Dementia expert invited to 10 Downing Street to share latest insight

Ian Sherriff BEM was among key national figures invited to a roundtable and reception
Ian Sherriff 10 Downing Street
A dementia expert from the University of Plymouth was among the key players invited to an event at 10 Downing Street to accelerate efforts to tackle the illness.
Mr Ian Sherriff BEM was invited to a roundtable and reception where charities, academics, investors, business leaders and people with lived experience came together to discuss latest developments and opportunities.
At its core, the event highlighted the Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Mission launched in August 2022, naming her husband Scott Mitchell as People’s Champion of the national mission to beat dementia.
The event heard about £6 million in funding to boost clinical trials and innovation, including work on how AI can be used to support dementia diagnosis, and research looking at how ‘biomarkers’ found in blood can help detect the disease early.
Ian was invited as Chair of the Prime Minister’s Air Transport and Rural Dementia groups, and a key voice at national and international level.
Among his successes, Ian has co-written the International Standards for Dementia Inclusive Communities and spearheaded guidelines for dentists , the air transport industry and paris councils across the UK to help them better incorporate dementia-friendly care into their every practices.
He is also in talks with MPs around the UK to explore how they can implement his research-led guidelines into their constituencies, helping to positively impact even more lives.
Ian Sherriff dementia champion

Dementia is a huge issue that impacts so many people and finding a cure – or at least improving the quality of life for people with the condition – requires the co-operation of government, scientists, campaigners, people with lived experience and the general public. It’s no small task.

The Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Mission is helping to draw people together for this exact purpose, so it was a privilege to be invited. 
The work happening across the University of Plymouth and the Southwest has already changed lives, and the more we can do to share this work at national and international level to positively impact more people, the better.

Ian Sherriff BEMMr Ian Sherriff BEM
Academic Partnership Lead for Dementia, who is supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration South West Peninsula (PenARC)

Dementia is an incredibly cruel disease, and as the leading cause of death in the UK nearly every family is affected by it in some way. Dame Barbara Windsor’s brave campaigning, supported by her husband Scott Mitchell, made that devastating impact powerfully clear to everyone.

As a life sciences world leader, the UK is uniquely placed to make a difference in the fight against dementia, and by bringing academia, industry, the NHS and those with lived experience together we are determined to do just that. Now we need to keep mobilising the resources needed to fuel this vital work – from the funds raised by charities large and small, to the industry backing that’s crucial to delivering more breakthroughs.
Michelle Donelan, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology 

Read more about Ian's influence

NICE guideline dental care in care homes

New guide to promote dementia friendly dentistry across the UK

Dementia air travel guidance launched at Heathrow, featuring Angela Rippon, Ian Sherriff, Alison Warren and Katherine Turner 

University partners with Heathrow to support passengers with dementia

An English Rural Landscape in the Chiltern Hills with lane between tall hedgerows

Researcher contributes to new report highlighting regional variations in dementia diagnosis

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