Alzheimer’s Research UK is named BIA Charity of the Year for 2017

The BIA has worked with the charity this year on its Celebrating UK Bioscience campaign that looked at how the Dementia Discovery Fund, launched in 2015 by Alzheimer’s Research UK, the Department of Health and global pharmaceutical companies, supported BIA member Gen2 Neuroscience in its work to tackle dementia.

Alzheimer’s Research UK is the UK’s leading research charity aiming to defeat dementia, powering world-class studies that increase the chance of beating dementia sooner. Their pioneering work focuses on prevention, treatment and cure, and they are energising a movement across society to support, fund and take part in dementia research.

Developing a treatment by 2020 that could delay the onset of dementia by five years would mean there would be:

• a 36% reduction in dementia cases
• 450,000 fewer people with dementia
• 400,000 fewer family carers

BIA CEO Steve Bates said: “I am delighted to be working with Hilary Evans and the team at Alzheimer’s Research UK. The charity’s high profile campaign work has played a pivotal role in raising the profile of dementia research in the UK and they play an active role on the ground working through the Dementia Discovery Fund and other initiatives to invest in the pioneering research taking place across the globe.”

Hilary Evans, Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “We are thrilled to have been chosen as the BIA’s charity of the year. With their support, we will be able to increase focus on our shared priorities of establishing the UK as a world-leader in research, building support for the biotech sector to help speed up progress towards much-needed new dementia treatments. We very much look forward to working with the BIA team to improve awareness of dementia, raise vital funds and boost progress in dementia research.”

A number of the BIA’s members are working across the dementia space including Accera Inc, Biosignatures Limited, Gen2 Neuroscience, Midven and Pfizer Global Research & Development.

You can watch the BIA video which features Dr Matt Norton, Director of Policy and Strategy, Alzheimer’s Research UK, Kate Bingham, Managing Partner SV Life Sciences (Dementia Discovery Fund), Dr Rick Livesey, CEO Gen2 Neuroscience and Joy Watson, dementia patient and Alzheimer’s Research UK supporter: http://bia.me/DDF_video    

To buy tickets for the Gala Dinner go to http://www.biagaladinner.org/

Notes to Editors

About BIA

Founded over 25 years ago at the infancy of biotechnology, the BioIndustry Association (BIA) is the trade association for innovative enterprises involved in UK bioscience. Members include emerging and more established bioscience companies; pharmaceutical companies; academic, research and philanthropic organisations; and service providers to the bioscience sector. The BIA represents the interests of its members to a broad section of stakeholders, from government and regulators to patient groups and the media. Our goal is to secure the UK's position as a global hub and as the best location for innovative research and commercialisation, enabling our world-leading research base to deliver healthcare solutions that can truly make a difference to people's lives.

For further information, please go to www.bioindustry.org and twitter.com/BIA_UK

About Alzheimer’s Research UK

• Alzheimer’s Research UK is the UK’s leading charity specialising in finding preventions, treatments and a cure for dementia.
• We rely on donations to fund our vital dementia research. To help us defeat dementia, donate today by visiting www.alzheimersresearchuk.org or calling 0300 111 5555.
• We are currently supporting dementia research projects worth over £33 million in leading Universities across the UK. 
• Our Defeat Dementia campaign, a pledge to raise £100 million in five years to grow the research field and accelerate progress towards new treatments and preventions, was announced by the Prime Minister at the G8 legacy event on 19 June 2014. For more information, visit www.dementiablog.org/defeat-dementia

About dementia

Dementia affects 850,000 people in the UK and is caused by brain diseases, most commonly Alzheimer’s, which result in the loss of brain cells and impair the brain’s ability to function properly. Early symptoms can include problems with memory and thinking, but as brain cell death becomes more widespread, physical functions such as walking and even swallowing can be affected. Currently there are no treatments able to stop or slow Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias in their tracks.

Contact

Jess Gray

Senior Communications Executive, BioIndustry Association

[email protected]

0207 630 2197