Reducing the burden of cognitive disorders

The Vascular Contributions to Dementia Centre of Research Excellence (VCD-CRE) takes a transformative approach to reduce the vascular contributions to neurocognitive disorders.

About us

Our work can be divided into the following areas of research into Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Dementia (VCID):

  • diagnostic criteria
  • analytical epidemiology
  • biomarkers
  • genetics
  • interventions for prevention and treatment.

We intend to:

  • advance the diagnostic criteria of VCID
  • coordinate an international effort to further develop its analytical epidemiology, and harness ongoing trials to enhance the evidence for risk factors
  • identify and validate the clinical utility of biomarkers
  • contribute to the international effort to identify its genetic underpinnings
  • develop a portfolio of interventions for its prevention and treatment.

Our centre was established in 2021 and is generously funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Centres of Research Excellence (CRE) scheme.

The core aims of the VCD-CRE are to:

  • bring together leading researchers in the fields of cerebrovascular disease and dementia, nationally and internationally
  • address the most important issues relating to the analytical epidemiology of VCID, its robust biomarkers, and its treatment and prevention, so as to reduce its overall health burden
  • place VCID research at the forefront of dementia research alongside that of Alzheimer’s disease.