The Dementia Research Nurse Network

Sittana Abdelmagid is a Clinical Research Nurse at University College London Hospitals (UCLH). In addition to her clinical role, Sittana serves as Chair for Research Inclusion at the UK Clinical Research Facility (UK CRF) Network, where she supports efforts to improve representation and access to research for underserved communities.

As a Dementia Research Nurse, Sittana is passionate about delivering person-centred and inclusive research, ensuring that every research participant feels valued, informed and represented.

Sittana will work with her colleagues across the UKDTN to position the UK as a global leader in dementia research. By recruiting more people into research and providing compassionate person-centred care, the team will ensure that discoveries are translated into meaningful improvements in care and treatments for people with dementia and their families.

I hope my role will give people living with dementia and their families a stronger voice in research, empowering them to feel included, valued, and supported. I believe we can make research participation feel like a natural extension of care.

Inês Rodrigues is a Senior Research Sister leading a multidisciplinary team at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.  

As a Research Nurse, Inês will work to create more opportunities for people affected by dementia to take part in research that truly reflects their needs, experiences and priorities.  

Inês aims to champion inclusive and person-centred research, raise awareness of dementia research among a variety of clinical teams, and help build a confident and qualified dementia research workforce within the NHS.  

I want to help shape a research culture that listens, adapts, and delivers better outcomes. Ultimately, my goal is to make dementia research more visible and impactful, so that every person affected by dementia can benefit from the progress we make.

Jo Howe is a Senior Dementia Research Sister at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, based at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital.

With over two decades of nursing experience, Jo has dedicated her career to improving care for people affected by stroke and dementia. She initially worked across Vascular Surgery, Haematology, Oncology and Stroke services before becoming a Stroke Nurse Specialist and later moving into research, a transition inspired by her commitment to driving positive change in clinical practice.

During her years in Stroke Research, Jo helped deliver studies that directly improved patient outcomes, including innovations in thrombolysis services. Her team’s work has been recognised nationally, winning a Nursing Times Award in 2023, a regional NHS Parliamentary Award in 2024, and a High Commendation in the HSJ Digital Awards.

Now working in dementia research, Jo is committed to delivering inclusive, person-centred studies that reflect the diverse experiences of people living with dementia. She aims to increase awareness of dementia research, make opportunities more accessible, and strengthen collaboration between research teams, clinicians and families.

As part of the UK Dementia Trials Network, Jo will work with colleagues across the country to help position the UK as a global leader in dementia research. By supporting more people to take part in trials and ensuring compassionate, high-quality care, she hopes to drive discoveries that translate into better diagnosis, treatment and support for those affected.

I hope my role helps more people affected by dementia take part in research that leads to better care and treatment. I want to make research easier to access for everyone and help bring healthcare teams and researchers together, so research becomes a standard part of dementia care.