Early Career Researcher Retreat 2025

09:30 onwards - Registration and refreshments

10:00 - 12:00 - Mock Grant Board 

Attendees will join our mock grant board and step into the role of our Grant Advisory Board member. They will have the opportunity to review real applications (previously submitted to Alzheimer’s Society) and give feedback. 

11:00 - 12:30 - Facilitated networking coffee morning

An opportunity to meet and mingle with members of the Alzheimer’s Society teams and your peers.

12:30 - 13:30 - Lunch

13:30 - 13:45 - Welcome talk

Richard Oakley, Associate Director of Research and Innovation, Alzheimer’s Society.

13:45 - 14:30 - The inaugural Heather Corrie Lecture: Improving dementia care: from Newcastle, for the world - from GP to DBE to WHO.

Professor Dame Louise Robinson, Regius Professor of Ageing at Newcastle University

14:30 - 15:00 - Coffee break

15:00 - 16:00 - Parallel sessions

Publishing  

This panel session will focus on writing and publishing journal articles, including time for audience Q&A. We’ll also feature the perspective of one of our researchers.  

Dr Christian Schnell, Senior Editor, PLOS Biology, Dr Simon Andrews, Head of Bioinformatics Facility, Babraham Institute  and chaired by Cherie Nyota, Senior Research Grants Officer, Alzheimer’s Society.

Writing for lay audiences  

This session will be led by members of the Research Network Volunteer (RNV) community. Our RNVs are people with lived experience of dementia who advise Alzheimer’s Society on our research funding and engagement.

16:00 - 17:00 - Soapbox Science competition

Back by popular demand, competitors will give short, lay presentations of their research. Prizes will be awarded for the best talks.

17:00 - 18:00 - Time for check-ins and to refresh

18:00 - 19:00 - Marketplace drinks reception

Attendees will have the opportunity to browse stands including various teams from Alzheimer’s Society and others.

19:00 - 20:30 - Dinner and awards

Celebrating the winners of our Soapbox Science competition. 

20:30 - 21:30 - Pub quiz

Now an ECR tradition, covering general knowledge to pop culture and everything in between!

09:00 - 09:20 - Welcome to day two

Professor Fiona Carragher, Chief Policy and Research Officer at Alzheimer’s Society.

09:20 - 10:05 - Boundaries: it’s not you, it’s me!

In this session we'll explore how we can support you to tackle the stresses of an academic career, helping you to explore ways to maintain your wellbeing.

Dr Luana Scrivano, Clinical Psychologist and Researcher in Mental Health, Physical Exercise, and Sustainability at the University of Manchester.

10:15 - 11:15 - Dealing with stress and anxiety as an Early Career Researcher

The session will teach people how to recognise symptoms and provide them with basic tools they can use for their wellbeing without supervision. The session will focus on evidence-based research such as CBT that people can use daily, and visualisation exercises that people can use when they feel overwhelmed.

Dr Ehsan Ghadim and Dr Frane Vusio, University of Warwick.

11:15 - 11:45 - Coffee break

11:45 - 12:40 - How the human brain thinks about itself

This keynote, including time for Q&A, will focus on the mechanisms supporting human subjective experience and metacognition.

Professor Steve Fleming, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Experimental Psychology, UCL.

12:40 - 13:30 - Lunch break

13:30 - 14:30 - Parallel sessions

Science in the media

This workshop-style session will introduce the Science Media Centre, an organisation focused on renewing public trust in science. The Centre works both with journalists and scientists, supporting their core belief that scientists can have a huge impact on the way the media cover scientific issues by engaging more quickly and effectively with the stories that are influencing public debate.

Freya Robb, Senior Press Officer, Science Media Centre

Leadership

This panel discussion, involving senior leadership from research, industry and Alzheimer’s Society will focus on effective leadership.

Simon Beacham, Senior Operations Leader, EDF Retail, Professor David Cash, Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Research Leader and Principal Research Fellow, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Dr Lucy Devendra, Head of Research, Alzheimer’s Society and chaired by Sian Gregory, Research Grants Manager, Alzheimer’s Society.

14:30 - 15:00 - Coffee break

15:00 - 15:45 - How research can support innovation

We’ll hear from entrepreneurs who turned their research into viable businesses aimed at improving the lives of people living with dementia.

Graeme Forth, Senior Innovator, Alzheimer’s Society and Zeke Steer, Co-founder, Milbotix.

16:00 - 16:15 - Closing remarks – Lucy Devendra, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Society

Dr Devendra will bring this year’s ECR Retreat to a close.

• A host of talks, panels, and Q&A sessions by researchers, funding bodies, charity volunteers and ECR's, including a focus on researcher wellbeing and resilience
• Skills workshops, with themes including leadership, publishing, working with people affected by dementia and communication
• Complimentary dinner
• Overnight accommodation (at cost for non-Alzheimer's Society funded researchers)

How much does the event cost? 

The ECR retreat is free to all Alzheimer’s Society funded researchers. Externally funded researchers will be asked to pay a contribution which will amount to £150 to be paid at registration.

Can I expense my travel?

We regret that we are unable to cover any travel expenses.

What is your covid policy?

We recognise the challenges we continue to face during the current global pandemic. Our decisions are always driven by the impact on people affected by dementia, the health and well-being of our staff, volunteers, partners, speakers and delegates.

We will be holding this conference in person, however we will be working in line with the government guidance and restrictions at the time. We will continue to monitor and review the policies and procedures we have in place in accordance with government and public health guidance. We will continue to update our attendees to any changes or considerations that will need to be put in place as part of these restrictions.

What is the address?

Mecure Hotel, Silver Street, Northampton, NN1 2TA

Hotel Accommodation

We will be providing hotel accommodation for attendees for Tuesday 8th July only. Any other nights required will have to be organised and booked separately by the attendee.

What if I am unable to attend due to caring responsibilities?

If you are an Alzheimer’s Society funded researcher, we can help if you have caring responsibilities (e.g. childcare) which may affect your ability to attend the conference. Please email us at DRL@Alzheimers.org.uk to discuss options/provisions.

Is lunch included?

Yes, lunch and refreshments will be served at the appropriate times. You will be asked for any dietary requirements when you register for the conference.

I have accessibility requirements, can you help?

Please ensure you indicate your requirements when registering for the event and we will accommodate these on the day.

Is there a dress code for the conference?

The dress code for the conference will be smart/casual.

What are the start and finish times of the event?

Timings will be added to the webpage shortly.

How do I book for sessions?

When you register you will be asked which breakout sessions you would like to book onto.

Will I be able to get a copy of presentations?

We will aim to get a copy of presentations from each speaker to be available after the event. This will be at the discretion of the speaker, therefore we cannot guarantee that all will be available.

Can I amend my booking after completion?

Yes, use the link in your email to login to your booking. Click ‘Modify’ to amend your booking. You can amend your session choices and change answers to the registration questions. The deadline for amending bookings is Monday 9th June.