Project title: *Unifying social and biological approaches to early detection of dementia*

Proposed start date: October 1st 2013

Project description:

*The Wales Integrative PhD Scheme in Neurodegeneration (WIN)* aims to train students in multi-disciplinary approaches to the early detection of neurodegenerative diseases. The proposed cross-disciplinary training in social, psychological, genetic and biological approaches is designed to equip students with the skills to lead future inter-disciplinary research teams in this key research area, and related public health domains.

Funding is provided for four years to ensure time to acquire the relevant inter-disciplinary research skills, and to undertake projects crossing traditional research boundaries. The students will be appointed as a single cohort, allowing them to learn and develop their skills together, as well as benefit from interaction with students on related PhD training schemes in Cardiff and Bangor (e.g. Wellcome Trust Integrative Neuroscience PhD Scheme, Cognitive Function and Ageing Studies PhD scheme, ESRC Wales DTC studentships).

The focus of the five projects will be on the early detection of common neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia and/or Parkinson’s disease. A key aspect of the projects will be interlinked research on 2 of the following topics:

*novel multi-modal psychological and/or imaging biomarkers* *patient/carer-focused behavioural interventions* *policy informed by psychological models of attitudes/health behaviour* *awareness of the socio-ethics and experiential dimension of early detection*

Students should be willing, therefore, to acquire multi-disciplinary training, and to develop novel methods for bridging these research areas during their PhD. For example, combining imaging biomarker studies in Alzheimer’s disease with complementary consideration of the socio-ethics of early detection, or investigating quality of life in families at high risk of developing frontotemporal dementia alongside studies aimed to understand the breakdown of social cognition in the disease. Students may also have the opportunity to develop collaborative links with the Memory and Aging Centre (UC San Francisco) depending upon their PhD project.

For full details including eligibility please see: http://courses.cardiff.ac.uk/funding/R1064.html

*How to apply:* * * Please use our online application service at www.cf.ac.uk/regis/general/applyonline/index.html http://www.cf.ac.uk/regis/general/applyonline/index.html to apply for a PhD in Psychology, with an Oct 2013 start date (programme code RFPDPSYA).

You should specify in the funding section on the application form that you wish to be considered for ESRC/WIN funding.

*Application deadline:* 31st May 2013

with decisions being made soon after interview (first or second week in June).

Andrew Lawrence Professor School of Psychology Cardiff University Tower Building, Park Place Cardiff CF10 3AT