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Australian Dementia Research Hub

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Featured opportunityAustralia-wide · Open now

Help Shape a World-First Dementia-Friendly Eyecare Pathway

Sight loss often goes undetected in people living with dementia. Australian researchers at Monash University's National Centre for Healthy Ageing are creating the first dementia-friendly eyecare pathway for residential aged care — and want input from family carers, aged care workers, health professionals, and anyone with a connection to dementia. Anyone in Australia can take part.

Learn More & Get Involved

Funded by the Dementia Australia Research Foundation, through Professor Henry Brodaty AO's Mid-Career Research Fellowship — led by Dr Marianne Coleman, National Centre for Healthy Ageing (Monash University)

Cassandra's Compass

Australian Dementia Research Hub

Clinical trials, key researchers, institutions, funding, journals, and global breakthroughs — one trusted source for Australian dementia research.

Overview of Australian Dementia Research

Australia is a global leader in dementia research, aged care innovation, and translational neuroscience. From the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre at the University of Tasmania — which had recorded more than 700,000 enrolments across its free online courses to the end of 2023 (Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, 2023) — to the Florey Institute's groundbreaking work on amyloid and tau pathology, Australian researchers are at the forefront of prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care. The National Dementia Action Plan 2024–2034 — Australia's national dementia policy framework, released December 2024 — establishes priority areas including early diagnosis, lived experience research, First Nations dementia, care workforce training, and post-diagnostic support. This is funded through the NHMRC and the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF). Cassandra's Compass centralises this landscape in one trusted hub — connecting carers, families, students, and professionals to clinical trials, research institutions, funding bodies, peer-reviewed journals, and opportunities to get involved.

439,000

Australians living with dementia (2025 estimate)

AIHW (2026)

1.1 million

Projected by 2066

AIHW (2026)

14

Modifiable risk factors

Lancet Commission (2024)

~45%

Dementia cases preventable

Lancet Commission (2024)

Clinical Trials & Participation Opportunities

Clinical trials and research studies are the engine of medical progress. Participation is always voluntary — you can withdraw at any time. All reputable trials operate under ethical approval and provide full informed consent.

✅ Always voluntary🔬 Ethically approved💚 Help future families

Community Submitted — Trials, Research & New Treatments

Suggested by registered members of our community and reviewed by Cassandra's Compass before publishing. Separate from our own curated trials and research listings above.

Research OpportunitySuggested by our community

$2.6 million funding round to drive dementia research

The Dementia Australia Research Foundation has opened its Grant Program offering $2.6 million to fund 12 innovative research projects. The funding supports groundbreaking work across dementia prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and everyday care. This initiative aims to foster emerging ideas and provide vital progress for individuals living with dementia and their care partners.

5 June 2026
Read the sourceShared 14 Sep 2026

Key Researchers & Scholars

Prominent Australian researchers leading dementia prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care — across neuroscience, primary care, aged care, and First Nations health.

Prof. Anna King

Director, Wicking Dementia Research Centre (from 2026)

University of Tasmania

Succeeds Professor James Vickers. Professor King leads the Centre's dementia research, education, and MOOC programs (more than 700,000 enrolments across its free online courses to the end of 2023; Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, 2023). Research interests include neurodegeneration and dementia education translation.

Prof. Ashley Bush

Chief Investigator, Melbourne Dementia Research Centre

The Florey Institute

Metal-based neurobiology, amyloid and tau pathology, and drug development for Alzheimer's disease. Leading Australian researcher in neurodegeneration therapeutics.

Prof. Kaarin Anstey

Director, UNSW Ageing Futures Institute

UNSW Sydney + NeuRA

Dementia risk reduction, cognitive ageing, and dementia prevention research. Chairs the International Research Network on Dementia Prevention and is a contributing author to the Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention (2020, 2024).

Emeritus Prof. Elizabeth Beattie

Emeritus Professor, Aged Care and Dementia

Queensland University of Technology

Dementia care in residential aged care, wandering, and person-centred interventions. Formerly Director of the Dementia Centre for Research Collaboration, which closed in 2021.

Prof. Dimity Pond

Head of Discipline, General Practice

University of Newcastle

Dementia in primary care, early diagnosis, and GP management. Lead researcher on dementia screening and referral pathways in Australian general practice.

Prof. Colleen Doyle

Senior Research Fellow

National Ageing Research Institute (NARI)

Dementia care models, relational care, and quality of life in residential aged care. Contributor to Australian dementia care guidelines.

Prof. Christopher Rowe

Leads the Australian Dementia Network (ADNeT)

Brain imaging (PET amyloid/tau), early Alzheimer's diagnosis, and biomarker development. Principal investigator of AIBL study neuroimaging.

