Dr Julia DudleySector leader

Biography

Dr Julia Dudley is Head of Research at Alzheimer's Research UK, the UK's leading dementia research charity headquartered in Cambridge. The charity funds scientific studies into the causes, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of all forms of dementia, and has committed more than £237 million to dementia research as of 2024. In her role, Dudley is a regular spokesperson on dementia research developments, commenting on emerging science for the Science Media Centre and university press offices. She has been quoted arguing that dementia is not inevitable and that progress towards a cure requires investment in a broad range of treatments that can slow, stop, and reverse the diseases that cause it. She has also previously held the title of Head of Strategic Programmes at the charity.

References

1. 1.Expert reaction to study of amyloid-β clearance in a mouse model of Alzheimer's Disease – Science Media Centre — Establishes Dr Julia Dudley's title as Head of Research at Alzheimer's Research UK and her role as a media spokesperson on dementia science (October 2025)
2. 2.Bath scientists design peptide 'switch' that keeps Parkinson's protein in its healthy form – University of Bath — Confirms title 'Head of Research at Alzheimer's Research UK' and records her public commentary on dementia treatment research (October 2025)
3. 3.Cambridge collaborators aim to develop treatments for diseases that cause dementia – Business Weekly — Records an earlier title of 'Head of Strategic Programmes' at Alzheimer's Research UK, indicating a progression of roles within the charity
4. 4.ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH UK – Companies House — Confirms registered office address: 3 Riverside, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6AD

Expertise

Cited on

• Mental health
• Dementia

Stated areas of expertise

• Dementia research funding
• Alzheimer's disease drug development
• Blood-brain barrier research
• Neurodegeneration treatment
• Clinical research translation

Notable achievements

• Cited by the Science Media Centre as Head of Research at Alzheimer's Research UK, providing expert commentary on amyloid-β clearance research in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (October 2025). Source ↗
• Provided expert commentary on behalf of Alzheimer's Research UK on University of Bath research into a peptide molecule targeting misfolded alpha-synuclein in Parkinson's and dementia with Lewy bodies (October 2025). Source ↗
• Quoted as Head of Strategic Programmes at Alzheimer's Research UK in relation to the strategic partnership between the ALBORADA Drug Discovery Institute and Enhanced Genomics targeting Alzheimer's drug discovery. Source ↗

What they’ve said

• “the greater cognitive decline seen in smokers doesn't mean that these people will go on to develop dementia”

  head of research at Alzheimer's Research UK · Mental health · 27 Aug 2026 · Dementia risk for people who quit smoking in middle age ‘same as someone who never smoked’ ↗

• “It's encouraging to see studies exploring potential ways to detect memory problems earlier. New Alzheimer's treatments are proving to be more effective when given at earlier stages in the disease, therefore earlier diagnosis is key for people to benefit from this.”

  Alzheimer's Research UK · Dementia · 27 Aug 2026 · Three-minute test helps identify people at greater risk of Alzheimer’s, trial finds ↗

• “The findings suggest that even a modest amount of walking each day, around 5,000 steps, is linked to a slower buildup of tau protein in the brain, one of the key drivers of Alzheimer's disease.”

  Alzheimer's Research UK · Dementia · 27 Aug 2026 · Walking 3,000 or more steps a day may slow progression of Alzheimer’s, study says ↗

Source references

1. Dementia risk for people who quit smoking in middle age ‘same as someone who never smoked’theguardian.com · 27 Aug 2026
2. Three-minute test helps identify people at greater risk of Alzheimer’s, trial findstheguardian.com · 27 Aug 2026
3. Walking 3,000 or more steps a day may slow progression of Alzheimer’s, study saystheguardian.com · 27 Aug 2026

Contact & links

• Staff pagehttps://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/about-us/who-we-are/our-organisation/senior-team/

Organisational contact points only, each taken from a page the organisation publishes itself. No personal or direct contact details are held or shown.