# Burnham pledges £48m dementia research push

> Prime Minister Andy Burnham announces major partnership to accelerate dementia research following his father's death from Alzheimer's.
- Title: Burnham pledges £48m dementia research push · The Independent
- Summary: Prime Minister Andy Burnham announces major partnership to accelerate dementia research following his father's death from Alzheimer's. Andy Burnham committed…
- Keywords: andy burnham, dementia research, alzheimer's, bristol myers squibb, gsk, gates ventures, health policy, uk government, politics, news, Burnham, pledges
- Source: The Independent — https://independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/andy-burnham-announces-ps48m-partnership-in-bid-to-defeat-dementia-b3063687.html
- Published: 2026-10-08T21:36:41+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: andy burnham, dementia research, alzheimer's, bristol myers squibb, gsk, gates ventures, health policy, uk government, politics, news
## Burnham makes dementia a priority
Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced a forty eight million pound partnership to accelerate dementia research. He spoke after his father Roy died from Alzheimer's last month.
## Government and industry combine funding
A government investment of thirty three million pounds combines with funding from Bristol Myers Squibb, GSK and Gates Ventures to recruit more people for clinical studies.
## Burnham's vision for Britain
Burnham said he wanted Britain to be the country that makes the breakthrough and delivers the cure for dementia the world has been waiting for.

> I want Britain to be the country that makes the breakthrough and delivers the cure for dementia the world has been waiting for.
## Barbara Alliance supports new treatments
The capital will support The Barbara Alliance, set up in memory of late EastEnders star Dame Barbara Windsor to speed up new dementia treatments.
## Health Data Research Service launched
Dementia becomes a top priority of the new Health Data Research Service, backed by up to six hundred million pounds from the Government and the Wellcome Trust.
## New platform simplifies trial recruitment
A new platform will link health records, scientific data and clinical trial infrastructure to make candidate selection for future studies much simpler.
## Scott Mitchell welcomes Barbara's legacy
Dame Barbara's widower Scott Mitchell said the announcement means Barbara will be remembered for more than her acting career, and he is hugely excited with the progress being made.

> For me, this means Barbara won't just be remembered for her bra flying off in Carry On Camping, she's got a second legacy.
## Key takeaway

Andy Burnham committed forty eight million pounds to dementia research through a partnership with pharmaceutical companies and Gates Ventures, making it a national priority after his father Roy died from Alzheimer's.