Post-Brexit Ambitions Must Protect Dementia Research, Says Alzheimer’s Research UK
Negotiations to establish a way to continue scientific collaborations once we leave the EU will be crucial for protecting progress in dementia research, says Alzheimer’s Research UK.
The Government laid out its vision for continuing collaborations in science and innovation once the UK leaves the EU, in a report published today. In ‘Collaboration on science and innovation’, the paper addressed the key issues the UK will face when negotiating Brexit, including funding restrictions and free movement of workers, and set out what it hopes to achieve when talks take place.
Alzheimer’s Research UK, the UK’s leading dementia research charity, has welcomed the paper but hopes to see more concrete details about how the vision will be achieved and warns of the threat to the UK’s world-leading position on dementia research if its ambitions are not met.
Dr Matthew Norton, Director of Policy at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:
“We’re pleased to see that the Government has recognised the necessity of continuing collaboration in science and innovation once we leave the EU. We must be working with the best scientists, funding the most pioneering research and sharing innovative ideas if we are to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, particularly in areas like dementia.
“The Government must show how we will achieve the goals set out in the paper published today – and we must not delay the negotiations. The UK has been making incredible progress in dementia research, and our ability to collaborate with the EU and the rest of the world has been a major factor in this progress. Global collaborations in UK dementia research grew by 10% within the last decade, but we risk this progress coming to a halt if we do not have a clear plan for enabling collaborations once we exit the EU.
“Alzheimer’s Research UK participates in important projects that rely on EU funding and collaboration and they have the potential to transform the way we understand and treat diseases like Alzheimer’s. It is vital that projects like this are able to continue, and that the UK should remain open to scientific talent from the EU, if we are to be successful in changing the lives of those impacted by dementia.”
