Dementia research and treatment boosted as unique collaboration announced

Internationally renowned Professor Julian Hughes is announced as the first RICE Professor of Old Age Psychiatry in a collaboration between The Research Institute for the Care of Older People (RICE), the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust (RUH) and the University of Bristol. In his new post Professor Hughes will work alongside Professor Roy Jones, Consultant Geriatrician and Director of RICE since it began in 1985, and help to develop research at RICE, looking at both cure and care in various conditions affecting older people. The collaboration will bring together the independent research conducted at RICE with the Medical School community at the University of Bristol and the care of older people taking place within the RUH in Bath. Dr Chris Dyer, RICE Chair of Trustees & Clinical Lead Older People's Unit Royal United Hospitals Bath, said: "Improving Dementia care and expanding research is a key aim for RICE, the RUH and the University of Bristol. This new Professorial post is a great opportunity to build on the research that has already been conducted at RICE, extend it into new and exciting areas and apply learning in clinical and care settings." Professor Tim Peters , Head of the School of Clinical Sciences at the University of Bristol, added: "We are delighted at the prospect of Professor Julian Hughes joining the University in this new post, developing what we are very confident will be a successful and sustained collaboration with RICE and the RUH in Bath.