Racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart’s Race Against Dementia charity and the Dementia Australia Research Foundation have announced the launch of a new Australian dementia research fellowship.

The ‘Race Against Dementia – Dementia Australia Research Foundation Post-doctoral Fellowship’ programme will support two early career researchers in the field of dementia prevention or treatment.

Sir Jackie was named as an Honorary International Dementia Australia Ambassador earlier this year, and said he was delighted to be in partnership with the Dementia Australia Research Foundation to demonstrate Race Against Dementia’s global commitment to moving forward with funding dementia research. 

“My wife, Helen, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2014, and ever since then I have devoted my efforts globally to raise funds and stimulate breakthroughs and innovations in dementia research,” Sir Jackie said. 

“Race Against Dementia’s vision is to apply a ‘Formula 1 attitude’ to work faster and smarter in order to achieve a breakthrough in the prevention or treatment of dementia. Formula 1 has the fastest problem-solving capability in the world, faster than aerospace, and it is this capacity that we need to build in dementia research.” 

Sir Jackie had originally planned to announce this news in March during the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

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