A/Prof Lyn Phillipson

Honorary Associate Professor — Dementia Centre for Research Collaboration Mid-Career Research Fellow (2022–2024)

University of Wollongong

Dementia-friendly communities, dementia risk reduction and help-seeking, and inclusive research with culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Australian Research Hubs & Institutions

UTAS Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre

Key Institution

University of Tasmania, Hobart

Visit

Dementia research, education, and translation into practice. Leads Australia's only dementia-specific research and education centre.

Active Research & Projects

  • →Understanding Dementia MOOC — free online course, 455,012 enrolments to the end of 2025 (Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, 2025)
  • →Preventing Dementia MOOC — evidence-based dementia prevention strategies
  • →ISLAND project — dementia risk reduction in older Tasmanians
  • →Dementia education programs for aged care workers and families

Australian Dementia Network (ADNeT)

Key Institution

National — a network of researchers from 24 institutions across Australia

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A national network of leading scientists and researchers working to improve how dementia is diagnosed, treated and tracked in Australia.

Who they are

ADNeT is a network of leading scientists and researchers from across 24 institutions, working together to improve dementia diagnosis, treatment and care in Australia. It is led by Professor Christopher Rowe and supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), The Wicking Trust, The Yulgilbar Foundation and Dementia Australia.

What they do

ADNeT runs three initiatives: a clinical quality registry that tracks, benchmarks and reports on the clinical care of people with dementia; a memory clinics network that sets consistent best-practice guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of dementia; and trial-screening sites that provide detailed dementia screening of people suitable for clinical trials.

Who they serve

People living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment, family carers, clinicians who assess and diagnose dementia, dementia researchers, and anyone considering taking part in dementia research.

How to use them

Family carers and people with dementia: ADNeT publishes a national listing of memory clinics and cognitive decline assessment services — search it to find an assessment service near you. ADNeT notes this listing is not a comprehensive list of all services in Australia, and is updated as clinics choose to be published. Clinicians and researchers: you can apply to join the Australian Memory Clinics Network. Anyone interested in research: ADNeT's screening sites operate in Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane and Perth, and you can register your interest through its research volunteer portal.

ADNeT's three initiatives

  • →Clinical quality registry — establishing the first dementia clinical quality registry, to track, benchmark and report on the clinical care of people with dementia
  • →Memory clinics network — bringing memory clinic clinicians into a collaborative network and providing a framework for how memory clinics operate, with best-practice guidelines for diagnosis and treatment
  • →Screening for trials — dedicated sites that screen volunteers, including people with cognitive impairment, for referral to available clinical trials

CHeBA — Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (UNSW Sydney)

Key Institution

UNSW Sydney, New South Wales

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A premier research institution investigating brain ageing and dementia, and an international centre of excellence in multidisciplinary research into the ageing brain.

Who they are

CHeBA (the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing) is a premier research institution at UNSW Sydney, established in October 2012 and co-directed by Professor Henry Brodaty and Professor Perminder Sachdev. Its vision is to achieve, through research, healthier brain ageing and better clinical care of age-related brain diseases.

What they do

CHeBA conducts multidisciplinary research into the ageing brain — from genetics, proteomics and cell biology in its laboratories, through neuroimaging of neuronal systems and networks, to clinical, epidemiological and sociological research and ageing health policy. Its work centres on long-running ageing cohort studies and international consortia, and emphasises translation into better treatment, care and policy.

Who they serve

Researchers and research students, clinicians and memory clinics, aged care providers, policymakers, and the wider community. CHeBA welcomes research students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and runs public lectures and community forums on brain health.

How to use them

Families and carers: read CHeBA's news and blog for plain-English evidence on brain ageing and dementia risk, and attend its public events. Clinicians and researchers: explore its research programs, ageing cohort studies and international consortia. Students: enquire about research placements at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Supporters: contribute to its Dollar for Dementia campaign.

Research focus & programs

  • →Ageing cohort studies — long-running Australian studies of brain ageing in the community
  • →International consortia — large-scale global collaborations on dementia and cognitive ageing
  • →Dementias Platform Australia — launched by CHeBA to foster international collaboration on dementia
  • →Clinical, epidemiological and sociological research, including ageing health policy
  • →Research training — places for undergraduate and postgraduate research students

NHMRC — National Health and Medical Research Council

Key Institution

Australian Government — National

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The Australian Government's national body for health and medical research funding, and a major funder of dementia research in Australia.

Who they are

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is the Australian Government's national body for health and medical research funding. It also administers the Medical Research Future Fund, and funds dementia research across basic science, clinical medicine and science, public health and health services research.

