The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

In this podcast we share a few selected highlights from the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) day two and day three of the main event in Toronto and Online, 27the - 31st July.

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Dr Connor Richardson, NIHR / Alzheimer's Society Dem Comm Research Fellow from University of Newcastle hosts the show with special guests:

Sára Zsadányi, PhD Student at Sant Pau Memory Unit – Neuroimaging Core and Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona

Dr Tatiana Giovannucci, Alzheimer's Association Research Fellow

Dr Richard Oakley, Associate Director of Research at Alzheimer's Society

The AAIC brings together distinguished basic scientists, clinical researchers, early career investigators, clinicians and the care research community at the largest and most influential international conference on dementia science. They share theories and breakthroughs while exploring opportunities to accelerate work and elevate careers.

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Main plenary talks from the day came from Professor Inhee Mook-Jung Seoul National University, Korea with a talk titled "The Gut-Brain Axis in Alzheimer’s Disease: Unraveling Pathogenesis and Exploring Novel Therapeutic Strategies" and Dr Juan Fortea, Memory Unit Director — Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Spain with a talk titled "Alzheimer’s Disease in Down Syndrome".

@alzassociation #aaic25 #aaic

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Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast

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The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

In this podcast we share a few selected highlights from the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) first and second day of the main event in Toronto and Online, 27the - 31st July.

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Dr James Brady, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at University of Tasmania hosts the show with special guests:

Dr Lucy Stirland, Academic Old Age Psychiatrist at The University of Edinburgh

Dr Isabel Castanho, Instructor at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), Harvard Medical School

Felix Wittmann, Research Fellow & PhD candidate at Leipzig University

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The AAIC brings together distinguished basic scientists, clinical researchers, early career investigators, clinicians and the care research community at the largest and most influential international conference on dementia science. They share theories and breakthroughs while exploring opportunities to accelerate work and elevate careers.

Main plenary talks from the day came from Professor Katerina Akassoglou, University of California, San Francisco, United States exploring Neurovascular Interactions in Alzheimer’s Disease: From Mechanisms to Treatments + Professor Maria Grazia Spillantini, from University of Cambridge United Kingdom for her plenary titled 'The Multiple Facets of Tau Pathology'.

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#AAIC25 @alzassociation

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Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast

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The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

In this podcast we share a few selected highlights from the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) pre-conference and first day of the main event in Toronto and Online, 27the - 31st July.

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Dr Tamlyn Watermeyer hosts the show with special guests:

Dr Emily Ho, Assistant Professor at Northwestern University

Dr Laura Stankeviciute, Postdoctoral Researcher & Scientific Project Manager at University of Gothenburg

Joseph Russell, NIHR Research Assistant at Northumbria University

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The AAIC brings together distinguished basic scientists, clinical researchers, early career investigators, clinicians and the care research community at the largest and most influential international conference on dementia science. They share theories and breakthroughs while exploring opportunities to accelerate work and elevate careers.

Main plenary talk from the day came from Sylvia Villeneuve, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry — McGill University, Canada talk about Biomarker and Clinical Trajectories of Preclinical AD.

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#AAIC25 @alzassociation

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Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast

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The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

Welcome to the sixth season of the Dementia Researcher X ISTAART PIA Relay Podcast. This series features interviews with ISTAART PIA committee members talking about their research, the research landscape of their fields, and the work of the ISTAART Professional Interest Areas (PIA) they represent. As we build up to the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Toronto, join us for daily episodes that showcase the remarkable work being done in various research fields.

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In this Relay Podcast episode, Dr Colin Groot interviews Dr Marta Del Campo, Head Fluid Biomarker Facility; Ramón y Cajal Research fellow at BarcelonaBeta Brain Research Center and chair of the ISTAART Biofluid Based Biomarkers PIA. Together, they talk about recent advances in fluid biomarkers in dementia research, and explore the growing role of plasma biomarkers, integration with clinical trials, challenges with reproducibility and diversity, and the promise of proteomics and AI. Marta also reflects on the work of ISTAART, their plans for AAIC, the value of publishing negative findings, and why ISTAART offers vital opportunities for early career researchers.

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The Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART) convenes the global Alzheimer’s and dementia science community. Members share knowledge, fuel collaboration and advance research to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Professional Interest Areas (PIA) are an assembly of ISTAART members with common subspecialties or interests.

There are currently 30 PIAs covering a wide range of interests and fields, from the PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers to Biofluid Based Biomarkers and everything in between.

To sign-up to ISTAART and a PIA visit: http://www.istaart.alz.org

Note: ISTAART Membership is free for students worldwide, and for researchers of all levels based in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

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To book your place at this year’s AAIC (In-person and online) visit:

http://www.aaic.alz.org

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Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast

--

The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

Welcome to the sixth season of the Dementia Researcher X ISTAART PIA Relay Podcast. This series features interviews with ISTAART PIA committee members talking about their research, the research landscape of their fields, and the work of the ISTAART Professional Interest Areas (PIA) they represent. As we build up to the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Toronto, join us for daily episodes that showcase the remarkable work being done in various research fields.

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In this episode, Professor Owen Carmichael talks with Dr Shana Stites, Assistant Professor at University of Pennsylvania and Chair of the ISTAART Diversity and Disparities PIA. In this discussion they explore the importance of inclusive participation in dementia research, the challenges of equitable access to research and care, and the shift toward more community-engaged approaches. The conversation highlights barriers like limited access to healthcare, the ethics of stipends, and the value of transparency, reciprocity, and representation in Alzheimer's disease and related research. They also talk about the wider work and aims of the PIA and what they have planned for the upcoming AAIC.

