Decade of Welsh research celebrated as innovative dementia study launched

16 October

Wales will play a key role in an innovative new UK-wide dementia study opening this week, as we celebrate 10 years of research impact at our annual conference today (Thursday 16 October).

The SANDBOX study combines blood biomarkers with genetic testing and artificial intelligence to speed up diagnoses of dementia and reduce waiting times. Aneurin Bevan University Health Board is the first site to open for recruitment with other health boards due to follow.

The study will be rolled out across health boards in Wales as well as sites in England and Scotland, making it one of the most comprehensive real-world dementia research programmes in the UK.

Health and Care Research Wales, which is supporting the study, is hosting its tenth annual conference celebrating a decade of impact in research. This year alone has seen Cardiff’s Advanced Neurotherapies Centre playing a leading role in a pioneering gene therapy trial, AMT-130, which has been shown to slow the progression of Huntington’s disease, while a first-in-class drug has been licensed for use in the UK and US as a result of a Welsh-led clinical trial, FAKTION, helping to extend the lives of people living with terminal breast cancer.

In the last 10 years almost 300,000 people have participated in health and social care research in Wales.

Kathryn White, 74, a retired postmistress from Pontllanfraith, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in July 2024. Kathryn’s husband Michael said: “We began to worry when Kathryn got lost while driving to meet me and a friend in Cardiff, a journey she has made many times. The same thing happened a few more times, so we went to the doctor. Kathryn did some cognitive tests, which came back borderline, but we had a feeling something was going on. Over the next two and a half years Kathryn had a whole series of tests, at hospitals all over South Wales, but they all came back normal. Finally we met Dr Ivenso who referred Kathryn for a lumbar puncture and that came back positive.”

While lumbar puncture is an effective way to aid accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, by analysing spinal fluid, blood biomarker testing is a less invasive procedure, which may have enabled Kathryn to be diagnosed sooner.

Michael continued, “We are both retired and were able to get to the appointments, but it was still draining. The worst thing was that until you have a diagnosis, you can’t get medication. In that way getting the diagnosis was a relief. Now Kathryn is on medication to slow the progression. She can struggle with short-term memory, but enjoys seeing friends and spending time with our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.”

Kathryn and Michael have taken part in a number of studies since her diagnosis. Michael continued, “If you’re getting a quick diagnosis, you’re finding the problem sooner. The more people that get involved in research, the more likely you are to find the answers. More treatments will appear and improve as a result of research, so if there’s anything we can do, we’ll do it. It could help other people.”

In the past 12 months, 16,589 participants in Wales have taken part in high-quality research studies, supporting 204 active commercial trials and 605 non-commercial studies into life-changing research across areas including cancer, mental health and rare diseases.

Our funded centres have secured 156 successful grants worth £34.5 million, created 190 new jobs and contributed to 845 research publications. Through our funded schemes, we’ve awarded over £7.6 million across 61 awards and 11 programmes - demonstrating the continued commitment to research that improves lives and strengthens the health and care system in Wales. These achievements along with others are featured in the Health and Care Research Wales annual report 2024–25.

Professor Isabel Oliver, Chief Medical Officer for Wales, added: “The quality and breadth of research and development activity over the last ten years has been nothing short of inspirational, and through studies like SANDBOX, FAKTION and AMT-130, we are showing that Wales plays a big part in helping to discover the diagnostics, therapies and treatments of the future, as well as the role that research and evidence plays in helping to shape policy both domestically, nationally and internationally.

“Over the next ten years we will build on this legacy to strengthen health and care research further in Wales as an important and necessary part of our efforts to secure a healthier and fairer Wales.”

Hosted by ITV Cymru Wales journalist Andrea Byrne, the conference’s programme covers topics such as the impact of health and social care research, the role of AI in research and the importance of inclusivity in addressing health inequalities and under-representation – and also focuses on the future of health and social care research.

For the full programme, please visit the conference page.