Freddie van Mierlo MP Visits UK Dementia Research Institute to Champion Cutting-Edge Alzheimer’s Research
Freddie van Mierlo, Liberal Democrat MP for Henley and Thame and a Dementia Champion for Alzheimer’s Research UK, has visited the UK Dementia Research Institute at University College London (UCL) to highlight the vital importance of investing in groundbreaking dementia science.
Freddie van Mierlo toured the state-of-the-art UK DRI Biomarker Factory, based at UCL. The facility is dedicated to developing blood biomarkers ; these are biological signals found in the blood which help researchers to identify and monitor harmful changes that may lead to disease. He met with scientists identifying biomarkers to detect dementia at the earliest stage, enabling doctors to intervene earlier with appropriate support.
During the visit, Mr van Mierlo met with Dr Róisín NicAmhaoibh, Chief Innovation and Business Officer, and Dr Amanda Heslegrave, Principal Research Fellow. The team shared their world-leading work using biomarkers to differentiate between types of dementia—research that is paving the way for earlier, more accurate diagnoses and future life-changing treatments.
The visit comes just weeks after Mr van Mierlo spoke in a House of Commons debate calling on the Government to prepare the NHS for the arrival of new Alzheimer’s therapies. He emphasised the urgent need for the health service to be equipped with the diagnostic tools, workforce, and infrastructure to deliver them.
Freddie commented:
“Early and accurate detection of dementia is vital. We need medical researchers, government, and the NHS to work together to build on this incredible work and make early and accessible diagnosis a reality. The UK DRI’s early discovery is an example of the innovation we wish to implement into better care for patients with lived experience of dementia.”
Dr. Amanda Heslegrave who co-leads of the UK DRI Biomarker Factory, detailed the collaborative work being undertaken at the facility,
“Our team is using cutting-edge techniques to analyse, identify and verify novel biomarkers enabling early, accurate and accessible diagnosis that could be scaled in trials and potentially lead to personalised therapeutic interventions.”
Advocating for a strong national focus on healthcare innovation, Freddie van Mierlo called on the Government to view research into neurodegenerative conditions as a vital national investment:
“By supporting this groundbreaking research, we are investing in a future of healthy brain ageing, ensuring that families and communities living with dementia have a better chance at help early on and a tailored more personal experience of care, ensuring people can live in their own homes for longer.”
Dr Amanda Heslegrave said:
"It was wonderful welcoming Freddie to see the cutting-edge research we are doing to enable the early detection and diagnosis of dementia. We had an excellent discussion, and I was really pleased to showcase the opportunities that blood biomarkers present to transform the future of dementia.”
