Pilot Awards Empower 27 Leaders to Advance Brain Health Innovation Across 21 Countries

Projects by emerging leaders address brain health through education, creativity, and innovation worldwide.

CHICAGO, Nov. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Alzheimer's Association, the Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI), and Alzheimer's Society (UK) announced 27 new recipients of the Pilot Awards for Global Brain Health Leaders — funding innovative projects across 21 countries to improve brain health, expand dementia care, and reduce stigma worldwide.

The Pilot Awards program supports emerging leaders from many different backgrounds including medicine, neuroscience, public health, the arts, and community engagement who are designing practical, locally grounded solutions to strengthen brain health and equity.

"These projects highlight the creativity and commitment of local leaders working to improve lives in their communities that they know so well," said Aura DeMare, Program Manager of the Pilot Awards at GBHI. "By pairing scientific insight with social action, the awardees are helping shape a more brain-healthy and compassionate world."

Expanding Training and Education
Many projects focus on building skills and education in regions where dementia care resources are limited. In Nepal, Madhur Basnet, a psychiatrist, is identifying barriers and opportunities to integrate dementia services into primary care. In the Dominican Republic, Carolina Bidó, a physician, is developing an online dementia training program for doctors. And in Ghana, Kwaku Manu, a general medical practitioner, is leading a caregiver training initiative that strengthens family networks and community resilience.

Innovating Through Research and Technology
Other awardees are using science and technology to improve diagnosis and treatment through tools that are more accurate, affordable, and inclusive. In the United Kingdom, Emilie Brotherhood, a neuropsychologist, is developing CANVAS, a drawing-based computer-vision tool to improve early detection of dementia variants. In Spain, Olga Castañer, a physician and vascular health researcher, is studying the neuroprotective effects of new therapies using nanoparticle models. Across Africa, Temitope Farombi, a neurologist from Nigeria, and Mawuli Lawson, a neuropsychologist from Togo, are culturally adapting and testing digital diagnostic tools to improve early recognition and care.

"Meaningful progress in dementia research depends on global collaboration combined with local innovation," said Heather M. Snyder, senior vice president, Medical and Scientific Relations for the Alzheimer's Association. "The Alzheimer's Association is proud to partner with the GBHI and the Alzheimer's Society to support these inspiring projects."

Creativity and Community Action
Several awardees are using art, storytelling, and media to change perceptions and reduce stigma. In Peru, Susana Lay, a journalist, leads Voices to Action, a project using solutions journalism to share community experiences with dementia. In Romania, Raluca Sfetcu, a psychologist, is launching the Brain Health Wave Podcast series to make brain science accessible to listeners across Southeast Europe. In the United States, Michelle Memran, a documentary filmmaker, is co-producing Let This Be a Symphony, a media campaign celebrating a "symphony of voices" reframing how society understands dementia.

"We're delighted to partner in the Pilot Awards for Global Brain Health Leaders, supporting emerging innovators advancing brain health and dementia care worldwide," said Professor Fiona Carragher, Chief Policy and Research Officer at Alzheimer's Society. "By supporting world-class research and amplifying diverse voices globally, we can drive the innovation needed to improve life for people affected by dementia everywhere."

Global Impact
These 27 new awardees join 184 others funded since the program began in 2017, resulting in a total of 211 projects reaching 53 countries. As of June 2025, awardees have secured more than $135 million in additional funding, including $17.5 million in leveraged support that directly builds on their pilot work. Together, these efforts are expanding the reach and long-term impact of innovative brain health solutions — improving care, supporting families, and reducing stigma in communities worldwide.

Explore More

Watch the Video: Learn more about the Pilot Awards for Global Brain Health Leaders in this short video highlighting how emerging innovators are advancing brain health around the world.

Discover the Projects: View the full list of awardees and explore how the work of the Pilot Awards for Global Brain Health Leaders is improving care, reducing stigma, and inspiring change globally. Visit www.gbhi.org/pilot-awards to learn more.

About the Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer's Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia®. Visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.

About the Global Brain Health Institute
The Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI) is a leader in the global community dedicated to protecting the world's aging populations from threats to brain health. GBHI works to reduce the scale and impact of dementia in three ways: by training and connecting the next generation of leaders in brain health through the Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health program; by collaborating in expanding preventions and interventions; and by sharing knowledge and engaging in advocacy.

We strive to improve brain health for populations across the world, reaching into local communities and across our global network. GBHI brings together a powerful mix of disciplines, professions, backgrounds, skills, perspectives, and approaches to develop new science-based solutions. We focus on working compassionately with all people including those in vulnerable and under-served populations to improve outcomes and promote dignity for all people. GBHI is based at the University of California, San Francisco, and Trinity College Dublin. Visit www.gbhi.org.

About Alzheimer's Society
Alzheimer's Society is the UK's leading dementia charity. We give vital support to those who need it, fund groundbreaking research, and campaign to make dementia a priority. It will take a society to beat dementia.

Alzheimer's Society offers expert advice, practical help and emotional support through our support line (0333 150 3456), online information, dementia advisers and online community at alzheimers.org.uk.

Accessible resources: we have publications in other languages and British Sign Language and provide a translation service for callers to the Support Line who do not have English as their language of choice. If you have speech or hearing impairments and have a textphone or an adapted computer, you can use Text Relay to call Alzheimer's Society Dementia Support Line on 18001 0300 222 1122.

SOURCE Alzheimer's Association