Stronger Together: Peer Support and Community

In this episode of the Dementia Researcher Podcast, guest host Dr Megan Rose Readman from the University of Liverpool discusses the role of peer support and community in research careers.

This session explores the importance of support networks at all career stages, from early career to senior roles. Megan is joined by three guests, each with experience in building and sustaining research communities specifically to support researchers working in all areas of Alzheimer's disease and all other forms of dementia, and neurodegeneration:

• Adam Smith from Dementia Researcher, who discusses their global community, including the recent launch of a new app designed to connect researchers.
• Dr Oz Ismail from Alzheimer's Association and ISTAART, who provides insights into their professional society’s efforts to support Alzheimer’s research globally.
• Josh Wright from Alzheimer’s Research UK, who explains the structure and benefits of their UK-wide network, especially for early-career researchers.

Listeners will gain an understanding of how these communities function and the different forms of support available, from mentoring to practical resources. The episode also touches on how the pandemic has shifted peer support needs, with virtual communities becoming essential for many researchers.

Five Top Tips from the show:

• Seek Out Professional Networks: Engaging with professional societies, like ISTAART or Dementia Researcher, can provide access to a broad community of peers and experts, which is especially valuable if you're working in isolation or in a niche area.
• Leverage Online Communities: Virtual communities offer a space to connect with others in your field, share resources, and find support—important for building connections, particularly when geographic location or funding constraints make in-person networking challenging.
• Participate in Mentorship Opportunities: Many research networks offer mentorship programmes, often through dedicated platforms or apps, where you can find mentors or become one yourself, helping to navigate career stages or specific research challenges.
• Engage in Journal Clubs and Special Interest Groups: Virtual journal clubs or topic-specific groups, as seen in Dementia Researcher’s app, allow researchers to discuss recent studies, share insights, and collaborate within specific research interests.
• Use Peer Support to Improve Wellbeing: Peer support networks provide a safe space for discussing challenges and successes beyond research—such as mental health or career setbacks—offering a layer of personal support often needed in academic careers.

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A transcript of this show, links and show notes and profile on all our guests are available on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk.

If you prefer to watch rather than listen, you will find a video version of this podcast on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and on our website.

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• Previous Episode

  

  Decoding Familial British Dementia

  October 27, 2024

  •

  41m

  In this Dementia Researcher Podcast episode, Dr Aitana Sogorb Esteve hosts a discussion with Dr Charlie Arber and Sam Crawford from University College London, discussing their work on familial British dementia (FBD)

  FBD is a rare form of dementia affecting only a handful of families. The discussion explores the latest findings from human stem cell models that are helping researchers understand FBD’s unique genetic and pathological features, and how that can inform a wider understanding of familial Alzheimer’s Disease.

  Topics covered include:

  • Genetic causes and symptoms of familial British dementia
  • Use of stem cell models, particularly induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), to study FBD in the lab
  • Potential biomarkers and implications for therapeutic research
  • How funding from the Race Against Dementia Ignition Fund is supporting advancements in rare dementia research

  
  

  --

  A transcript of this show, links and show notes and profile on all our guests are available on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk.

  If you prefer to watch rather than listen, you will find a video version of this podcast on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and on our website.

  Leave us a tip:

  https://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/support

  Follow us on social media:

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  • https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social

  
  

  Download and Register with our Community App:

  https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

  We gratefully acknowledge the support of our funders: Alzheimer’s Association, Race Against Dementia, Alzheimer’s Research UK, Alzheimer’s Society, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

  The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the producers, funders, or sponsors.

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  Next Episode

  

  Minds In Motion: Dr Olivia Luijnenburg - Spirituality in Dementia Care

  November 24, 2024

  •

  39m

  The Minds in Motion Podcast from Dementia Researcher in association with the NIHR Applied Research Collaborations and Alzheimer’s Society, brings together NIHR Dem Comm Research Fellows, to talk about their research and careers.

  Over the next few months, we will be releasing the second series, hearing from five of the Dem Comm Fellows each taking e a turn as co-host and guest. Alongside the researchers we have the incredible Trevor Salomon, Alzheimer’s Society Volunteer & Chair of the European Dementia Carers Working Group as our permanent co-host and anchor.

  In show Trevor is joined by Dr Sarah Kate Smith from The University of Manchester and NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) Greater Manchester to interview Dr Olivia Luijnenburg.

  Olivia works in the NIHR Health and Social Care Workforce Research Unit at King’s College London. She works on various projects around social care workforce and care homes, however the focus in this show is on her research into spirituality in dementia care. We explore her focus on co-developing reflective tools to address the spiritual needs of care home residents living with dementia, as well as their families and care staff. Working to understand how spirituality, is broadly defined to define individuals meaning and purpose, and how accommodating this can enhance care practices in diverse settings.

  Dem Comm is a 2 year programme funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research and the Alzheimer's Society. It supports a new generation of dementia research leaders, bringing together researchers from different multidisciplinary backgrounds to encourage cross-cutting and community-orientated dementia research projects that can address key gaps in the evidence around dementia care and support, delivering transformative translational research.

  --

  A transcript of this show, links and show notes and profile on all our guests are available on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk.

  If you prefer to watch rather than listen, you will find a video version of this podcast on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and on our website.

  Leave us a tip:

  https://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/support

  Follow us on social media:

  • https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/
  • https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/
  • https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity
  • https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher
  • https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social

  
  

  Download and Register with our Community App:

  https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

  We gratefully acknowledge the support of our funders: Alzheimer’s Association, Race Against Dementia, Alzheimer’s Research UK, Alzheimer’s Society, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

  The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the producers, funders, or sponsors.

  Subscribe to our sister show 'Dementia Researcher The Blogs':

  https://podfollow.com/dementia-researcher-blogs

  

  PlaySave