4 x Group Leader Positions

Multiple locations available at UK DRI and BHF Centres across the UK

In partnership with the British Heart Foundation (BHF), the UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) has established a new research centre: the “BHF – UK DRI Centre for Vascular Dementia Research” (CVDR) - providing critical mass, visibility and long-term commitment to this important area of research. The CVDR will adopt a distributed, network structure, where its Group Leaders will be able to choose to be physically located at one of our existing DRI host universities (Cardiff University, Imperial College London, King’s College London, UCL, University of Cambridge, and University of Edinburgh) or at certain BHF Centres of Research Excellence, depending on which provides the optimum intellectual environment, access to critical technology and infrastructure, proximity of intended close collaborators and other tangible benefits for the research to be performed.

At the heart of the new Centre will be five new UK DRI Group Leaders (principal investigators) to be recruited via an international search, whose salary and research programmes will be supported by this new partnership. The first of these positions has been filled by the new Director, Professor David Attwell, FRS, FMedSci, who is located at University College London (UCL).

We now wish to appoint four outstanding scientists as Group Leaders in the Centre for Vascular Dementia Research to fill the remaining positions. Researchers working in any scientific area relevant to Vascular Dementia are eligible to apply, including those:

• studying molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying decreases in cerebral blood flow, blood-brain barrier function and myelination in vascular dementia, and comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertension;
• carrying out in vivo imaging of brain function relevant to vascular dementia;
• using genetic or epidemiological approaches to understand susceptibility to vascular dementia;
• defining therapeutic approaches for prophylaxis or treatment of vascular dementia;
• carrying out clinical trials on vascular dementia.

An emphasis on understanding human vascular dementia and translating mechanistic animal research into human therapies will be valuable.

How to apply

Please see the 'Group Leader Candidate Pack' for full details on the role.

Prospective applicants are invited to contact the CVDR Director, David Attwell (d.attwell@ucl.ac.uk), for an informal and confidential discussion about the role.

Applicants are asked to send the following documents to UK DRI Operations Manager, Liz Chambers (l.chambers@ukdri.ucl.ac.uk) via the ‘Apply’ button above, to arrive by 9am GMT on Friday 19th July 2024. Please include your surname followed by ‘CVDR Group Leader recruitment’ in the subject line.

• A cover letter that explains your motivation for joining the CVDR.
• A description of your vision for your Vascular Dementia-related science. Describe your past and future (next 5 years) research programme, and the optimum university host for your future research programme. 6 pages maximum including references and all material.
• A full curriculum vitae and details of three referees whom we may approach before offering an interview.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a formal interview with the Appointment Committee.

Advert information