In this week’s show we’re chatting about those very early stages of a PhD.

Those first few months, when you have taken the leap from following a Masters / Grad school fairly rigid format, to the new and often uncertain place of PhD Study. Adam Smith hosts the show, and is joined by four PhD Students who are all in their first year.

They discuss the excitement of starting, transition to PhD learning, supervisors, pressure and mental health, good work habits and much more. If you’re in the first year, we are sure there will be aspects you recognise from this discussion, and the reassurance that you are not alone – with a few tips along the way.

This week’s guests are:

Chloe Tulip, from Swansea University, researching sleep and dementia.

Tiffeny James, from University College London, investigating equity in service provision for people with dementia and their families

Brendan Commane from the Royal College of Art, studying care home environments and art.

Felicity Slocombe from Loughborough University studying Identity in dementia

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Doctoral students show high levels of stress in comparison to other students, and ongoing uncertainty in terms of graduate career outcomes can make matters worse.

A recent report from The Conversation updated that before the pandemic, one in five research students were expected to disengage from their PhD. Disengagement included taking extended leave, suspending their studies or dropping out entirely.

COVID-19 has made those statistics far worse. In a recent study, 45% of PhD students surveyed reported they expected to be disengaged from their research within six months, due to the financial effects of the pandemic.

Many factors influence whether students complete their doctorate. They include supervision support (intellectual and pastoral), peer support (colleagues, friends and family), financial stability and good mental health.

Our panellists today discuss how they’re ensuring they are in the 55%.

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You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website:

www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

A transcript of this podcast is also available here

www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-finding-your-phd-feet

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Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode.

This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

In this week show, Adam Smith is joined by an extended panel of early career dementia researchers, to discuss their highlights from the AAIC Neuroscience Next Conference.

AAIC Neuroscience Next organised by the Alzheimer’s Association was a global, no-cost virtual conference taking place on the 9-10th November 2020. It showcased the work of students and early career investigators in cognitive, computational, behavioural, and other areas of neuroscience research. In addition to the scientific presentations, attendees were given access to information on funding and career workshops and provided with networking opportunities.

The panellists for this show are (for the first time) all from outside the UK. We were delighted to be joined by:

Lindsay Welikovitch a PhD Student from McGill University, Canada (soon to be Dr having recently successfully defended her thesis).

Courtney Kloske, PhD Student from the University of Kentucky, USA.

Vee Balendra a Medical Student from St James School of Medicine, USA.

Dr Wade Self a Postdoctoral Fellow at The University of Chicago, USA.

João Pedro Ferrari Souza a MD and PhD Student from Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

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You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website:

www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

A transcript of this podcast is also available here

https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-aaic-neuroscience-next-conference-roundup

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If you missed the live conference, don’t worry – ISTAART members receive extended access to all content through 10th December 2020 (30 days for non-members who have already registered).

For details on ISTAART and the new PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers visit:

www.alz.org/istaart

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Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode.

This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

This is episode 100! We started the podcast in February 2018, and today we’re celebrating!

Regular hosts Adam Smith & Megan O’Hare have a short informal chat about the show. Sharing a few insights, and thanking you all for making the show such a great success.

With over 370 contributors and almost 50,000 plays, this unique podcast brings together early career researchers to talk about their work and careers topics which are important to them, and hopefully to everyone listening.

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To celebrate we’re holding another prize-giveaway.

To be in with a chance to win a Sonos One SL Smart Speaker:

1. Register as a user on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

2. Tweet us using the #ECRDementia and tell us why you enjoy the show

We will draw the winners name from the hat on the 30th November.

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You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website:

www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

A transcript of this podcast is also available here:

https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-celebrating-one-hundred-episodes

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This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Thank you for listening – looking forward to the next 100!

In this bonus episode, Dr Anna Volkmer talks with four people who are heading up a new Alzheimer’s Association ISTAART PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers (PEERS).

Adam Smith, from University College London, changes chairs from host of the show to panellist, as Chair of the new PIA. Alongside Adam we have his co-applicants and Executive Committee Members - Dr Beth Shaaban, Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Pittsburgh (PIA Vice Chair), Dr James Quinn, Research Fellow from Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Neurology (PIA Programs Chair) and Dr Naiara Demnitz, Postdoctoral researcher at the Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance (PIA Communications Chair).

This new PIA aims to:

• Encourage young people and undergraduates to consider a career in dementia research, and act to inspire and support them to remain in the field. Working to challenge funders and institutions to deliver improvements and improve ECR careers.

