Interdem Academy
OUR KEY PROJECT
INTERDEM Academy is a European training network for early-and mid-career dementia researchers. INTERDEM Academy was established in 2014. The aim of INTERDEM Academy is to develop the careers and to build capacity of early-career researchers working on psychosocial interventions affiliated with INTERDEM seniors. INTERDEM Academy want to support junior researchers in their pathway to senior posts in the field. INTERDEM Academy has grown in recent years to around 350+ members from 20+ different countries.
The INTERDEM academy offers the opportunity to share expertise, create awareness for Academy talent and stimulate collaboration.
Executive office INTERDEM Academy: interdem-masterclass@maastrichtuniversity.nl
About INTERDEM Academy
The INTERDEM Academy has been founded in 2014 as part of the PRIDE project (PRomoting Independence in Dementia), funded by the NIHR/ ESRC (Ref ES/L001802/1WP5), led by prof Martin Orrell. This project aimed to identify how social and lifestyle changes may help reduce the risk of developing dementia and disability. PRIDE’s workpackage WP5 was to develop an INTERDEM Academy for the career development and capacity building of researchers in the area of psychosocial interventions and timely diagnosis in people with dementia, and to support the pathway to senior academic posts in the field. Maastricht University/Alzheimer Center Limburg was appointed the coordinating centre (prof Frans Verhey, prof Marjolein de Vugt). A postdoc was appointed for support in administration and organization. Prof Orrell, together with Dr Aimee Spector (UCL) and prof Esme Moniz-Cook were are also members of the initial organisation team.
To see our annual report of 2024, please click here.
Travel Fellowship - 2024/2025
INTERDEM Academy Travel Fellowship 2024-2025
The call for 2024-2025 is now closed – We hope to be able to continue with our annual travel fellowship and announce a new call for 2026.
The INTERDEM Academy enables an annual travel Fellowship for Academy members, allowing them to attain experience in another psychosocial research center, to build their network and stimulate career development. Our grant covers expenses for travel and housing for a research exchange of 1–3 months, up to a maximum of €3500.
Contact and more information:
INTERDEM Academy Executive office
Interdem-masterclass@maastrichtuniversity.nl
INTERDEM Academy previous Fellowships
The INTERDEM Academy Fellowship 2023-2024 has been awarded to Andreia Fonseca de Paiva, PhD student at the University of Bradford, UK. She visited the University of Surrey (UK), and Maastricht University (The Netherlands) during her exchange of 5 weeks, to learn more about ‘Connecting Minds, Advancing Care: Advancing Dementia Prevention and Care Innovation through Global Research Partnerships and Knowledge Exchange.’. You can read more about her experiences here.
Membership & Registration Form
INTERDEM Academy is a network of early- and midcareer researchers exploring psychosocial interventions for dementia under the supervision of INTERDEM members. Membership is free of charge and will enable you to take part in our events, and/or to apply for one of our travel fellowships.
Criteria for INTERDEM Academy Membership:
- Are you involved in psychosocial research about dementia?
- Do you consider yourself a junior researcher in the field?
- Are you affiliated with or supervised by an INTERDEM member? *Not mandatory!*
If you’re in doubt about your eligibility to become an INTERDEM Academy member, please email us at interdem-masterclass@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Applications for membership of INTERDEM Academy can be done by filling out this FORM
(Note, by signing up for the INTERDEM Academy, you agree that your contact information will be stored on a secured server of Maastricht University, only accessible by the INTERDEM Academy executive office, for the duration of your membership)
INTERDEM Academy Masterclass
Next INTERDEM Academy Masterclass: Life after your PhD
Register now: Masterclass on 23rd of October, online, 10-4.30pm CET
The next online INTERDEM Academy Masterclass, in collaboration with the HOMEDEM consortium, is called ‘Life after your PhD’ and will focus on your future career, which could be either inside or outside academia. During the day, you will reflect on your next steps after completion of your PhD. In the morning, you will get to know each other, and learn more about diverse career paths. During lunch time, there will be an advanced break where you will be able to work on some exercises offline. In the afternoon, Oxford Coaching Partners will provide an interactive workshop, exploring your strengths, values, and motivations, and help you to develop an action plan to achieve your goals.
