Music therapy research wins The Queen’s Anniversary Prize
Research staff at CPFT and Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) have been honoured for their world-leading music therapy work helping people living with dementia.
The team at ARU's Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research received The Queen’s Anniversary Prize last month in recognition of their research in partnership with the NHS testing a new music therapy approach for dementia.
The Queen’s Anniversary Prizes recognise outstanding work by UK universities and colleges that shows the highest levels of quality and innovation and delivers significant public benefit. The Prizes are the highest national honour awarded in UK higher and further education, and are granted by The Queen every two years.
CPFT has partnered with ARU to run the UK arm of one of the largest global trials in music therapy, led by the University of Melbourne in Australia and supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The HOMESIDE study is testing new approaches for carers and their loved ones living with dementia at home. It involves a twelve-week music and reading programme with remote, virtual training sessions and people can take part in comfort at home.
Edward Stanton, Clinical Research Nurse at CPFT’s Windsor Research Unit is helping to run the study in our region and supporting local residents to participate.
Edward said: “Congratulations to everyone involved in this research and thank you to all our volunteers taking part. It’s great to be part of this innovative project – the first randomised study to investigate how music interventions delivered by carers at home can have an impact on dementia symptoms.”
If you would like to take part in HOMESIDE or care for someone who could benefit from this study, please get in touch with the Windsor Research Unit research team via email: wru@cpft.nhs.uk or phone 01223 219531.
Professor Helen Odell-Miller OBE, Director of ARU’s Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research, said: “On average, someone in the UK develops dementia every three minutes and it is expected to become the 21st century’s biggest killer.
“At ARU, our important research examining the benefits of music therapy for people living with dementia is already beginning to influence national policy. Receiving recognition like this, from The Queen, will hopefully further signal the importance of our findings to policymakers both in the UK and abroad.”
CPFT is a top performer in the East of England for recruitment to dementia studies. Local residents interested in participating in dementia studies can contact the Trust’s Windsor Research Unit at wru@cpft.nhs.uk. Current dementia research opportunities at CPFT are listed at:
www.cpft.nhs.uk/be-part-of-research
The NIHR supports research into all areas of dementias and neurodegenerative disease, and provides opportunities for people affected these conditions and their families and carers to influence and take part in research. The NIHR’s Join Dementia Research service helps to match you to studies you may be able to take part in, both online, nationally and in your local area. If you register as a volunteer you will be connected with dementia researchers across the UK and hear about suitable studies as soon as they open, with no obligation to take part.
Anyone over 18 with or without a diagnosis can sign up to Join Dementia Research at: www.joindementiaresearch.nihr.ac.uk
