Dementias Platform UK

Professor Julie Williams has been appointed Deputy Director for Dementias Platform UK (DPUK). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A member of the DPUK executive team since September 2015, Professor Williams’ research focuses on identifying and understanding genes which increase the risk of developing complex psychological and neurodegenerative disorders. These include Alzheimer’s disease, developmental dyslexia and schizophrenia. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

DPUK has established an extended network of world leading scientists through the creation of networks and strategy groups. Professor Williams has led the development of a genetics database as part of the Informatics Network which will be launched in the autumn. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

DPUK Director, Professor Gallacher said: “I’m delighted that Professor Williams has joined the Exec. Her globally recognised expertise in dementia genetics and her governmental experience will be valuable assets as we grow and develop platform activity.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A team at Cardiff University, led by Professor Williams, are seeking to develop risk stratification for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), motor neurone disease and other dementias. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Professor Williams takes over from Professor Carol Brayne, Cambridge University, who leads the engagement of UK Cohorts through a Principal Investigator Forum and has engaged International Experts in discussions to develop the design of a UK Cohorts Brain Donation Proposal. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​