What they do

NHMRC funds Australian dementia research through its grant programs and targeted calls. Since 2015 it has awarded over $458 million in direct funding to 447 dementia research projects. In 2024 it funded twelve dementia research grants totalling $18 million, and it also funds international collaborations on neurodegeneration.

Who they serve

Australian researchers and research institutions seeking funding, clinicians and health services looking for the evidence base, and anyone wanting to understand where Australian dementia research funding goes.

How to use them

Researchers: find open grant rounds, targeted calls and the NHMRC dementia funding outcomes data. Families and carers: the funding data shows what Australian dementia research is being funded, and where.

Dementia funding at a glance

  • →Over $458 million in direct funding awarded to 447 dementia research projects since 2015
  • →2024: twelve dementia research grants funded, totalling $18 million
  • →International collaboration — joint funding calls on neurodegeneration, including with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research
  • →Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) — administered by NHMRC, with dementia among its priorities
  • →Dementia funding outcomes data — a full list of dementia research funded through NHMRC schemes since 2015

Dementia Australia Research Foundation (DARF)

Key Institution

National — Dementia Australia

Visit

Funds Australian dementia researchers and supports knowledge translation into care practice.

Active Research & Projects

  • →Annual grants to Australian dementia researchers
  • →Dementia Researcher Network — connecting Australian researchers
  • →Consumer involvement in research — lived experience embedded in research design

Caring Futures Institute — Flinders University

Key Institution

Adelaide, South Australia

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Australia's first fully dedicated research centre for the study of self-care and caring solutions — aged care workforce, quality, and innovation.

Active Research & Projects

  • →Aged care workforce research — staffing models and wellbeing
  • →Quality and safety in residential aged care
  • →Person-centred care models and implementation science
  • →End-of-life care in aged care settings

AIBL — Australian Imaging Biomarker and Lifestyle Study

Key Institution

Melbourne, Victoria (Florey Institute, CSIRO, Austin Health)

Visit

A long-running Australian longitudinal study on ageing and Alzheimer's disease — tracking biomarkers and lifestyle factors over 15+ years.

Active Research & Projects

  • →Brain amyloid imaging in preclinical Alzheimer's
  • →Role of lifestyle factors (diet, exercise, sleep) in dementia prevention
  • →Biomarker discovery for early Alzheimer's detection

UNSW Ageing Futures Institute

Sydney, New South Wales

Visit

Interdisciplinary research on ageing — policy, ethics, wellbeing, and workforce.

Active Research & Projects

  • →Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety — research evidence
  • →Ethical dimensions of dementia care
  • →Ageing workforce policy in Australia

Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health

Melbourne, Victoria

Visit

Neuroscience research including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and stroke.

Active Research & Projects

  • →Alzheimer's disease — amyloid and tau pathology research
  • →Parkinson's disease and related dementias
  • →Neuroprotective strategies and drug development

QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

Brisbane, Queensland

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Genetics of dementia and Alzheimer's disease — large-scale genome-wide association studies.

Active Research & Projects

  • →Genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's disease
  • →GWAS — genome-wide association studies in dementia
  • →Biomarker and epidemiological studies in ageing

Monash University Aged Care Research

Melbourne, Victoria

Visit

Medication safety, prescribing in aged care, polypharmacy, and deprescribing.

Active Research & Projects

  • →Implementing the internationally developed STOPP/START criteria in Australian aged care
  • →Deprescribing in older adults — polypharmacy management
  • →Quality use of medicines in residential aged care

Fundraising, Grants & Support

Dementia Australia Research Foundation

Donate

Funds early- and mid-career dementia researchers. The foundation reports awarding more than $3 million to researchers annually, with 80 per cent of its annual income going directly to research. ACNC-registered and endorsed as a deductible gift recipient, so donations are tax-deductible.

Visit →

Alzheimer's Research Australia

Donate

Donate to support Professor Ralph Martins AO and the Alzheimer's Research Australia team in preventing, diagnosing, and treating Alzheimer's disease — an Australian foundation dedicated to finding a cure.

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NHMRC — Dementia Research Grants

Grants

Australia's peak health research funding body. Information on open grant rounds, including the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) dementia priorities.

Visit →

Alzheimer's Association — International Research Grants

International grants

The Alzheimer's Association funds international research grants including Australian researchers. Apply for the next grant round.

Visit →

Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF)

Government funding

The Australian Government's medical research fund, which includes a Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission.

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Support Cassandra's Compass

Support CC

Support Cassandra's Compass through subscriptions and contributions. Contributions help with the running costs of Cassandra's Compass.

