About Great Minds
Great Minds is part of Dementias Platform UK (DPUK) and brings together health study volunteers and researchers to spearhead research into finding a cure for dementia. We recruit members who play an active part in fast-tracking treatments for dementia. They share their health data and volunteer for studies and trials into dementia. Researchers can precision-match our volunteers with trials that will help identify changes in the brain that may be the origins of poor brain health.
Dementias Platform UK (DPUK), a public-private partnership funded by the Medical Research Council, which brings together researchers from universities and industry in the fight to develop effective treatments for dementia. It is the richest single source of data, optimised for dementia research and enables innovation in trials and medical studies.
Who is involved in Great Minds?
Our staff, participant panels and interested public have helped shape Great Minds. We have consulted with groups on some of the building blocks of Great Minds – our name, how we explain dementia research and our work. Key to the success of Great Minds is our response to feedback. Constantly improving how we engage and communicate with our members is how we will build trust.
Why we need Great Minds
Dementia affects 850,000 people in the UK and there have been no real break-throughs in the treatment in the last 20 years. This is because dementia and poor brain health starts decades before any symptoms show, and research is yet to discover how dementia starts in healthy brains. Great Minds is transforming research by matching our members - using thier health information, including lifestyle, genetics, characteristics and brain health - with pioneering trials and studies. By working with healthy, well researched volunteers scientists can identify early changes and test treatments.
The value of Great Minds
The value of Great Minds is the pool exceptional volunteers, all from previous health studies, committing to regular assessments of memory and mood and willing to participate in studies and trials. Great Minds members will help change the success rate of dementia trials, paving the way for early treatments and even prevention. Their contribution will reduce the pain and high costs of dementia.