Current Patient Studies
The Institute carries out studies in people with memory problems. They may be therapeutic (involve drug treatments) or be non-drug studies. Trials involving drugs assess the safety and effectiveness of a new medicine that potentially may work better than those currently available. Although there are drugs already being used to treat Alzheimer's disease they only help a percentage of the people who try them and they do not stop the progression of the disease. For other causes of memory problems there are no treatments available. It is therefore vitally important that research is carried out to find new and better treatments. All trials are very strictly regulated and have been approved by the local ethics committee.
We are currently recruiting for therapeutic trials involving people with Alzheimer's disease.
What is involved in taking part in a study at RICE?
We are generally looking for people who are over 60 . All potential study patients normally require a reliable person to attend visits with them (usually a family member or friend who knows the patient well).Therapeutic studies involve monitoring a person while they are taking a drug which is being investigated as a treatment for memory problems. During a study a person would need to attend the Institute for regular checkups and memory tests. Also we may need to organise a brain scan, a harmless procedure which involves obtaining pictures of the brain. Usually help with transport can be arranged or travel expenses reimbursed.
What are the benefits of taking part in a study at RICE?
- Regular check ups with a specialist team
- Opportunity for both patient and carer to talk to staff who understand the problems associated with memory impairment
- Meet with other people with similar concerns
Non-drug studies at the Institute
These involve people who have been diagnosed with:
- Alzheimer's disease
- Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
- Vascular dementia
- Dementia with Lewy bodies
- Parkinson's disease with dementia
- Posterior Cortical Atrophy
- Semantic dementia
To discuss RICE research studies and to see if you might be suitable to help in our studies please contact Tricia Mugridge Tel 01225 476420. All enquiries are treated in the strictest confidence.