Race Against Dementia

Charity Number: 1165559

Annual Expenditure: £1.6M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £1.65 million (2023)
  • Total Income: £2.26 million (2023)
  • Decision Time: Grant Review Board meets July for Fellowships; Ignition Fund panel convenes at least twice yearly
  • Grant Range: £100,000 - £750,000
  • Geographic Focus: Global (UK, USA, Australia) with UK-specific programs
  • Fellowship Success Rate: ~9% (1 in 11 applications funded in recent round)

Contact Details

  • Website: www.raceagainstdementia.com
  • Email: info@raceagainstdementia.com
  • Phone: 01296 620919
  • Charity Number: 1165559 (England & Wales), SC052594 (Scotland)

Overview

Founded in 2016 by three-time Formula 1 World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart OBE following his wife Helen's frontotemporal dementia diagnosis, Race Against Dementia is a global charity that applies Formula 1's problem-solving mindset to dementia research. With total income of £2.26 million and charitable expenditure of £1.65 million in 2023, the charity has supported 65 top researchers globally since inception. Operating partnerships with Alzheimer's Research UK, Mayo Clinic USA, and Dementia Australia Research Foundation, Race Against Dementia identifies, funds, and guides pioneering scientists pursuing breakthrough research in dementia prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The charity's distinctive approach emphasizes speed, precision, innovation, and lateral thinking—traits that define Formula 1's relentless drive to succeed. In 2024, the charity launched a £4.2 million Teams funding programme in partnership with Rosetrees Trust, awarding six exceptional research teams up to £750,000 each over five years.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

RAD-ARUK Fellowship (UK-based, via Alzheimer's Research UK)

  • Amount: Up to £500,000 over five years
  • Covers: Salaries, research equipment, travel expenses, research assistance, and international collaborations
  • Eligibility: Early career researchers with no more than six years post-PhD experience
  • Application: Via Alzheimer's Research UK online grant portal
  • Deadline: Typically March (annual cycle)

Ignition Fund (UK-based)

  • Amount: Up to £100,000 over 24 months
  • Eligibility: UK-based early and mid-career researchers; current/past RAD Fellows; senior researchers also considered
  • Application: Rolling basis, panel meets at least twice yearly
  • Process: Application form followed by interview for shortlisted candidates

Teams Programme (UK institutions only)

  • Amount: Up to £750,000 over five years
  • Process: 2-3 page preliminary application, then full proposal if invited
  • Recent Round: £4.2 million distributed to six teams (partnership with Rosetrees Trust)

International Fellowships

  • Mayo Clinic Fellowship (USA): Up to £500,000 over five years
  • Dementia Australia Fellowship: AUD $695,000 over five years

Priority Areas

  • Innovative research facilitating a “stage shift” toward dementia prevention
  • Improved diagnosis and treatment approaches
  • Fundamental disease science and understanding
  • Fresh, disruptive ideas and novel approaches
  • Strong preference: Applications leveraging artificial intelligence to improve dementia understanding, diagnosis, risk reduction, and treatment development
  • Projects supporting research on frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, vascular dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and related neurodegenerative conditions
  • Applicants encouraged to pursue novel ideas without requiring preliminary data

What They Don't Fund

While explicit exclusions are not extensively documented, the following restrictions apply:

  • Non-UK institutions (for Ignition Fund and Teams programmes)
  • Researchers beyond early-mid career stage (for Fellowship programmes, with some exceptions)
  • Applications from individuals who have not addressed previous Grant Review Board feedback (for reapplications)
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Governance and Leadership

Founder

Sir Jackie Stewart OBE - Three-time Formula 1 World Champion who established the charity following his wife Helen's frontotemporal dementia diagnosis

Chair of Trustees

Mark Stewart - Sir Jackie and Lady Stewart's younger son, independent film producer who took over as Chair to lead the charity's next phase

Trustees

  • Paul Stewart - Elder son of Sir Jackie and Lady Stewart, former racing driver, co-founded Stewart Grand Prix
  • Bridget Barker - Former head of Investment Management Group at Macfarlanes law firm, holds multiple non-executive positions
  • Jonathan Berger - CEO and Chief Investment Officer of TP Birch Grove, Co-Head of Credit at Third Point
  • Dame Vivien Duffield - Chair of Clore Duffield Foundation
  • Will Coulthurst - Non-executive director for McLaren Automotive and McLaren Racing, 25+ years in motorsport
  • Jean-Marc Huet - Former CFO of Unilever, non-executive director at Heineken, SHV, and Canada Goose
  • Khoi Tu - Senior Partner and Global Head of Culture and Change at Korn Ferry

Scientific Advisory

Applications reviewed by expert panels including Professor John O'Brien (Professor of Old Age Psychiatry, University of Cambridge) for Teams programme

Key Philosophy

Sir Jackie Stewart: "Problem-solving in Formula 1 is faster than any other activity that I know of, including aerospace... All you need is a different mind, and a different approach. In the race against dementia, it's no different."

