Award for outstanding contribution to neuroscience
1 July 2024
Professor Julie Williams, Director of the UK Dementia Research Institute at Cardiff University, has been awarded the British Neuroscience Association Award for Outstanding Contribution to Neuroscience.
The award recognises Professor Williams’ contributions to the field of genetics in dementia and Alzheimer’s research, as well as her commitment to Equality, diversity and inclusion, and nurturing the researchers of the future.
It is an honour to receive this award from the British Neuroscience Association. There can be no greater reward than to receive such recognition from your fellow scientists. I would like to thank my superb colleagues, collaborators and funders who have been integral to my research and the British Neuroscience Association for its valuable work supporting and enabling neuroscience.
The award recognises Professor Williams for her career and contributions to the field of neuroscience. As a world-leading geneticist and former Chief Scientific Advisor to the Welsh Government, Professor Williams has been Director of the UK Dementia Research Institute at Cardiff since its inception in 2017. Under her leadership, scientists at the Centre have made crucial advances in understanding the genetics and risk of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Professor Williams co-led a major international collaboration, IGAP, which has resulted in the identified 100 genes associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s, highlighting several new disease pathways. She also led on the development of IPMAR - the IPSC Platform to Model Alzheimer’s Disease Risk – an initiative which has created a bank of 120 induced pluripotent stem cells lines to improve the modelling of common forms of Alzheimer’s. Alongside her role within the UK Dementia Research Institute, Professor Williams was also Chief Scientific Advisor to Alzheimer Research UK, a member of the Council of the Academy of Medical Sciences, and their champion in Wales.
We are absolutely thrilled to present Professor Julie Williams with the British Neuroscience Association Award for Outstanding Contribution to Neuroscience. Her groundbreaking work in dementia and Alzheimer's research, alongside her dedication to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within the scientific community, is truly inspiring. Professor Williams embodies the excellence and commitment that we strive to promote at the British Neuroscience Association.
