‘Defeating Dementia: building capacity to capitalise on the UK’s research strengths’
Date: 2012
Brief: research, copywriting, overseeing design and publication, proofreading
Job description: Alzheimer’s Research UK wanted to make a case for more investment in dementia research by the government and other funders. The charity had obtained some initial data about the UK’s dementia research capacity. I developed the project by commissioning Evidence, a business of Thomson Reuters, to supply more data, and also by conducting my own research among dementia scientists working in the UK. I then analysed and presented the results, including 120 questionnaire responses, in this 40-page stakeholder report. I also drew up 14 recommendations for the government and research funders, based on the evidence I had gathered, and oversaw the design and publication of the report. It was launched in January 2012 in the House of Commons, at an event attended by 150 people, and was welcomed by the government and other stakeholders. It has had a clear influence on government policy, including the Dementia Challenge launched in 2012 and G8 summit on dementia in 2013, presided over by the UK. At the time of publication, it also received widespread press coverage, for example:
Thank you for delivering a report that is well researched and written, well designed and has been warmly welcomed.
Tim Parry, Media and Communications Manager, Alzheimer’s Research UK