• Establish and maintain a supportive ECR network to share ideas and collaborate, discuss and troubleshoot career challenges, and gain leadership experience through officer and committee roles.

• Develop multi-media online content to support the personal and career development of ECRs.

To find out more visit the ISTAART website:

https://www.alz.org/istaart

Early Career Researcher listeners are encouraged join the new PIA. Login to your ISTAART account and update your registrations.

Over the next few weeks as the Executive Committee information is finalised, there will be various opportunities to become involved in the PIAs leadership and work.

AAIC Neuroscience Next registrants are invited to join ISTAART at a special 50% off rate. Use coupon code AAICNN50 at checkout (Coupon valid for AAIC Neuroscience Next registrants and new members only. Discounts reflected upon checkout.)

You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website:

www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

A transcript of this podcast is also available here:

https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-istaart-pia-to-elevate-early-career-researchers

Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode.

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This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

In this podcast Hannah Churchill, Research Communications Officer for Alzheimer’s Society takes the chair to talk with three Alzheimer’s Society funded researchers to discuss how they adapted in response to the pandemic.

People with dementia have been worst hit by the COVID-19 pandemic – with over a quarter of people who died of COVID-19 between March and June 2020 having had dementia.

Many dementia researchers have refocussed their work to study how the virus has impacted people living with dementia and their carers, to discover the likely long-term effects and to understand how care and support can be better provided in the future – ensuring lessons are learnt.

Basic scientists turned their attention to COVID-19 testing, or took the time to learn new coding skills, write papers and to play the next stages of the research. While clinical researchers mostly returned to be entirely focussed on front line care within the NHS.

The show is pleased to welcome:

Dr Nuriye Kupeli, Senior Research Fellow from University College London. Nuriye, is works on understanding how compassion is experienced by family carers and developing interventions to support carers in their role.

Dr Claire Pentecost, IDEAL Programme Manager from University of Exeter. IDEAL is the largest study of living well with dementia in the UK. The evidence will enable the development of new policy, interventions and initiatives to transform the lives of people with dementia and their carers.

Remco Tuijt, PhD Student, University College London. Remco, is researching Post-diagnostic dementia care using interviews to explore healthcare experiences for people with dementia, their carers and their healthcare professionals.

You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website:

www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

A transcript of this podcast is also available here

https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-alzheimers-society-keeping-research-going-during-a-pandemic/

Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode.

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The Alzheimer’s Society “Worst hit: Dementia during coronavirus” report can be found here:

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/sites/default/files/2020-09/Worst-hit-Dementia-during-coronavirus-report.pdf

Information on Alzheimer’s Society research grants can be found here:

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/research/researchers/grants

For information on the IDEAL Study visit:

http://www.idealproject.org.uk/

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This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Founded by Formula 1 racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart, Race Against Dementia is a global charity, founded by Sir Jackie Stewart, to fund pioneering research into the prevention and cure of dementia.

Adam Smith is in the driving seat, talking with Race Against Dementia CEO, Dr Penny Moyle, and Race Against Dementia Research Fellow, Dr Claire Durrant from The University of Edinburgh. In this week’s show we learn about the charity, its mission, the unique Fellowship programme and provide advise for anyone thinking of applying for the current funding call (deadline 20th January 2021).

The Race Against Dementia Fellowship Programme draws from the most promising scientific talent around the world; to catalyse their research work by driving a shift in culture that learns from innovation in high technology engineering research and implementation, such as in Formula 1; and to drive collaboration across disciplines and institutions to help fast-track their progress to become leaders in the field.

You can find out more about our panellists, and read a transcript of this podcast on our website:

https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-race-against-dementia-fellowships/

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For more information on Race Against Dementia visit:

https://www.raceagainstdementia.com/

For information, and details on how to apply for the Race Against Dementia Fellowship (Deadline 20th January 2021), administered by Alzheimer’s Research UK visit:

https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/grants/race-dementia-fellowship/

A webinar has been scheduled for 18:00 GMT on the 16th November. This is a a chance for potential applicants to hear from the existing Fellows, receive tips on the application process and to ask questions from the ARUK Team. To register for the webinar visit:

https://ucl.zoom.us/webinar/register/9716038273385/WN_tOY98S8LQrGLJg_04E7Snw

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Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. Register on our website to access information on all the latest research funding calls, to find events, blogs and to join our online early career dementia research community.

This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Dr Megan O’Hare interviews Professor Bart De Strooper and Professor David Llewellyn, discussing the new UK Dementia Research Institute and DEMON Network partnership to unlock the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Professor Bart De Strooper is National Director and Group Leader at the UK Dementia Research Institute and Group Leader in his own research he looks at the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.

