The Alzheimer’s Society funds research to improve the quality of life for people with dementia, by tackling questions related to the causes of dementia, investigating good practice in care and treatment, and pursuing a cure. The society currently invests over £6 million per year in their research programme and aims to increase this to around £10 million a year by 2017.

One distinctive feature of the Society’s ground-breaking research programme is the integral involvement of people with early-stage dementia and carers. As part of their research network, volunteers with direct experience of living with dementia inform the research priorities.

With expansion of the research programme, the Society has created scientific Grant Advisory Boards for their Biomedical and Care, Services & Public Health research programmes.

Dr Collingwood's role on the Biomedical Grant Advisory Board will include consideration of grant applications for Project Grants, Fellowships, and PhD Studentships.

Dr Collingwood has practical experience of working in basic scientific research and alongside clinical researchers. Her contribution to the activities of the Board will be underpinned by a multidisciplinary research background, which is especially relevant given her research on the role of trace metals in Alzheimer’s and related disorders. She founded and leads the Trace Metals in Medicine Laboratory, a well-equipped resource established in the School of Engineering in 2011, enabling sample preparation and analysis for research into brain tissue properties and potential clinical markers of neurodegenerative disease. Her position on the Alzheimer’s Society Board will give her direct insight into, and opportunities to support, progress in dementia research, and will involve her working with leading Alzheimer’s specialists from across the UK.

Further information about the Warwick Engineering in Biomedicine research theme can be found online.