We held the first NIHR CRN East Midlands Dementia Workshop at the Burleigh Court Conference Centre and Hotel, in Loughborough on the 12th May 2022. 

This half- day session was designed for those new to research, to examine the skills and approaches that are integral to the successful delivery of research in this area.

There was a packed agenda full of inspirational talks and the event provided ample networking opportunities with NIHR partners, Health Education England East Midlands, Public Health England, and colleagues across all aspects of CRN East Midlands business.  Attendees heard from experts such as Prof Tom Dening and Prof Rowan Harwood who have been involved in dementia research in the East Midlands, and who provided an insight into just some of the studies that have helped to give people living with dementia the opportunity to participate in research.

In addition we heard several presentations from up-and-coming researchers across our region who provided an overview of research on co-existing hearing loss and dementia, developing the UK version of the Person Attuned Musical Interaction (PAMI) manual, and exploring creative storytelling in the lives of people with dementia and their carers. 

It was a well-attended event and a huge congratulations to Sam Tyler on winning the poster prize. In light of the success, we are sufficiently encouraged to think about organising something similar next year but with more PhD posters submissions.