Yesterday, we welcomed Freddie van Mierlo MP to the UK DRI Biomarker Factory, based at UCL.
During the visit, Freddie van Mierlo, MP for Henley and Thame, met with Dr Róisín NicAmhaoibh, Chief Innovation and Business Officer, and Dr Amanda Heslegrave, Principal Research Fellow. The team shared their world-leading work using biomarkers to differentiate between types of dementia - research that is paving the way for earlier, more accurate diagnoses and future life-changing treatments.
He also toured the state-of-the-art facility and met with specialist researchers working to identify blood biomarkers which can help us to detect dementia at the earliest stage, enabling doctors to intervene earlier with appropriate support.
Reflecting on the visit, Freddie said:
“Early and accurate detection of dementia is vital. We need medical researchers, government, and the NHS to work together to build on this incredible work and make early and accessible diagnosis a reality. The UK DRI's early discovery is an example of the innovation we wish to implement into better care for patients with lived experience of dementia.”
Dr Amanda Heslegrave who co-leads the UK DRI Biomarker Factory said,
"It was wonderful welcoming Freddie to see the cutting-edge research we are doing to enable the early detection and diagnosis of dementia. We had an excellent discussion, and I was really pleased to showcase the opportunities that blood biomarkers present to transform the future of dementia.”