We're back in the labs! Help us make up for lost time.

About Defying Dementia

Defying Dementia is a community-supported campaign aiming to change the world that we live in and make a real difference to people's lives by tackling the big threat that is presented by Alzheimer's disease.

There are currently no drugs available that cure Alzheimer’s, none that prevent it, and not even any drugs that are able to slow down its progression.

Defying Dementia was founded in 2015 by Dr Penny Foulds, in order to progress a promising Alzheimer's drug (developed by Professor David Allsop and his team) into human clinical trials. We have been conducting important pre-clinical experiments on this treatment, thanks to the money that has been donated through the Defying Dementia campaign. We hope that our drug will be able to progress into human clinical trials very soon, which will take place at Blackpool-based MAC Clinical Research.

The campaign has now expanded to include regular events for the community such as The Bay Dementia Hub, Freshers Young Onset Cafes, sponsored walks, lectures and the Defying Dementia Fundraising and Community Shop at 50 Church St, Lancaster.

With an ageing population, more families are going to face the heartbreak caused by this disease that destroys memory, personality and movement, unless we can tackle it now.

The Defying Dementia Team

Meet our Defying Dementia team at Lancaster University who are fundraising for, and carrying out this important research into neurodegenerative diseases.

Professor David Allsop was the first scientist to investigate the link between ‘senile plaques’ in the brain and patients with Alzheimer's disease. He has been researching further into how Alzheimer's disease is initiated, developed and progressed in the brain ever since. He has developed a drug that blocks the formation of these 'senile plaques' in the brain which leads to Alzheimer's disease. A North West based Clinical Research organisation (MAC Clinical Research) have agreed to progress this treatment towards human clinical trials, and although this is good news indeed, there are still a lot of experiments that need completing, for example to determine how to deliver the drug, and to look at its safety profile which is why we are fundraising for this project.

Dr Ed Parkin focuses on how the small protein fragments that kill nerve cells in the brain are produced in Alzheimer's disease.

Dr Neil Dawson investigates how genetic and environmental risk factors for psychiatric and neurodegenerative disease impact on brain functioning, behaviour and cognition. He also studies how brain imaging can give us a greater insight into brain diseases.

Dr Penny Foulds is the Defying Dementia campaign founder. She completed her first degree at Lancaster and then qualified as a secondary school science teacher. She came back to Lancaster and studied for her PhD with Professor Allsop. She has a personal experience with the effects of neurodegenerative diseases and now works for MAC Clinical Research.

Dr Norah Ulzheimer is our Research Associate, she joined the team in 2019 and works full time in our research labs to progress our promising new Alzheimer’s drug towards human clinical trials. Norah’s role also involves public engagement, she reguarly attends our community events including the Fresher’s Young Onset Cafes and Bay Dementia Hubs. 

Rachel Binley the Alumni and Friends Engagement Manager (Fundraising) at Lancaster University. She graduated from Lancaster University with a degree in music in 2003.

Our Research

Several years ago our scientists at Lancaster developed a drug that blocks the formation of the senile plaques that are found in the brains of people living with Alzheimer’s disease, and which is the most common cause of dementia. Professor David Allsop was the first person in the world to isolate these plaques from human brain tissue.

Alzheimer’s drug research tends to focus either on these plaques or on the tangles that form in the brain.  Since many recent drugs that are aimed at preventing plaques forming have failed, Lancaster researchers have come to realise that an effective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease will probably involve attacking both plaques and tangles at the same time. We are now working to understand whether the formation of tangles can be blocked using a similar approach to the one that we have applied to the plaques.

Due to substantial crossover in methods, we anticipate that this new research on tangle formation should progress much more rapidly than our previous research. The ultimate goal is to produce a dual-action drug, with far greater chance of success in the clinic.

Despite MAC Clinical Research being prepared to progress this treatment towards human clinical trials, there are still a lot of experiments that need to take part in the laboratory first. To do this, we need your help and support.

Defying Dementia Research Blog

Read about our latest research updates from the lab in Research Associate Dr Norah Ulzheimer's monthly blog:

• Her most recent post.
• All of her previous blog posts.

