Job Description

The UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) has been established to lead the UK’s dementia research effort. It aims to transform the treatment and care of people with dementia as well as lead the way in identifying methods to reduce the risk for future generations.

The UK DRI is a joint £250 million investment into dementia research led by the Medical Research Council (MRC) alongside founding charity partners the Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK. The institute breaks new ground by bringing together world-leading expertise in biomedical, care and translational dementia research in a national institute. Once fully established, the institute will be made up of over 400 scientists carrying out a rich, varied and integrated programme of research.

Five of the UK’s leading research universities have been awarded centre status. Bringing together world-leading expertise across the spectrum of dementia research and maximising the benefit of cutting-edge facilities and skills, centres have been named at the University of Cambridge, Cardiff University, the University of Edinburgh, Imperial College London and King’s College London. These centres join University College London (UCL) which was confirmed in December 2016 as the institute’s hub of research activity and operational headquarters, alongside the announcement of UK DRI Director, Professor Bart De Strooper.

We are now seeking experienced trustees to join the Board of UK DRI Ltd, the charitable company established to govern the institute. This is a critical time for dementia research and the UK DRI has a bold vision to drive rapid progress. If you think you would strengthen our board and could play a leading role in the development of a world-leading programme of dementia research, we would like to hear from you. We are particularly interested in candidates with the following expertise:

• Basic/translation science
• Population and public health science
• Industry (life sciences)
• Finance
• Legal
• Public engagement
• Communications, media and digital
• Governance
• Public sector
• Research Charities
• Experience of dementia research

The board will meet no fewer than three times a year with its work further supported by sub-committees to be convened. We invite and encourage trustees to attend as many trustee meetings as possible, represent the board on sub-committees, as well as providing them with opportunities to represent the charity in other forums including external roles and at public events.

All new trustees will be fully supported through a full induction, followed by ongoing support from our senior management and governance teams.

These roles are unremunerated, but reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.

On behalf of its founder members, Alzheimer’s Research UK is carrying out the recruitment of trustees.