On Wednesday 21 May, we were delighted to welcome the Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock MP, to visit the UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI).
The visit to the UK DRI’s two centres based at Imperial College London’s White City campus was hosted by Prof David Sharp (Centre Director, UK DRI Centre for Care Research & Technology) and Prof Deborah Ashby (Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London).
During the visit, the Minister met UK DRI researchers specialising in a range of disciplines, including stem-cell research, neurobehavioral mechanisms, and digital biomarkers alongside clinicians and occupational therapists.
The Minister met UK DRI researchers specialising in a range of disciplines
“The UK Dementia Research Institute is an inspiring example of the investment the government is putting into life sciences. The research I saw today is critical to the success of our 10 Year Health Plan.”
Stephen Kinnock MPMinister of State for Care
The Minister visited the interactive ‘Living Lab’ at the Centre for Care Research & Technology, which acts as a test bed for cutting-edge, smart devices that can be placed within people’s homes to support care delivery and provide deeper insight into wellbeing.
These include radar sensors that can track gait and movement patterns, and a sleep mat that can detect breathing and heart rate, enabling researchers to detect common health problems such as infections earlier. These new technologies will reduce preventable hospitalisation and help people living with dementia to remain safely at home for longer. The Minister spoke with Jyoti and Edith, participants in UK DRI research, to hear how they have benefited from technology within their homes.
The Minister spoke with Jyoti and Edith, participants in UK DRI research
The Minister, given his specific dementia care policy focus, was particularly interested in how the smart devices showcased today are used to deliver the UK DRI’s groundbreaking Minder platform, which is currently being integrated with NHS systems.
Prof David Sharp, Centre Director of the UK DRI Centre for Care Research & Technology said:
“It was a pleasure to showcase our work to the Minister. At the UK Dementia Research Institute Centre for Care Research & Technology, we aim to make a real difference to people living with or at risk of dementia now. By studying the underlying biological processes, harnessing advances in data science and developing technologies to support care within the home we are building toward a future where we can predict risk, prevent onset and personalise care for the millions affected by dementia across the UK and worldwide.”
Prof Deborah Ashby, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London said:
“We were delighted to welcome Minister Stephen Kinnock to the UK Dementia Research Institute at Imperial during Dementia Action Week. His visit highlighted the vital importance of collaborative research and innovation in transforming dementia care. At Imperial, we are proud to lead pioneering work – from understanding the earliest stages of disease to developing real-world technologies that empower people with dementia to live safely and independently.”