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

RAD-ARUK Fellowship

  1. Submit via Alzheimer's Research UK grant application website
  2. Include Plain English proposal (reviewed by Lived Experience Involvement Group volunteers)
  3. Shortlisted candidates invited to Grant Review Board meeting for 5-minute PowerPoint presentation
  4. Applicants not yet awarded PhD may apply but must provide proof before July Grant Review Board meeting

Ignition Fund

  1. Complete application form (available on Race Against Dementia website)
  2. Applications undergo peer review
  3. Top applicants invited to interview
  4. Panel of people living with dementia/carers assess project impact
  5. Recommendations presented to RAD trustees for final approval

Teams Programme

  1. Submit 2-3 page preliminary application
  2. Expert panel (headed by Professor John O'Brien) reviews submissions
  3. Successful applicants invited to submit full proposal
  4. Full proposals undergo external review

Decision Timeline

  • Fellowship: Grant Review Board meets in July; applicants must have PhD confirmed by this meeting
  • Ignition Fund: Panel convenes at least twice yearly; specific timelines vary
  • Teams: Two-stage process with preliminary review followed by full proposal invitation

Success Rates

Fellowship Programme: In the most recent funding round, Alzheimer's Research UK received 11 applications, with 1 awarded funding (~9% success rate)

Reapplication Policy

Yes, reapplication is permitted. Applicants to previous Race Against Dementia Fellowship calls may reapply. In the application form, applicants must:

  • Directly address the Grant Review Board's previous feedback
  • Detail all changes made in response to that feedback

Application Success Factors

What the Funder Values

Innovation and Novel Ideas

"We want to support innovative research that will facilitate a 'stage shift' towards dementia prevention, improved diagnosis, treatment and understanding of the fundamental science of the disease. Applicants do not need any preliminary data in order to apply – but smart and novel new ideas are particularly welcome."

Quality Over Quantity

“The quality of the application and applicants is the key determinant of outcome, although the strength of the dementia research environment within the institution is also considered.”

AI Integration

Preference given to applications demonstrating how AI will be leveraged to improve dementia understanding, diagnosis, risk reduction, and treatment development.

Formula 1 Mindset Traits

The charity seeks researchers who embody:

  • Speed and urgency in problem-solving
  • Precision in methodology
  • Lateral thinking and fresh approaches
  • Relentless drive to succeed

Strategic Guidance

"This grant call aims to attract some of the UK's best or most promising research leaders who deserve the encouragement and stability of long-term support to take their innovative ideas to the next level. We want to help them build exceptionally talented research teams to get them across the finish line as quickly as possible in the race to beat dementia."

Recent Funded Projects (Teams Programme Examples)

  • Team Focused Ultrasound: Clinical trial using low-intensity focused ultrasound for improving cognitive function in Lewy body dementia patients
  • Team FTD: Trial testing new treatments for frontotemporal dementia, primary progressive aphasia, progressive supranuclear palsy, and corticobasal syndrome
  • Team RAPID (UCL/Francis Crick Institute): Researching air pollution's impact on dementia
  • Team Vascular: Focusing on vascular dementia research

Plain English Requirement

Applications must include Plain English proposals, reviewed by volunteers with lived experience of dementia (either living with the condition or caring for someone who is). This demonstrates the charity's commitment to research that matters to those affected by dementia.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Bold innovation trumps preliminary data: The charity explicitly welcomes “smart and novel new ideas” and states applicants do not need preliminary data to apply—focus on breakthrough concepts rather than incremental research
  • AI integration strongly preferred: Applications demonstrating AI use in dementia research receive preference—incorporate AI methodologies wherever scientifically appropriate
  • Speed and urgency matter: Align your proposal with Formula 1's problem-solving culture by emphasizing how your research will accelerate progress toward prevention/cure
  • Lived experience is central: Your Plain English proposal will be scored by people living with or caring for those with dementia—ensure your research impact is clearly articulated for non-specialist audiences
  • Address feedback comprehensively: If reapplying, thoroughly document how you've responded to previous Grant Review Board feedback—this demonstrates responsiveness and commitment
  • Institutional environment counts: While applicant quality is paramount, highlight the strength of your institution's dementia research environment and collaborative opportunities
  • Think internationally: Even UK-based programmes provide funding for international collaborations—emphasize global partnership potential to strengthen applications

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