Participate in Research

As someone living with brain disease, disorder, or injury, we invite you to participate in research.

The Brain Foundation is often approached by Australian Universities and research institutions to help them find volunteers for their research. Current projects are listed below. Please contact the researchers directly if you are interested. Brain Foundation does not administer the research on their behalf.

Click the headings below to jump to a specific section.

• Current calls for volunteers
• Ongoing opportunities
• Archive

Thank you for your interest in offering to help advance the knowledge, management or treatment of neurological conditions by volunteering for research.

If you are a researcher wanting to add your project to our list, click here for more information.

Current calls for volunteers

Please see the listings below to learn about current opportunities to participate in research.

Living with Dementia Survey
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, in collaboration with the University of Canberra

Are you living with dementia, or do you care for someone who is? The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, together with the University of Canberra, are looking for people to share their experiences and take part in Australia’s first national Living with Dementia survey – the first survey of its kind in Australia. To take part, register for an account at stepupfordementiaresearch.org.au and if you’re eligible, you’ll receive further information. Your answers can help shape the way care and support are provided to you and others impacted by dementia. Register today, and give hope tomorrow.

Recruitment opens: May 2025
Recruitment closes: November 2025

Patient Information Sheet – Living with Dementia Survey >
Patient Information Sheet – Carer Survey >

Contact details:
stepup.research@sydney.edu.au
1800 7837 123
https://www.stepupfordementiaresearch.org.au/living-with-dementia-survey/

Ethics approval: AIHW Ethics Committee [EO2024/9/1521]

AusCADASIL – An Australian Cohort of CADASIL
Led by the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, University of New South Wales

Researchers from the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA) are looking for participants for the AusCADASIL study. This study investigates a genetic condition called CADASIL, which stands for Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy, often considered to be a ‘pure’ model for small vessel disease and vascular dementia.

The study will include online and in-person assessments. These assessments include clinical features, cognitive testing, brain MRI scan, ocular examination, and a blood sample for genetic and biomarker analysis. They will invite you to return for annual follow-up for four years, and may ask you to involve a study partner who can answer some online questions about your health and wellbeing.

They are looking for volunteers, aged 18 or over, for either the CADASIL cohort- including those with diagnosed CADASIL or CADASIL symptoms. They are also looking for healthy individuals without CADASIL to participate in this study. Family members may apply. The recruitment locations are Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne, Perth or Brisbane. Please visit the AusCADASIL website or contact Dr Saks for updated information about recruitment and study results. AusCADASIL also holds regular webinars about CADASIL for family, friends and supporters of CADASIL which will be recorded and can be accessed via the website.

Recruitment opens: 2024 onwards
Recruitment closes: December 2026

Patient Information Sheet >
Study Flyer >

Contact details:
Dr Danit Saks
d.saks@unsw.edu.au
(02) 9348 1658
https://www.cheba.unsw.edu.au/research-projects/vascular-contributions-dementia-centre-research-excellence/auscadasil

Ethics approval: 2023/ETH01132

Maintaining Social Engagement
University of New South Wales

Dr Suraj Samtani is currently recruiting participants for a new study about the relationship between social engagement, wellbeing and brain function. The goal of this important project is to help people aged 55+ with memory concerns to stay socially connected and feel more confident in social situations.

What’s involved?

• 5 online group sessions
• 3 individual online sessions to track progress

Who can take part?

• Aged over 55
• Noticed changes in memory/thinking OR living with mild cognitive impairment or early stages of dementia
• Able to join online meetings via laptop or tablet
• Have conversational English
• Located anywhere in Australia

How will I benefit?

• Connect with others
• Maintain or enhance your confidence by engaging with others in a small group setting
• Participants go in the draw to win 1 of 3 $100 gift vouchers.

If you are interested, please contact Dr Suraj Samtani or fill out the expression of interest form.

Recruitment opens: January 2024
Recruitment closes: End of August 2025

Patient Information Statement >
Expression of interest >

Contact details:
Dr Suraj Samtani
s.samtani@unsw.edu.au
0450 880 580

Ethics approval: iRECS0834

Ongoing Opportunities

If none of the current calls for volunteers are relevant to you, we’ve included some other ways to learn about research participant opportunities below.

StepUp for Research

StepUp for Research is a ‘one-stop shop’ that connects people who are interested in dementia or ageing research with studies they may be able to take part in. Volunteers simply sign up online or over the phone, and provide information such as their age, where they live, any health conditions and if they have a diagnosis of dementia or not.

Anyone over the age of 18 can sign up, and the service is completely free to use. Researchers add new studies to StepUp for Research every week, so there are many different studies that volunteers can be matched to. Some of these might be a short phone or video call interview or an online survey, to drug trials or thinking and memory tests. By signing up, volunteers can choose which studies they are interested in, and contribute towards life-changing dementia and ageing research.

The Brain Foundation is proud to be an Organisation Champion for StepUp for Research. You can learn more about the service in our article ‘Get Involved in Research’. This article also includes information about other ways to get involved, such as brain donation, clinical trial finders, and patient groups. Read more >

Contact details:
stepup.research@sydney.edu.au
1800 7837 123
StepUp for Dementia Research >
StepUp for Ageing Research >

Contribute to brain and cognitive health research at Monash University

The Epidemiology of Dementia Research Lab at Monash University aims to transform dementia from an inevitable condition into one that is preventable, treatable, and guided by personalized interventions.

The Lab, led by Professor Matthew Pase, seeks to understand the health, lifestyle, psychological, and social factors that promote optimal brain health into old age. The team also works to develop new tools for studying brain health, including novel blood tests and advanced brain scans.

To learn more about our lab, or see our contact details, please visit here: https://www.monash.edu/medicine/psych/matthew-pase-lab

Archive

The studies listed below are no longer recruiting research participants.

Brain and Cognitive Health (BACH) Cohort Study
Monash University 

Researchers at Monash University are conducting the Brain and Cognitive Health (BACH) Cohort Study, an initiative that aims to make dementia preventable for future generations. By tracking a large group of adults over time with comprehensive and innovative assessments, the study aims to understand the health, lifestyle, psychological, and social factors that promote optimal brain health into old age.

Participation will involve online and in-person tests, such as blood tests, a brain MRI, neuropsychological testing, and sleep monitoring. Participants will have the opportunity to learn more about their sleep and health. You will be be provided with a copy of your blood results, a report summarising your sleep patterns, your 24 hour blood pressure levels, some images from your brain MRI scan, and following completion of the overnight sleep study, analysis of your sleep (information about your brain waves, oxygen levels, heart rate and breathing overnight).

Who can take part?

• Located in Melbourne (must be available for in-person baseline testing and follow-up assessments three years later)
• Aged between 55-80 years of age
• Fluent in English
• No major neurological illness

If you are interested, you can learn more on the BACH Cohort Study website. Learn more >

Recruitment currently closed.

Contact details:
BACH Cohort Study team
bachcohortstudy@monash.edu
0427 054 107