Learn more →

Government-funded dementia programs — workforce training (DREAM), 24/7 behavioural support (DBMAS), and palliative care training (The Advance Project) — are listed in the Australian Government Dementia & Aged Care Programs Directory.

References (APA 7th ed.)

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2026). Dementia in Australia. AIHW. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/dementia/dementia-in-aus

Department of Health and Aged Care. (2024). National Dementia Action Plan 2024–2034. Australian Government. https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/national-dementia-action-plan

Ellis, K. A., Bush, A. I., Darby, D., De Fazio, D., Foster, J., Hudson, P., Lautenschlager, N. T., Lenzo, N., Martins, R. N., Maruff, P., Masters, C., Milner, A., Pike, K., Rowe, C., Savage, G., Szoeke, C., Taddei, K., Villemagne, V., Woodward, M., … AIBL Research Group. (2009). The Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle (AIBL) study of aging: Methodology and baseline characteristics of 1112 individuals recruited for a longitudinal study of Alzheimer's disease. International Psychogeriatrics, 21(4), 672–687. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610209009405

Fowler, C., Rainey-Smith, S. R., Bird, S., Bomke, J., Bourgeat, P., Brown, B. M., Burnham, S. C., Bush, A. I., Chadunow, C., Collins, S., Doecke, J., Doré, V., Ellis, K. A., Evered, L., Fazlollahi, A., Fripp, J., Gardener, S. L., Gibson, S., Grenfell, R., … AIBL Investigators. (2021). Fifteen years of the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle (AIBL) study: Progress and observations from 2,359 older adults spanning the spectrum from cognitive normality to Alzheimer's disease. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease Reports, 5(1), 443–468. https://doi.org/10.3233/ADR-210005

Livingston, G., Huntley, J., Liu, K. Y., Costafreda, S. G., Selbæk, G., Alladi, S., Ames, D., Banerjee, S., Burns, A., Brayne, C., Fox, N. C., Ferri, C. P., Gitlin, L. N., Howard, R., Kales, H. C., Kivimäki, M., Larson, E. B., Nakasujja, N., Rockwood, K., … Mukadam, N. (2024). Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet standing Commission. The Lancet, 404(10452), 572–628. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)01296-0

Sims, J. R., Zimmer, J. A., Evans, C. D., Lu, M., Ardayfio, P., Sparks, J., Wessels, A. M., Shcherbinin, S., Wang, H., Monkul Nery, E. S., Collins, E. C., Solomon, P., Salloway, S., Apostolova, L. G., Hansson, O., Ritchie, C., Brooks, D. A., Mintun, M., & Skovronsky, D. M. (2023). Donanemab in early symptomatic Alzheimer disease: TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2. JAMA, 330(6), 512–527. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2023.13239

van Dyck, C. H., Swanson, C. J., Aisen, P., Bateman, R. J., Chen, C., Gee, M., Kanekiyo, M., Li, D., Reyderman, L., Cohen, S., Froelich, L., Katayama, S., Sabbagh, M., Vellas, B., Watson, D., Dhadda, S., Irizarry, M., Kramer, L. D., & Iwatsubo, T. (2023). Lecanemab in early Alzheimer's disease. New England Journal of Medicine, 388(1), 9–21. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2212948

Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre. (2025). Understanding Dementia MOOC. University of Tasmania. https://www.utas.edu.au/wicking

World Health Organization. (2021). Global status report on the public health response to dementia. WHO. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240033245

NHMRC. (2024). National Health and Medical Research Council — Dementia research funding priorities. Australian Government. https://www.nhmrc.gov.au

Masters, C. L., Bateman, R., Blennow, K., Rowe, C. C., Sperling, R. A., & Cummings, J. L. (2015). Alzheimer's disease. Nature Reviews Disease Primers, 1, 15056.

Cassandra's Compass provides these links as a public resource directory. We do not endorse, run, or have any affiliation with any listed clinical trial or research organisation. Always consult your doctor or specialist before enrolling in any research study. Research information is updated periodically — verify with institution websites for the most current findings.

Knowledge is empowerment. The more you understand dementia, the more confidently — and compassionately — you can care.

— Cassandra's Compass

Verified against official sources on 3 October 2026

For educational and care-planning purposes only — not professional medical or legal advice. Always consult a qualified health professional. Proudly Australian. Content informed by Dementia Australia.

Content is reviewed on an ongoing basis against current Australian clinical guidelines, legislation and regulatory standards — if you believe something may be out of date, please let us know.

🌏 We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and pay our respects to Elders past, present, and emerging.

© 2026 Dementia By Compass (ABN 72 956 792 944), trading as Cassandra's Compass. All rights reserved.