Race Against Dementia charity fuelling research

Dementia Australia volunteers

Race Against Dementia, the charity started by racing legend, Sir Jackie Stewart OBE, together with the Dementia Australia Research Foundation have announced the 2022 recipient of the ‘Race Against Dementia – Dementia Australia Research Foundation Post-doctoral Fellowship’ program.

The Fellowship recipient is Dr Karissa Barthelson from University of Adelaide.

Dr Barthelson will receive an award valued at $405,000AUD in total, over three years. This will reportedly cover salary and project expenses to explore the similarities between adult and childhood-onset dementias.

“I am so delighted that we have been able to appoint another talented Australian scientist to help in our race against dementia,” Sir Jackie said, who is also a Dementia Australia Patron.

“Karissa’s research is interesting and different. We desperately need innovative ways of looking at dementia – so Race Against Dementia is delighted to support her.

“I am really looking forward to coming to Australia in April when I hope to meet up with our three Race Against Dementia – Dementia Australia Research Foundation fellows in person.”

The Chair of the Dementia Australia Research Foundation, Professor Graeme Samuel AC, congratulates Dr Barthelson and all the successful 2021 grant recipients.

“This fellowship forms part of the Dementia Australia Research Foundation 2021 Dementia Grants Programme, with more than $4.5 million in fellowship and project grant funding awarded to early and mid-career researchers,” says Professor Samuel.

“The diversity of projects selected points to a very exciting future for dementia research. With dementia affecting almost 50 million people worldwide and someone in the world developing dementia every three seconds, research into dementia is now more urgent than ever. I look forward to seeing the outcomes of this research.

“We acknowledge Race Against Dementia, the NHMRC Dementia Centre for Research Collaboration and all our partners and donors for their generous support of this research.”