Alzheimer's Research Trust

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The Alzheimer's Research Trust is the United Kingdom's leading dementia research charity, founded in 1992. It is dedicated to funding scientific studies to find ways to treat, cure or prevent Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, Lewy Body disease and fronto-temporal dementia.

The ultimate goal of the charity is to find a treatment that will cure or prevent Alzheimer's and related diseases. The charity supports scientific and medical research to make progress towards that goal. They have funded over 150 research grants across the UK. All of their research is carried out in leading institutions by top scientists.

Grant applications to the Alzheimer's Research Trust undergo a rigorous peer review process and are assessed extensively by a Scientific Advisory Board. The Trust fund the most innovative and promising UK research in any area of dementia from the most talented scientists in top research environments. The Alzheimer's Research Trust's groundbreaking research programme is recognized by its membership of the Association of Medical Research Charities. As a charity, the Trust does not receive any government funding and instead relies on donations from individuals, companies and charitable trusts, money raised by individuals and gifts left in people's Wills to fund vital research work.

[edit] History

The charity was founded by four members of the public as a result of their deep concerns at the lack of funding for Alzheimer's research.^[1]

In 1998, the Trust awarded its first first major grant of £500,000 to a team led by distinguished scientist Dr Michel Goedert in Cambridge. The charity now funds over 100 grants all over the UK at a cost of more than £11 million.^[1]

In March 2008, author Terry Pratchett, who has the disease, donated one million US dollars to the trust.^[2]