Building a collaborative reasearch community on dementia
The research landscape on dementia is as diverse as Switzerland presents itself as a country. What offers a chance is perhaps the greatest challenge the Swiss research community is facing. This manifests itself in a communication gap that separates researchers, clinicians and practitioners. During the review of grant applications and at scientific events and expert discussions, it became clear that the exchange between different disciplines needs to be strengthened.
, board member of the Swiss Network for Dementia Research, explains the communication deficit as follows: "Clinicians and researchers have different work environments, goals and incentives. Their realities in everyday work differ quite substantially". According to Leuthold, it is therefore even more important to create a win-win situation for both sides, which brings added value for both researchers and clinicians in terms of collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Closing the gap by fostering a vibrant research community
Based on the experiences, Dementia Research Switzerland - Synapsis Foundation has included the networking of researchers as a goal in its strategy process. At the 2021 Synapsis Forum, the need for interdisciplinary exchange in dementia research was highlighted, and the idea of a network was explored in a workshop with the aim to involve the research community right from the start and gather implementation proposals.
With the input from the workshop, work began on a business plan, which was developed by a group consisting of internal employees of the foundation and external experts. A central component of the founding process was the regular exchange between the foundation and experts from the community. It was essential to design all services in accordance with the needs and expectations of the research community, in line with the guiding principle: Building Bridges in Dementia Research.
The decision to spin off the network activities into an association was made due to various advantages. In particular it should be emphasized that the structure of an association gives members the right to have a say, which is in line with the spirit of a community.
Thanks to a generous bequest from France, the Synapsis Foundation was able to secure start-up funding for the association, which enabled it to be founded in October 2023. The founding board is chaired by from the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, and the first board meeting took place in November of the same year. The office team has been fully staffed and operational since mid-2024.
Our vision for the Swiss dementia research community
The vision of the Swiss Network for Dementia Research is the nationwide networking of all partners contributing to dementia research in order to further strengthen dementia research in Switzerland in the interests and for the benefit of the population. The focus is on the interdisciplinary networking of research and clinical practice. The association not only aims to provide an online community platform.
is firmly convinced that a lively community can only be created through direct, personal encounters. This is why the Swiss Network for Dementia Research has also made the organization of events one of its central concerns.
For fall 2025, planning is underway for the first national dementia conference, which will serve as a platform for exchange and networking. The association is scheduling further events in the future to promote the exchange of knowledge and research collaborations.
