Researchers led by Professor Manabu IKEDA from the Osaka University (OU) Graduate School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry visited University College London (UCL) from 13 to 20 March 2023 to discuss dementia research and joint research supported by the UCL-OU Strategic Partner Funds. UCL is a Global Knowledge Partner of OU and the two universities have been facilitating researcher and student exchange.

The OU-UCL Dementia Joint Lab was established in 2019. Professor Gill Livingston and Dr. Andrew Sommerlad of the UCL Division of Psychiatry and Professor IKEDA have been conducting research since then. In 2022, their research was selected as a collaborative initiative supported by the UCL-OU Strategic Partner Funds 2022-23. Further research is expected now that researchers can travel more freely after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The OU researchers also visited the UCL Dementia Research Centre with Professor Rob Howard of the UCL Division of Psychiatry. Discussions were had between the following researchers, in addition to other leading researchers in the area of dementia in the UK.


From UCL:
Professor Nick Fox, Director of the Dementia Research Centre
Professor Sebastian Crutch, Dementia Research Centre
Professor Jonathan Rohrer, Dementia Research Centre

From OU:
Dr. Hideki KANEMOTO, Department of Psychiatry (Associate Professor (Lecturer))
Dr. Maki SUZUKI, United Graduate School of Child Development (Associate Professor (Lecturer))
Dr. Takashi SUEHIRO, Osaka University Hospital (Specially Appointed Assistant Professor)
Dr. Yuto SATAKE, Graduate School of Medicine (Specially Appointed Assistant Professor from April 2023)


The researchers planned their future collaborations in comprehensive dementia research including the development of treatment strategies for frontotemporal dementia, the transition from hallucinations and delusions to dementia in old age, and psychosocial interventions for dementia patients and their families.

UCL’s article can be read here:
Understanding and treating social functioning impairment in dementia
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/global/case-studies/2023/mar/understanding-and-treating-social-functioning-impairment-dementia