Alzheimer’s Research UK renews its flagship Drug Discovery Alliance with significant investment at a pivotal moment for dementia research.
A decade ago, the dementia treatment landscape looked bleak. Disease‑modifying therapies felt distant, and many promising discoveries emerging from UK universities struggled to progress towards clinical trials.
To transform this picture, Alzheimer’s Research UK launched the Drug Discovery Alliance (DDA) in 2015, uniting three world‑leading centres at the Universities of Cambridge, Oxford and University College London (UCL). The aim was bold and simple: turn more early‑stage scientific ideas into potential new treatments.
Over the past 10 years, we’ve seen significant progress. The drug discovery pipeline has been strengthened at the same time as the first treatments capable of slowing Alzheimer’s are beginning to reach patients worldwide.
Yet too many promising ideas are still not making it out of the lab. That’s why Alzheimer’s Research UK is making a renewed, long‑term commitment. At our Annual Research Conference in Manchester, Director of Research Dr Sheona Scales announced that the DDA will be renewed for another five years, backed by up to £45 million of new investment.
“This investment represents one of the most important commitments we can make to people affected by dementia,” said Dr Sheona Scales. “By strengthening the Drug Discovery Alliance, we’re giving more brilliant ideas the chance to become tomorrow’s treatments. Our supporters make this progress possible – and together, we’re building real momentum towards a cure.”
Driving promising ideas closer to people
The journey from laboratory discovery to a medicine is long and complex. Without specialist expertise and targeted investment, many research ideas never move beyond the academic stage.
The DDA exists to change this. It brings together more than 80 scientists, forming the UK’s largest network of drug discovery researchers specialising in neurodegeneration. So far:
- Over 80 potential drug targets have been explored
- 15 have progressed into animal studies
- Partnerships with 13 industry partners have helped advance the most promising candidates toward clinical trials
For supporters and donors, this means your investment fuels one of the most productive dementia drug discovery networks in the world, keeping innovative science moving forward.
Three institutes, three complementary approaches
The Alliance’s strength comes from three specialist teams tackling different aspects of neurodegenerative disease:
- Cambridge – ALBORADA Drug Discovery Institute
Developing treatments that help the brain cells clear faulty proteins and stay healthy. The institute has been generously supported by The ALBORADA Trust since 2017, and their investment plays a key role in helping us to accelerate progress towards new dementia treatments. - Oxford Drug Discovery Institute
Driving drug discovery and development aimed at the brain’s immune system and the molecular machinery inside nerve cells affected by diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. - UCL – The Omaze Drug Discovery Team
Exploring approaches including reducing inflammation and supporting the brain’s protective cells. In 2025, we received an incredible £3.9m from the Omaze Million Pound House Draw, which funds the team and their vital research to bring us ever closer to a cure.
A stronger alliance to accelerate progress
As the Alliance enters its third five‑year term, the institutes will work even more closely together sharing expertise, data and resources to push more potential treatments towards clinical testing. The teams aim to see at least one DDA‑developed drug enter clinical trials within five years.
For donors, this renewed investment is a powerful statement: your support is driving the science that could transform lives. Every breakthrough starts with early‑stage research, and the DDA ensures those ideas are nurtured, developed and given the best possible chance to succeed.