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The Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART) convenes the global Alzheimer’s and dementia science community. Members share knowledge, fuel collaboration and advance research to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Professional Interest Areas (PIA) are an assembly of ISTAART members with common subspecialties or interests.

--

There are currently 30 PIAs covering a wide range of interests and fields, from the PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers to Biofluid Based Biomarkers and everything in between.

To sign-up to ISTAART and a PIA visit: http://www.istaart.alz.org

Note: ISTAART Membership is free for students worldwide, and for researchers of all levels based in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

--

To book your place at this year’s AAIC (In-person and online) visit:

http://www.aaic.alz.org

--

Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast

--

The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

Welcome to the sixth season of the Dementia Researcher X ISTAART PIA Relay Podcast. This series features interviews with ISTAART PIA committee members talking about their research, the research landscape of their fields, and the work of the ISTAART Professional Interest Areas (PIA) they represent. As we build up to the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Toronto, join us for daily episodes that showcase the remarkable work being done in various research fields.

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In this episode, Professor Natalie Phillips interviews Professor Owen Carmichael, Director of Biomedical Imaging at Pennington Biomedical Research Center and incoming chair of the iSTAART Nutrition, Metabolism, and Dementia PIA. Owen shares his journey from computer science to neuroscience, and how his imaging work investigates how diet and metabolism shape dementia risk. They explore the promise of precision nutrition, the challenges of studying lifelong dietary exposure, and the vital role of olfaction and sensory health in nutrition. The episode also discusses the importance of inclusive research and lifelong data to understand and prevent cognitive decline. The show rounds-up the PIAs upcoming work at the AAIC, and the work of the PIA.

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The Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART) convenes the global Alzheimer’s and dementia science community. Members share knowledge, fuel collaboration and advance research to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Professional Interest Areas (PIA) are an assembly of ISTAART members with common subspecialties or interests.

There are currently 30 PIAs covering a wide range of interests and fields, from the PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers to Biofluid Based Biomarkers and everything in between.

To sign-up to ISTAART and a PIA visit: http://www.istaart.alz.org

Note: ISTAART Membership is free for students worldwide, and for researchers of all levels based in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

--

To book your place at this year’s AAIC (In-person and online) visit:

http://www.aaic.alz.org

--

Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast

--

The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

Welcome to the sixth season of the Dementia Researcher X ISTAART PIA Relay Podcast. This series features interviews with ISTAART PIA committee members talking about their research, the research landscape of their fields, and the work of the ISTAART Professional Interest Areas (PIA) they represent. As we build up to the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Toronto, join us for daily episodes that showcase the remarkable work being done in various research fields.

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In this episode, Dr Marta del Campo interviews Natalie Phillips, Chair of the Sensory Health and Cognition PIA and Professor of Psychology at Concordia University. Together, they discuss the role of hearing, vision, and olfaction in cognitive ageing and dementia risk. They explore mechanisms behind these links, from cognitive load to social isolation, and discuss emerging biomarker research, challenges in clinical implementation, and how this new ISTAART PIA is fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. The episode also previews upcoming activities at AAIC and highlights opportunities for early career researchers to get involved.

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The Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART) convenes the global Alzheimer’s and dementia science community. Members share knowledge, fuel collaboration and advance research to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Professional Interest Areas (PIA) are an assembly of ISTAART members with common subspecialties or interests.

--

There are currently 30 PIAs covering a wide range of interests and fields, from the PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers to Biofluid Based Biomarkers and everything in between.

To sign-up to ISTAART and a PIA visit: http://www.istaart.alz.org

Note: ISTAART Membership is free for students worldwide, and for researchers of all levels based in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

--

To book your place at this year’s AAIC (In-person and online) visit:

http://www.aaic.alz.org

--

Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast

--

The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

Welcome to the sixth season of the Dementia Researcher X ISTAART PIA Relay Podcast. This series features interviews with ISTAART PIA committee members talking about their research, the research landscape of their fields, and the work of the ISTAART Professional Interest Areas (PIA) they represent. As we build up to the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Toronto, join us for daily episodes that showcase the remarkable work being done in various research fields.

--

In this Relay Podcast episode, Dr Colin Groot interviews Dr Marta Del Campo, Head Fluid Biomarker Facility; Ramón y Cajal Research fellow at BarcelonaBeta Brain Research Center and chair of the ISTAART Biofluid Based Biomarkers PIA. Together, they talk about recent advances in fluid biomarkers in dementia research, and explore the growing role of plasma biomarkers, integration with clinical trials, challenges with reproducibility and diversity, and the promise of proteomics and AI. Marta also reflects on the work of ISTAART, their plans for AAIC, the value of publishing negative findings, and why ISTAART offers vital opportunities for early career researchers.

--

The Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART) convenes the global Alzheimer’s and dementia science community. Members share knowledge, fuel collaboration and advance research to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Professional Interest Areas (PIA) are an assembly of ISTAART members with common subspecialties or interests.

There are currently 30 PIAs covering a wide range of interests and fields, from the PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers to Biofluid Based Biomarkers and everything in between.

To sign-up to ISTAART and a PIA visit: http://www.istaart.alz.org

Note: ISTAART Membership is free for students worldwide, and for researchers of all levels based in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

--

To book your place at this year’s AAIC (In-person and online) visit:

http://www.aaic.alz.org

--

Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast

--

The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.