BRACE

Who we are

BRACE is a charity dedicated to defeating dementia through medical science. Our vision is a world free of dementia.

Founded in Bristol in 1987, the charity pioneered fundraising for dementia research long before the cause achieved the profile or general acceptance it has today. BRACE originally funded research only at the University of Bristol, but became a regional charity from 2007. It now funds research at seven universities in South West England and South Wales. 

The region's universities host world class research into dementia and are at the forefront of the global drive to understand the causes of the condition, achieve earlier diagnosis and develop effective treatments. In Devon, BRACE funds scientists at the University of Exeter and at Plymouth University, and is seeking to expand its capacity to support research at both.

All BRACE's income derives from voluntary fundraising - community fundraising, business support, challenge events and legacies.

It supports research by awarding grants for peer-reviewed research projects, principally PhDs, pilot projects and equipment grants. BRACE often makes possible the small first steps that lead on to bigger things, a vital part of the international struggle to defeat dementia.

Despite the growth of recent years, BRACE remains small and personal, with a team of just six staff. There are eleven trustees and dozens of volunteers.

The charity's style is collaborative, seeking to work with other charities and anyone else who shares our aim to free future generations from the threat of this terrible condition.