Researcher standing in a lab

Defying Dementia

Raising funds and awareness of Lancaster University's research into Alzheimer's Disease

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Defying Dementia

Raising funds for and awareness of dementia research in Lancaster University’s Division of Biomedical Sciences.

Dementia, the leading form of which is Alzheimer’s disease, is an absolutely devastating group of conditions. For people living with these conditions and their families a dementia diagnosis is the start of an immense emotional and physical journey. This is why organisations like Defying Dementia have been established in an effort to contribute, at a local level, to the development of drugs for the treatment of dementia. We are a local organisation, conducting research in the Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences at Lancaster University, that takes pride in being able to communicate and develop our research in close association with the local community whose amazing efforts raise funds for that very research. Put simply, fundraisers and donors get to see exactly what their generosity is funding.

Our fight is multi-faceted consisting of the ‘coal face’ researchers, their academic supervisors, the local community fund raisers and donors, the Defying Dementia shop in Lancaster and the Defying Dementia Student Society.

The Defying Dementia Campaign

The importance of Defying Dementia

This video reveals why our Alzheimer’s drug must be brought to life. With each passing moment, people across the world lose their memories, their independence, and their connection to loved ones because of this relentless disease. We believe in the power of hope, science, and community to make a change. Please explore below to learn more about the Defying Dementia campaign and the incredible work being done to turn the tide against Alzheimer’s.

Our Research

Prior to David Allsop’s passing, his research group at Lancaster University had been developing a way of treating Alzheimer’s. The condition is caused by the accumulation of ‘clumps’ of poisonous protein fragments in the brain that kill nerve cells. These clumps are formed mainly from two sticky proteins called ‘amyloid beta’ and ‘tau’. David initially developed a drug that could stop/slow down the formation of amyloid beta clumps and was working on developing it further to stop the formation of tau clumps. Essentially, the drugs work by sticking many copies of another protein fragment, similar to the ones in the poisonous clumps, to the surface of tiny fat droplets called liposomes. The liposomes help get the protein fragments into the brain where the latter insert themselves into the toxic clumps and cause them to dissolve.

As a group of neurodegeneration scientists at Lancaster University, we wish to see David’s research legacy continued and, at the same time, develop it further to incorporate additional aspects of our own research with the overarching aim of developing a drug effective against Alzheimer’s. Neil Dawson worked closely with David and is developing ways of combining his drugs into a single treatment that simultaneously reduces both amyloid beta and tau clumps in the brain. Cheryl Hawkes works on ways of improving communication between nerve cells in the brain and improving blood supply to the organ, both of which are important in the prevention of Alzheimer’s. Finally, Edward Parkin is looking at ways of using gene therapy to increase levels of proteins in the brain that protect against the development of Alzheimer’s and potentially incorporating these drugs into the centre of the fat droplets in David’s drugs in order to develop combination therapies against the disease.

Collectively, we form a strong research team passionate about continuing the development of a drug that has the potential to slow down, or even stop the progression of this devastating disease. With your help, our research will contribute to making this possible!

Defying Dementia Research Team
Top Left: Dr Edward Parkin Top Right: Dr Cheryl Hawkes Bottom Left: Dr Neil Dawson

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By Post

Philanthropy, Alumni and Supporter Engagement
C Floor
University House
Lancaster University
Bailrigg, Lancaster
LA1 4YW
United Kingdom

By Phone

+44 (0)1524 594109

We're here Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm

By Email

friends@lancaster.ac.uk

Contact a member of our team directly.

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