In this episode of the Dementia Researcher podcast, Dr Anna Volkmer leads a discussion on the importance of co-production in dementia research. This episode explores what it truly means to involve people with lived experience, with tips on how to go about it, and our guests own experience in working together. They also discuss the research process and how this approach can lead to more relevant and impactful outcomes.

Featured Guests:

•Dr Barbora Silarova: An NIHR / Alzheimer’s Society Dem Comm Fellow at the University of Kent. Barbora brings her expertise in supporting people living with dementia and their carers. She shares insights on the significance of equal partnerships in co-produced research and the challenges and rewards of this collaborative approach.

•Dr Rosie Ashworth: A researcher who leads patient and public involvement for the NRS Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network in Scotland. Rosie discusses the importance of involving those with lived experience in research to enrich the quality and relevance of scientific findings.

•Winnie Henry: A retired psychotherapist who cared for her husband with vascular dementia. Winnie provides a personal perspective on the value of co-production, emphasising empathy and the importance of ensuring that carers' voices are heard in research.

•Mike Parish: A retired firefighter who became a carer for his husband, who had progressive supranuclear palsy. Mike highlights the importance of representing diverse experiences and backgrounds in dementia research to ensure all voices are considered.

•David Ross: A retired engineer who cared for his wife with frontotemporal dementia. David speaks about his journey into co-production, driven by a desire to understand more about dementia and contribute to meaningful research that reflects the realities faced by carers.

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Essential links / resources mentioned in the show:

NHS England Co-production resource toolkit

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/co-production-resource-toolkit/

Co-Production Collective

https://www.coproductioncollective.co.uk/

The Dementia Enquirers Gold Standards for Co-Research

https://dementiaenquirers.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/gold-standard-for-co-research.pdf

DEEP Network - A Story of Co-Production

https://www.dementiavoices.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/A-story-of-co-production-%E2%80%93-The-Right-to-a-Grand-Day-Out.pdf

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Together, these guests provide valuable insights into the process and benefits of co-produced research, offering practical tips for researchers looking to adopt this approach.

Tune in to learn more about how prioritising people can transform the way we approach dementia research.

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Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website:

https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

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This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support.

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