TY - JOUR
T1 - Supporting early-career dementia researchers
T2 - Identifying support needs and ways forward via a European study
AU - Dupont, Charlèss
AU - Gilissen, Joni
AU - Dassen, Fania C M
AU - Branco, Rita Maldonado
AU - Heins, Pascale
AU - Heffernan, Eithne
AU - Bartels, Sara Laureen
N1 - Funding Information:
This article was facilitated by members of INTERDEM and INTERDEM Academy and the Alzheimer's Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment (ISTAART), through the Professional Interest Area to Elevate Early Career Researchers (PEERs). The views and opinions expressed by the authors of this article represent those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of INTERDEM, INTERDEM Academy, PEERs, ISTAART, or the Alzheimer's Association. The authors thank Dr. Claire Sexton, Jodi Titiner, and ISTAART, as well as Prof. Marjolein de Vugt, Prof. Frans Verhey, and INTERDEM for their support. This article is part of the efforts of INTERDEM Academy and the European Working Group of the ISTAART PEERs. Questions related to this Professional Interest Area can be directed to the current chair, Dr. C. Elizabeth Shaaban: [email protected]. Questions related to INTERDEM Academy can be directed to the coordinator, Dr. Fania Dassen: [email protected]. Finally, we thank Alzheimer Europe and the experts and note takers at the workshops, especially Christophe Bintener, Dr. Sarah Wallcook, Fanny Monnet, Adam Smith, Dr. Niels Janssen, Dr. Minke Kooistra, and Dinant Bekkenkamp from Alzheimer Nederland, and all participants who joined the survey and sessions. No specific funding was received for this study. The work of Rita Maldonado Branco is funded by national funds through the FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., and, when eligible, by COMPETE 2020FEDER funds, under the Scientific Employment Stimulus – Individual Call (CEEC Individual) – 2020.04083.CEECIND/CP1589/CT0002. The work of Eithne Heffernan is funded by a National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Three Schools Dementia Career Development Award (Ref. 20000123 Dementia Career) and an NIHR Clinical Research Network East Midlands research fund targeting underserved communities (Ref. UF18).
Funding Information:
This article was facilitated by members of INTERDEM and INTERDEM Academy and the Alzheimer's Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment (ISTAART), through the Professional Interest Area to Elevate Early Career Researchers (PEERs). The views and opinions expressed by the authors of this article represent those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of INTERDEM, INTERDEM Academy, PEERs, ISTAART, or the Alzheimer's Association. The authors thank Dr. Claire Sexton, Jodi Titiner, and ISTAART, as well as Prof. Marjolein de Vugt, Prof. Frans Verhey, and INTERDEM for their support. This article is part of the efforts of INTERDEM Academy and the European Working Group of the ISTAART PEERs. Questions related to this Professional Interest Area can be directed to the current chair, Dr. C. Elizabeth Shaaban: [email protected] . Questions related to INTERDEM Academy can be directed to the coordinator, Dr. Fania Dassen: [email protected] . Finally, we thank Alzheimer Europe and the experts and note takers at the workshops, especially Christophe Bintener, Dr. Sarah Wallcook, Fanny Monnet, Adam Smith, Dr. Niels Janssen, Dr. Minke Kooistra, and Dinant Bekkenkamp from Alzheimer Nederland, and all participants who joined the survey and sessions. No specific funding was received for this study. The work of Rita Maldonado Branco is funded by national funds through the FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., and, when eligible, by COMPETE 2020FEDER funds, under the Scientific Employment Stimulus – Individual Call (CEEC Individual) – 2020.04083.CEECIND/CP1589/CT0002. The work of Eithne Heffernan is funded by a National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Three Schools Dementia Career Development Award (Ref. 20000123 Dementia Career) and an NIHR Clinical Research Network East Midlands research fund targeting underserved communities (Ref. UF18).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors. Alzheimer's & Dementia published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Alzheimer's Association.
PY - 2024/2
Y1 - 2024/2
N2 - INTRODUCTION: Early-career researchers contribute significantly to dementia research and clinical practice. However, a growing group of early-career dementia researchers (ECDRs) lack appropriate support throughout their careers. Thus, we aim to (i) explore support needs, (ii) determine recommendations, and (iii) set the agenda for organizations to better support ECDRs.METHODS: An iterative, explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was applied. First ECDRs' needs were identified using an online survey informed by the Vitae Researcher Development Framework. Next, priority areas were selected and explored qualitatively with ECDRs in two workshops, utilizing the World Café methodology.RESULTS: Sixty-five ECDRs throughout Europe completed the survey, with the majority reporting that greater support is needed in terms of funding and career opportunities, social support and well-being, and "wide-reaching" dissemination.DISCUSSION: Based on the findings, six recommendations for support organizations, funding bodies, and universities to better support ECDRs are formulated, each intended for specific target audiences.HIGHLIGHTS: This article reports on focal points of career-related support needed in doctoral education and postdoctoral employment to foster a healthier academic environment, including finance, work-life balance, dissemination of research findings, and supervision, both in general and in dementia fields specifically. Funding and resources were identified as a significant challenge, and there was a call for more long-term positions and transition funding for postdoctoral researchers. Early-career dementia researchers addressed the need for support in producing outputs for non-academic audiences, including people living with dementia. The importance of disseminating research to diverse audiences has long been recognized; thus, it is critical that early-career dementia researchers be supported in this effort. Recommendations were formulated for researcher support (organizations), funding bodies, and universities. These recommendations include providing support for disseminating research to non-academic audiences, offering training in supervision skills, and promoting peer-to-peer mentoring and social activities for early-career dementia researchers.
AB - INTRODUCTION: Early-career researchers contribute significantly to dementia research and clinical practice. However, a growing group of early-career dementia researchers (ECDRs) lack appropriate support throughout their careers. Thus, we aim to (i) explore support needs, (ii) determine recommendations, and (iii) set the agenda for organizations to better support ECDRs.METHODS: An iterative, explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was applied. First ECDRs' needs were identified using an online survey informed by the Vitae Researcher Development Framework. Next, priority areas were selected and explored qualitatively with ECDRs in two workshops, utilizing the World Café methodology.RESULTS: Sixty-five ECDRs throughout Europe completed the survey, with the majority reporting that greater support is needed in terms of funding and career opportunities, social support and well-being, and "wide-reaching" dissemination.DISCUSSION: Based on the findings, six recommendations for support organizations, funding bodies, and universities to better support ECDRs are formulated, each intended for specific target audiences.HIGHLIGHTS: This article reports on focal points of career-related support needed in doctoral education and postdoctoral employment to foster a healthier academic environment, including finance, work-life balance, dissemination of research findings, and supervision, both in general and in dementia fields specifically. Funding and resources were identified as a significant challenge, and there was a call for more long-term positions and transition funding for postdoctoral researchers. Early-career dementia researchers addressed the need for support in producing outputs for non-academic audiences, including people living with dementia. The importance of disseminating research to diverse audiences has long been recognized; thus, it is critical that early-career dementia researchers be supported in this effort. Recommendations were formulated for researcher support (organizations), funding bodies, and universities. These recommendations include providing support for disseminating research to non-academic audiences, offering training in supervision skills, and promoting peer-to-peer mentoring and social activities for early-career dementia researchers.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85177202152&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/alz.13530
DO - 10.1002/alz.13530
M3 - Article
C2 - 37983858
SN - 1552-5260
VL - 20
SP - 1321
EP - 1333
JO - Alzheimer's & Dementia
JF - Alzheimer's & Dementia
IS - 2
ER -