A major new £15 million investment is set to accelerate the development of treatments for dementia, marking a significant milestone for research at University College London.
Announced by Alzheimer’s Research UK, the funding will support the Alzheimer’s Research UK Drug Discovery Institute at UCL as part of a renewed commitment to its flagship Drug Discovery Alliance.
This latest funding forms part of a wider £45 million initiative, which also includes donations to the University of Cambridge and Oxford. Together, these centres are working to strengthen the pipeline of potential dementia treatments at a critical time, as the first drugs capable of slowing Alzheimer’s disease begin to reach patients globally.
Since its launch in 2015, the UCL Drug Discovery Institute has focused on translating early-stage scientific discoveries into viable treatments. Its model combines academic innovation with industry expertise, identifying promising drug candidates and advancing them through partnerships with pharmaceutical companies or by creating spinout ventures. One notable success is AstronauTx, established in 2019, which is now progressing a portfolio of therapies toward clinical use.
Professor Fiona Ducotterd of UCL’s Queen Square Institute of Neurology has highlighted the importance of the Alzheimer’s Research UK investment saying “this significant investment from Alzheimer’s Research UK helps us fast-track the development of new medicines to treat the broad and complex diseases that cause dementia. It will also help us to train the next generation of medicine makers in the UK.”
Professor Ducotterd further emphasizes “the funding will accelerate the discovery of a new toolbox of treatments for broad underlying causes of these devastating diseases and speed up their access for patients.”
The Director of Research, in Alzheimer’s Research UK, Dr Sheona Scales reinforces the significance for the investment into Dementia Research. “This investment represents one of the most important commitments we can make to people affected by dementia. By strengthening the Drug Discovery Alliance, we’re giving more brilliant ideas the chance to become tomorrow’s treatments. Our supporters make this progress possible and together, we’re building real momentum towards a cure.”
With a move to a new state of the art facility planned, the Institute is well placed to accelerate the development of life changing treatments.
The Institute combines pharmaceutical industry standard processes with the flexibility to pursue cutting edge discoveries, all grounded in evidence from human biology. This approach enables researchers to efficiently advance promising ideas toward potential new treatments.
Its diverse project portfolio targets the biological mechanisms behind brain changes in a range of neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease and Huntington’s disease. To support this work, teams collaborate closely with academic experts, as well as partners across the Drug Discovery Alliance and the wider pharmaceutical industry, helping to navigate the complex and lengthy drug development process.
Looking ahead, the Institute will relocate to a new purpose built translational neuroscience centre on Gray’s Inn Road. This state of the art facility will bring scientists and clinicians together in one place, creating an environment designed to accelerate the journey from laboratory discoveries to real treatments for patients.
This article was sourced from UCL News, please see their original piece: £15m funding boost to develop dementia treatments | UCL News - UCL – University College London
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