Dementia research will get a boost with the announcement of new and expanded grants from the Dementia Australia Research Foundation.
Applications for the Dementia Australia Research Foundation 2023 Grants Program are now open, including a new grant from the Bartle Pathway to Care initiative, as well as an extended five-year Race Against Dementia - Dementia Australia Research Foundation Post-doctoral Fellowship.
The Dr Stuart & Bonnie Bartle Project Grant and a new Research Translation Grant in Dementia Care have been created to provide funding for research projects that strive to enhance equal, compassionate and supportive care for people living with dementia and their families.
Dr Anita Goh was awarded the inaugural Dr Stuart & Bonnie Bartle Mid-Career Research Fellowship in 2022, for a project aiming to improve the way research evidence is translated into clinical practice.
"It takes around 17 years for research evidence to influence clinical practice," Dr Goh said.
"In other words, researchers have found and tested things that work to improve outcomes - but they are not well known or are not being commonly used in the real-world.
"This grant will allow me to explore what it takes for organisations and people to want to, and then actually change the way they provide care and what needs to be in place for this to happen."
Emma Martin and Anthea Mader, nieces of Dr Stuart and Bonnie Bartle, said the grants are a way to honour their life and legacy.
"Through the Bartle Estate and the establishment of the Bartle Pathway to Care, we will encourage innovation and change in the care available to people living with dementia and their families," Ms Martin and Mader said.
The Race Against Dementia - Dementia Australia Research Foundation Post-doctoral Fellowship, which previously provided research funding for three years, has been extended and will now provide the successful applicant with $695,000 funding over five years.
Established in 2020 by racing legend and Dementia Australia Patron Sir Jackie Stewart OBE's Race Against Dementia charity and the Dementia Australia Research Foundation, the Fellowship supports early career researchers in the field of dementia prevention or treatment.
Sir Jackie said the Fellowship demonstrated a commitment to driving dementia research forward.
"The race is on - we must beat this terrible disease before even more people and their families have to face dementia. This is the greatest challenge of my life," Sir Jackie said.
Chair of the Dementia Australia Research Foundation, Professor Graeme Samuel AC encouraged researchers to consider applying for one of the range of grants available.
"By supporting up-and-coming researchers, we will be able to target the brightest new minds whilst at a critical crossroads for choosing a research path," Professor Samuel said.
"This means that we are not only supporting them to solve another piece of the dementia puzzle now, but hopefully cementing their career-long focus on dementia research."
Applications for the Dementia Australia Research Foundation 2023 Grant Program close on 21 August 2023.
For a full list of grants available or to apply, visit https://www.dementia.org.au/research/grants
The Dementia Australia Research Foundation is the research arm of Dementia Australia, which provides funding to support new and emerging dementia researchers. Since 2000, almost $29m in funding has been allocated to support over 350 grants, fellowships. Visit https://www.dementia.org.au/research/foundation/our-researchers
