Dr Yvonne Couch, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.

In this blog, Yvonne shares her belated discovery of DORA—the Declaration on Research Assessment—and reflects on its origins, aims, and ongoing challenges. Through a mix of personal anecdotes, historical context, and pragmatic critique, she explores why DORA matters in research evaluation, and why so many academics still struggle to fully embrace its principles, especially when faced with high-pressure hiring and promotion decisions. A must-read for researchers navigating the complexities of metrics, quality, and career progression.

Find the original text, and narration here on our website.

https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-what-is-dora-in-research-and-why-it-matters-more-than-you-think/

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Dr Yvonne Couch is an Alzheimer's Research UK Fellow and Associate Professor at the University of Oxford. Yvonne studies the role of extracellular vesicles and their role in changing the function of the vasculature after stroke, aiming to discover why the prevalence of dementia after stroke is three times higher than the average. It is her passion for problem solving and love of science that drives her, in advancing our knowledge of disease. Yvonne writes about her work, academic life, and careers as she takes a new road into independent research.

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Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.

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Dr Becky Carlyle, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.

In this timely and personal blog, Becky urges scientists to take a more active role in defending research from political manipulation and public mistrust. Drawing parallels with the US experience, she argues that UK researchers cannot afford to stay apolitical, and must instead engage with their communities, communicate uncertainty clearly, and build coalitions at the local level. From co-designing research with the public to ditching online echo chambers for real-life conversations, Becky sets out practical ways to reconnect and reinforce science’s place in society.

Dr Becky Carlyle is an Alzheimer's Research UK Senior Research Fellow at University of Oxford, and has previously worked in the USA. Becky writes about her experiences of starting up a research lab and progressing into a more senior research role. Becky's research uses mass-spectrometry to quantify thousands of proteins in the brains and biofluids of people with dementia. Her lab is working on various projects, including work to compare brain tissue from people with dementia from Alzheimer’s Disease, to tissue from people who have similar levels of Alzheimer’s Disease pathology but no memory problems. Becky is also a mum, she runs, drinks herbal tea's and reads lots of books. Find Becky on LinkedIn

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Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.

--

Follow us on Social Media:

• https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/
• https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/
• https://twitter.com/demrescommunity
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher
• https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social

Ajantha Abey narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher.

Ajantha reflects honestly on the demanding process of writing a PhD thesis, detailing the unexpected challenges, distractions, and perfectionist pitfalls encountered along the way. From severely underestimating the complexity of making figures, to handling late-stage data reanalysis and navigating life distractions, Ajantha’s account highlights the emotional toll and practical hurdles of thesis completion. The piece offers reassuring insights and valuable tips on productivity, planning, and maintaining balance to help others navigate their thesis journey.

Find the original text, and narration here on our website.

https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-reflections-on-thesis-writing/

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Ajantha Abey is a PhD student in the Kavli Institute at University of Oxford. He is interested in the cellular mechanisms of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other diseases of the ageing brain. Previously, having previoulsy explored neuropathology in dogs with dementia and potential stem cell replacement therapies. He now uses induced pluripotent stem cell derived neurons to try and model selective neuronal vulnerability: the phenomenon where some cells die but others remain resilient to neurodegenerative diseases.

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Enjoy listening and reading our blogs? We're always on the look out for new contributors, drop us a line and share your own research and careers advice dementiaresearcher@ucl.ac.uk

This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.

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Follow us on Social Media:

• https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/
• https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/
• https://twitter.com/demrescommunity
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher
• https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social