Race Against Dementia applies Formula 1’s precision, teamwork and problem-solving to dementia research.
Researchers are supported to work across disciplines, test ideas early and learn continuously as new evidence emerges. The aim is simple: help promising research make a greater impact, earlier.
“Any problem with my racing car and the whole team would work to resolve it – fast. This problem-solving mentality should be applied to medical research.”
Sir Jackie Stewart OBE
Four principles underpin that approach: teamwork, innovation, resilience and attention to detail.
In Formula 1, success depends on every part of the team working together – each person bringing their expertise to a shared goal.
Race Against Dementia applies the same thinking to research, helping scientists work across disciplines, share expertise more directly and solve problems together.
Dr Claire Durrant, a Race Against Dementia Fellow at the University of Edinburgh, uses living human brain tissue donated during neurosurgery to study how dementia develops.
Inspired by the coordination of a Formula 1 pit stop, she redesigned the way tissue samples move between surgical and research teams. Faster handovers, clearer communication and defined responsibilities reduced delays and helped preserve tissue quality.
That quality matters. Preserving healthy living tissue allows researchers to study the earliest stages of dementia in greater detail.
Innovation is constant – teams test, learn and push for every possible advantage, always looking for ways to go faster and perform better.
Race Against Dementia applies the same mentality to science – supporting scientists to test new ideas, adjust their approach as evidence develops and refine their approach over time.
We connect them with experts across motorsport, engineering, bioscience and technology, helping spark new ideas and accelerate progress.
Dr Cara Croft worked with McLaren Racing’s data science team to improve how neuron activity is analysed in brain images.
Andrew McHutchon, McLaren’s Head of Data Science, adapted Formula 1 movement-tracking techniques to develop software that automatically monitors neuron activity.
The system allows Cara to process four times as many images while substantially reducing analysis time.
Motorsport requires resilience. Teams study competitors, respond to setbacks and adapt quickly when better ideas emerge. By the final race in December, a Formula 1 car bears little resemblance to the one that launched the season in March.
Dementia research demands the same resilience. Experiments fail. Assumptions prove wrong. Progress is often uneven and major breakthroughs can take years.
Race Against Dementia supports researchers to stay focused and confident through the challenges of long-term discovery. As their work grows, we support them to scale their teams, secure more funding and concentrate time and resources on the most promising leads.
Dr Yazead Buhidma at University College London received an Ignition Fund grant to study how immune cells are affected by a rare form of dementia.
After working with Formula 1 leaders, Yazead applied a rapid testing model to his research – assessing ideas more critically and moving on more quickly from approaches that weren’t producing meaningful results.
The shift changed how his team judged new ideas, helping them focus earlier on the strongest lines of investigation.
Every detail matters in Formula 1. From car design to race strategy, successful teams leave nothing to chance, paying meticulous attention to every aspect of their performance – and how to sharpen it.
Research demands the same attention to detail. Establishing the patterns and identifying the variables.
Race Against Dementia helps researchers build the focus, discipline and consistency needed for long-term scientific progress, and understand how lifestyle factors like sleep, nutrition and exercise can help them perform at their best and go further.
Dr Audrey Low, a Race Against Dementia Fellow at the Mayo Clinic, changed how she reviews results after training with former Ferrari strategist Ruth Buscombe-Divey.
Inspired by Formula 1 debriefs – where engineers and drivers pick through telemetry, lap times and race strategy after every race – Audrey introduced a more structured way of analysing results with her team.
The change brought greater consistency and rigour to their work.
See how researchers around the world are bringing engineering and motorsport thinking to dementia research.
We’re bringing together leaders from motorsport, engineering, AI and other high-performance industries to help support the next generation of dementia researchers. Share your experience, offer practical guidance, and help them navigate challenges and accelerate impact.
