Submitted by lac59 on Thu, 05/03/2026 - 15:04
Each year, the David Hague Early-Career Investigator of the Year award celebrates a rising star whose work is pushing the boundaries of dementia research. An external panel of distinguished researchers selects the winner, looking for scientific rigour, originality, and a clear, positive impact in the dementia research community.
At the Alzheimer’s Research UK Research Conference 2026, Dr Maura Malpetti was named as this year’s award winner - celebrating her remarkable achievements and the promise her work holds for the future of dementia research.
She gave her advice to other early career scientists:
"If I could offer just one piece of advice, it would be to find something that genuinely excites you and find people who truly inspire you - and be equally mindful of both. Dementia research is a field full of ups and downs, and the moments when a grant does not come through or an experiment does not work out can be genuinely difficult."
"Passion for the question you are trying to answer and a deep belief that it matters can be the strongest motivation to go through obstacles, and keep enjoying the journey. So choose a corner of this field that feeds your curiosity and keeps you pushing with hard work towards real-impact contributions. But equally, make sure to find a supportive community: the best science I have been part of has always been deeply collaborative. There are so many brilliant people in this field who are also kind, generous, and genuinely fun to work with — seek them out. Good mentors, supportive colleagues, and collaborators who challenge and champion you in equal measure do not just make the journey more enjoyable, they make it possible."
"The science is the destination and the people are what make the journey worth taking, and both attract one another."
Read the full story together with an interview by Maura on Alzheimer's Research UK:
Researcher Stories - Dr Maura Malpetti - Alzheimer's Research UK
