Dementia Trials Accelerator

• Research type

  Research Tissue Bank

• IRAS ID

  357415

• Research summary

  Dementia Trials Accelerator

• REC name

  South Central - Berkshire B Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  25/SC/0317

• Date of REC Opinion

  21 Oct 2025

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion

• Data collection arrangements

  The Dementia Trials Accelerator (DTA) will store biological samples (plasma and DNA) and relevant participant data including contact details, health questionnaire, physical measurements, biomarker measurements, and cognitive test results. Blood will be collected at assessment centres, processed, and stored in an HTA-licensed central repository. Physical measurements and a cognitive test will also be completed during the visit.

  Individuals in existing research cohorts and NHS initiatives, who have consented to be re-contacted, will be invited to a website to review participant information, provide their consent to participate in the DTA Programme if they wish, and complete a health questionnaire and online cognitive test. Participants will be asked for permission to access their past and future medical and health records via the NHS. Participants’ online consent will be confirmed at the start of the assessment visit and consent will apply throughout the lifetime of the DTA unless the participant withdraws. Where a new research study or trial, with relevant HRA approvals and DTA Access Committee approvals, wishes to approach participants, the DTA Programme will share study information and instructions with participants on how to consent to take part, either directly or through the research cohort in which participants were originally enrolled.
  

• Research programme

  The UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) and Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) have launched a Dementia Trials Accelerator (DTA), funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and supporting the Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Goals programme. The DTA Programme aims to position the UK as a global hub for large-scale, high-quality dementia and neurodegenerative disease trials. It aims to boost opportunities for people to participate in clinical research and trials, improve inclusion, and increase trial recruitment rates. The programme will establish a service with pre-screened participants who wish to take part in clinical research and trials. Its principal activity will be accelerating the identification of eligible trial participants. Clinical triallists will be able to query the number of participants with particular demographic, clinical and biomarker criteria, and request eligible participants to be contacted for potential inclusion in trials.

• Storage license

  12689

• RTBTitle

  Dementia Trials Accelerator

• Establishment organisation

  Imperial College London

• Establishment organisation address

  Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics

  School of Public Health, Imperial College London

  White City Campus, 86 Wood Ln, London

  W12 0BZ