Professor David Llewellyn is the DEMON Network Director and an Associate Professor at the University of Exeter Medical School and a Fellow at the Alan Turing Institute. His research aims to enhance the timely detection of dementia, with a focus on developing strategies for primary and secondary prevention using machine learning.

The Deep Dementia Phenotyping (DEMON) Network brings together academics, clinicians and other partners from across the world, and now it has joined forced with the UK Dementia Research Institute. The aim of this new collaboration is to rapidly speed up the transformation of data into clinical and biologically relevant knowledge in neurodegeneration research, to strengthen links with clinical researchers and industry, and to drive forward experimental dementia research using data science and artificial intelligence.

There is no universally agreed definition of AI. The term broadly refers to computing technologies that resemble processes associated with human intelligence, such as reasoning, learning and adaptation, sensory understanding, and interaction. An important feature of contemporary AI technologies is that they are increasingly able to make sense of varied and unstructured kinds of data – so what could happen when you combine AI with large amounts of health and societal data? The potential is amazing, and could be the key to unlocking improved dementia risk analysis, diagnosis and treatments.

You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-gate-and-dementia

Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode.

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For more information on the collaboration visit:

https://ukdri.ac.uk/news-and-events/new-partnership-with-the-demon-network-will-drive-forward-experimental-dementia-research

To join the DEMON Network visit:

http://demondementia.com/

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This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

This week Dr Anna Volkmer hosts a discussion with three researchers who use Gait Analysis as a key element of their research.

We are pleased to welcome Dr Riona McArdle, Research Associate at Newcastle University; Dr Keir Yong, Senior Research Fellow at University College London and Dr Silvia Del Din, Senior Research Associate at Newcastle University

Gait is a person’s pattern of walking. Walking involves balance and coordination of muscles so that the body is propelled forward in a rhythm. There are numerous possibilities that may cause an abnormal gait, many of which are neurological, which is why Gait and Dementia are considered in research.

You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-gate-and-dementia

Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode.

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On the 7th September 2020 our regular host Adam Smith hosted a 12 hour Dementia Research Live Chatathon - talking with 56 researchers + special guests, to raise much needed funding for Alzheimer's Research UK. You can catch-up on these fascinating sessions, and donate at http://www.chatathon.uk

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This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Over the next 12 months, NIHR Dementia Researcher is following Morgan Daniel as she studies for her Dementia MSc at University College London. Morgan will be blogging, podcasting and occasionally taking over our twitter feed to share news from her studies and life, documenting the hi's and lows', with tips for others who are considering post-graduate studies. 

In this podcast Adam Smith chats to Morgan, discussing about her background, the move the London, what motivates her, and what her first few weeks at UCL have been like.

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In 2017 there were approximately 26,300 cancer researchers in the UK, compared to 6,100 working in dementia (link to statistics from Alzheimer's Research UK website) - further funding is required, but also the people to make use of funding. One of the core aims of NIHR Dementia Researcher is to inspire people to consider working in dementia research, we hope that through this partnership, we can support others to know that they are not alone, inspire students to complete their studies and encourage young people to consider dementia research as their career.

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You can find out more about our Morgan, and read her first blog on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-introducing-morgan-daniel-kick-starting-a-12-month-msc-journey

Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode.

This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Music is powerful! Whether it's 60s psychedelic rock, soul, opera, classical or songs from West End the shows, music can be calming, uplifting and bring to conger up long-forgotten memories. For a number of years researchers have been exploring the the power of music and singing and how it can help people living with dementia.

This week Megan O'Hare is joined by three special guests who are researching and exploring ways to help people through music.

Grace Meadows, musician, music therapist, and Programme Director for the Music for Dementia 2020 campaign.

Dr Robyn Dowlen, Postdoctoral Research Associate at The Centre for Cultural Value, University of Leeds. Robyn is working to understand the difference arts and culture make to people’s lives and society, by making research more accessible and by supporting the cultural sector to capture and evaluate the value it produces.

Emilie Brotherhood, Research Fellow / part-time PhD student at University College London. Emilie is investigating physiological responses to music in people living with Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA) and Alzheimer’s disease.

You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-music-and-dementia

Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode.

Regular host Adam Smith is hosting a 12 hour Dementia Research Live Chatathon - 7th September, 12 hours, over 56 researchers + special guests, to raise much needed funding for Alzheimer's Research UK. To find out more visit http://www.chatathon.uk

This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.