Useful Resources

Please find below useful links and resources containing information about dementia, dementia service providers and community groups.

Age UK Lancashire: A charity that works with and for older people in Lancashire. They offer a range of services including social groups, luncheon clubs, exercise classes, computer lessons and home help services to assist older people in remaining active, independent and linked into their local community.

Alzheimer's Society: Information for children, teenagers and young adults. Understanding Alzheimer's can be difficult, especially for children and young people. These resources make it easier to explain Alzheimer's to young people and so make it easier for them to adapt.

Boots Repeat Prescription Service: Boots Pharmacies can have your medicines ready and waiting at the Pharmacy instead of you having to go to the doctors to pick up your prescription. The Pharmacy can also let you know when the Doctor needs to see you for a review, send you texts when your prescription is ready and you can also order medicines you don't use regularly in store or online.

Dementia Action Alliance: The DAA bring together organisations across the UK that are committed to transforming the lives of people with dementia and their carers.

Dementia Engagement and Empowerment Project (DEEP): DEEP brings together groups of people with dementia from across the UK

Dementia Friends: An initiative ran by the Alzheimer's Society to help people learn more about dementia and how to support those living with dementia.

First Stop: Delivering innovation in information and advice to help older people find suitable housing, care or financial advice.

Freshers: A sociable get together for people 40+ with dementia, Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Housing Care: Providing accommodation options and services to help older people live independently at home.

Lancashire County Council Adult Social Care: Information and support on adult social care for those living in Lancashire.

Lancashire Well-being Service: Lancashire Well-being Service helps people adapt to the causes that can affect health and wellbeing. They offer a non-clinical service to improve independence and quality of life.

Lancaster Clinical Assessment Volunteering: The Lancaster Clinical Assessment is the final clinical practical assessment for 4th-year medical students studying at Lancaster University. Each year people who have a variety of health issues or conditions who are willing to tell their story and be examined by students are needed. For more information, please telephone 01524 516044 or email clinical.skills@mbht.nhs.uk

Please note: The facts and information contained in the above sites are from external sources and not from Defying Dementia.

Join the Defying Dementia Fundraising campaign

Lancaster University's Defying Dementia campaign needs your support to tackle these devastating diseases.

There are many ways in which you can support us. You can make a donation, volunteer for us by organising your own fundraising events or help us out at our events. We are very lucky to have such brilliant existing volunteers within our Defying Dementia team, and we welcome anyone to join us.

Join our ever increasing band of energetic and passionate volunteer fundraisers. We can provide you with all the information and support you need. Our volunteers have so far organised cake sales, ran marathons, organised large community events and done memorial collections at a loved-one's funeral. One volunteer has even walked Hadrian's Wall for Defying Dementia! The possibilities are endless.

Email us with your fundrasing ideas or download our new virtual fundraising toolkit to help plan your event! 

Defying Dementia Student Society

Defying Dementia is very lucky to have the Student Society based at Lancaster University supporting their fundraising and awareness efforts.

The Defying Dementia Student Society aims to raise support and awareness about Defying Dementia among students at Lancaster University. The Society organises socials as well as events in order to raise funds for the campaign projects. Previous events include a Santa Dash, Pub Quiz and shop bag pack. Each term the Society has regular meetings where you can learn more about the work that is happening right here in the laboratories in Lancaster University.

If you are interested in joining, please contact the Society through their Facebook page.

There are many ways you can donate to Defying Dementia...

Make a single donation online

• You can choose to make a single donation on our secure online form.

Make a regular donation online

• Make a regular donation to Defying Dementia by Direct Debit.

JustGiving

• If you have an account, you can also donate through JustGiving.

Give by post

• Download a donation form or send a cheque to our freepost address below.

Memorial donations

• Contact us if you wish to make a collection in memory of a loved one at a memorial service.

Freepost RTHB-JYYX-RZTK, Alumni & Development Office, Lancaster University, University House, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4YW

Please make cheques payable to 'Lancaster University'

By Post

Development and Alumni Relations
C Floor
University House
Lancaster University
Bailrigg, Lancaster 
LA1 4YW
United Kingdom

By Phone

+44 (0)1524 594109

We're here Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm

By Email

friends@lancaster.ac.uk