BRIDGES for Dementia Network+
Rethinking how technology can help people with dementia live full, independent lives.
Our network brings together people with lived experience of dementia, researchers, designers and health professionals. We combine expertise from arts, health, social care and technology to co-design practical tools and experiences that support independence, connection and everyday life.
About Us
The BRIDGES for Dementia Network+ is a national research initiative led by the University of Sheffield. BRIDGES stands for Building Research Innovation co-Developing Greater Empowerment and Support for people living with Dementia.
Our aim is to explore how technology can support people with dementia to live full, connected and independent lives. Working across arts, health, social care and technology, we co-design solutions with people who have lived experience to ensure they are meaningful and usable.
We work across four themes
Indoor and outdoor spaces:
Using technology to make homes and public spaces easier to navigate and stay connected.
Arts, sports and culture:
Exploring creative technologies that support mood, memory and identity.
In-person and online communication:
Developing tools that make communication clearer and more meaningful.
Digital technology development and translation:
Ensuring new technologies are trustworthy, affordable and shaped with people living with dementia.
Join Our Launch Event
Thu 5 Feb 2026 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM
This is a free in-person event, with the option of joining remotely. Our room capacity is limited to 50 people so please request tickets. The hybrid element of the event will only be streamed up to 12:30pm.
Images above are from various dementia related research activities undertaken by network membersÂ
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
We recognise dementia affects people differently depending on background, culture and life experiences. Our EDI work ensures the network reflects this diversity by:
- Working directly with people from a wide range of communities
- Partnering with The Lewy Body Society, Innovations in Dementia, Dementia UK and others
- Running public and community events to highlight inequalities
- Following recognised involvement standards to ensure people with lived experience are paid, trained and supported
Co-Design Activities
Everything we build is shaped with people living with dementia.
- Year 1 – Discover: Identify real-life challenges and opportunities.
- Year 2 – Create: Co-develop design briefs for new ideas and projects.
- Year 3 – Shape the Future: Build a national research agenda for independent living with dementia.
Workshops will take place in universities, community settings and care environments, supported by creative labs and design specialists.
Training Early Career Researchers (ECRs)
We support the next generation of researchers by offering:
- Lived Experience Masterclasses
- Training in co-design and inclusive practice
These activities build skills in ethical, participatory and community-engaged research.
People
Dr. Jennifer MacRitchie
Director, BRIDGES for Dementia Network+
School of Languages, Arts and Societies, University of Sheffield
Jennifer’s research focuses on participatory approaches to co-designing new music technologies with people living with dementia.
Prof. Li Su
Co-Director, BRIDGES Network+
School of Medicine and Population Health, University of Sheffield
Su Li’s research combines innovative and original computational methods with the state-of-the-art brain imaging techniques to develop treatments and care for neurological and psychiatric conditions.
Dr. Daniel J Blackburn
Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant Neurologist, SITraN, University of Sheffield
Daniel develops scalable, non-invasive diagnostic tests for early dementia, including automated language assessment and EEG-based tools.
Dr. Roger Whitham
Lecturer in Interaction Design, Lancaster University
Roger is a designer and researcher specialising in digital, physical and collaborative interaction, with recent work focusing on community-co-designed tools.
Dr. Joseph Lindley
Senior Research Fellow, Lancaster University
Joseph’s UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship explores leadership in Design Research, with a focus on how people, society and technology evolve together.
Prof. Huiyu Zhou
Professor of Machine Learning, University of Leicester
Huiyu’s research sits at the interface of AI and Machine Learning and biomedical image processing
Assoc. Prof. Hua Zhong
Associate Professor, London South Bank University
Hua specialises in sustainable building technologies and environmental control, researching how these influence spaces for ageing and dementia.
Prof. Chee Siang (Jim) Ang
Professor of Human-Computer Interaction, University of Kent and Kent & Medway Medical School
Jim designs and deploys digital technologies such as VR, AR and sensing systems to improve healthcare and wellbeing.
Dr. Giovanni Masala
Senior Lecturer in Computer Science, University of Kent.
Giovanni’s research interests include AI and computer vision in healthcare and assistive technologies; cognitive systems to create the next generation of smart robots; and Human-Robot Interaction (HRI)
Dr. Christian Morgner
Senior Lecturer in Cultural and Creative Industries in the University of Sheffield’s Management School
Christian’s research lies within fields like complexity studies, network analysis and creative practices, with a particular focus on diversity and inclusivity
Dr Ming Hung Hsu
Senior Research Fellow at ARU’s Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research
Ming’s research focuses on music therapy for managing neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia.
Prof. Anna Korhonen
Professor of Natural Language Processing at the University of Cambridge
Anna co-directs the Language Technology Laboratory (LTL). She is particularly interested in human-centric AI that draws on the understanding of human cognitive, social and creative intelligence and focuses applications aimed at social and global good.
Prof. Tao Cheng
Professor of GeoInformatics in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geomatic Engineering at University College London
Tao’s interdisciplinary expertise spans AI and big data, network complexity, Geographical Information Science (GISci), and smart cities.
Dr. Neil Lowrie
BRIDGES Network Manager
Neil brings experience of pre-award grant applications and post-award grant management, such as the recently concluded Transforming Foundation Industries Network+.