Link to register: https://maastrichteducation.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_d05N2FpLJ3KMgiG
Deadline for registration: Tuesday the 30th of September.
For more information on the programme of this masterclass, click here.
Registration is open for all Academy members, with this masterclass having a specific focus on advanced PhD-students (e.g., in 3rd or 4th Year of PhD). There will be 20 spots available, with 8 spots being reserved for HOMEDEM candidates, and 12 spots open for other Academy members, allocated on first come first serve basis. When the masterclass is full, your name will be added to our waiting list. For HOMEDEM DC’s: please also make sure to register before the deadline, but note that the first come, first serve principle doesn’t apply to you. There are no costs for attendees of this workshop, but a ‘no-show fee’ might be charged, if no valid and timely cancellation has been provided.
Note, a small preparatory assignment might be part of the masterclass, more information and the link to participate will be shared at least one week in advance.
Previous INTERDEM Academy Masterclasses
HOMEDEM training school at University of Galway, Ireland, on May 21 and 22, 2025.
Theme: Advancing Dementia Research, Policy, and Care. Read more about it in the blog by Ajda Flisar, one of the HOMEDEM DC’s.
HOMEDEM training school at University of Aveiro, Portugal, on September 30 and October 1, 2024.
Theme day 1: Lectures on caregiving support and reminiscence + workshop on data visual representation
Theme day 2: Lectures on person-centered dementia care and economics of psychosocial care + workshop on evaluation in design research
HOMEDEM training school at Politecnico di Milano, Italy, on May 13 and 14, 2024
Theme day 1: Service design and care ecosystems
Theme day 2: Healthcare policy & design
INTERDEM Academy Café & SPOTLIGHT Webinar Series
INTERDEM and INTERDEM ACADEMY SPOTLIGHT SERIES
Join us for the INTERDEM Spotlight webinar! In this new webinar series the taskforces take the spotlight and will prepare an informative and interactive session for all INTERDEM and Academy members.
- Stay up to date on the latest research and best practices;
- Meet and learn from fellow INTERDEM members;
- Network and build new collaborations!
| Next webinar:
Friday 5 December 2025, 10:30-12:00 CET (9:30-11:00 BST) Taskforce Palliative care |
Previous Spotlight webinars:
Friday 8 December 2023 – Taskforce Intercultural Aspects
Friday 8 March 2024 – Taskforce Methodology
Friday 14 June 2024 – Taskforce Technology
Friday 7 February 2025 – Taskforce Inequalities in Dementia Care
Thursday 5 June 2025 – Taskforce Prevention
For more information, please contact first person of contact Dr. Esther Loseto-Gerritzen (Esther.Gerritzen@nottingham.ac.uk).
Outcome 5th INTERDEM Academy Publication Award: 2024-2025
Outcome 5th INTERDEM Academy Publication Award: 2024-2025
Winner of this year:
The runners-up (in alphabetical order)
2. Janissa Altona – Instruments for Assessing Social Health in the Context of Cognitive Decline and Dementia: A Systematic Review
3. Frank Spichiger – Intervention effect of person profiles for people with advanced dementia: Stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial
Blog winning articles:
The call for the next publication award (2025-2026) will open in Q1 of 2026!
Outcome 4th INTERDEM Academy Publication Award: 2023-2024
Winner:
Jacoba Huizenga – What matters most: Exploring the everyday lives of people with dementia
2 Runners-up (in alphabetical order)
Jem Bhatt – The development and validation of the Discrimination and Stigma Scale Ultra Short for People Living with Dementia (DISCUS-Dementia)
Naomi Thompson – Investigating the impact of music therapy on two in-patient psychiatric wards for people living with dementia: retrospective observational study
Blog winning articles:
Other information
One of the most crucial aspects of establishing a successful research career is securing funding. For early career researchers, understanding where to find funding can be the key to advancing your work. See below some links that may help you with this: