Meet two more of our #IDC2024 experts

Are you interested in treatment advances in the dementia arena?

Or maybe you lie awake at night pondering the nexus of ethics and regulation in relation to healthcare?

Well, reserve your seat and get ready to take notes...because you'll hear the very latest on these topics at #IDC2024, thanks to two of our highly-qualified and engaging speakers.

Dr Tom Russ (UK)

Early on Day 1 (5 September), Scottish dementia researcher and psychiatrist Dr Tom Russ will set the tone by providing us with an insight into the latest treatment advances in the dementia arena.

Tom is the Director of the Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre (PPLS, University of Edinburgh).

Far from the hype and distraction of media stories, Tom will present a wide-ranging clinical update on promising approaches and proven treatments for different forms of dementia, bringing us from the present to the methods and supports of the future.

Tom trained in medicine and psychiatry in Edinburgh, the Highlands, and London and undertook doctoral training at the University of Edinburgh. He works clinically with older people with dementia and has a PhD in dementia epidemiology.

He's an honorary Consultant Psychiatrist (NHS Lothian), and Network Champion of the Neuroprogressive and Dementia Research Network (NHS Research Scotland), with an interest in geographical variation in dementia, and the environmental risk factors for dementia that might be responsible for this variation.

Olga Pandos (AUS)

Olga Pandos is a lecturer in Law and PhD candidate at the University of Adelaide. In 2020, she was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in the Supreme Court of South Australia. Her PhD is in technology law and ethics, drawing upon her scientific background in biochemistry and genetics, examining the ethical and regulatory implications of heritable human genome editing.

Her research traverses medical law and ethics, with a specific focus on decision-making capacity, consent, supported decision-making, access to justice for vulnerable populations and reform. The intersection of health, medicine and the law are fundamental themes within Olga’s research.

Following the challenges laid down by Dr Nathalie Huitema's plenary talk on sexuality and intimacy in relation to people living with dementia, Olga will join our other expert panellists and those with lived experience of dementia as they discuss the topic further.

Our panel will explore the complex terrain of intimacy, consent, and the parameters of normal sexual behaviour, within the context of the regulatory framework. They’ll cover ideas like inappropriate labelling, infringement of rights, as well as the kind of training that would benefit care staff. It's bound to be a fascinating discussion - we look forward to hearing Olga's contribution.

Have you reserved you seat?

Early bird registration closes 31 May 2024 – don’t miss your chance to save $150 (2-day pass rate).

Make sure you're in the forum that counts this September, as Tom, Olga and many other high calibre researchers, thinkers and leaders contribute to the conversation at #IDC2024.

And remember, attending #IDC2024 can count towards your CPD points – we’ll issue you with a registration certificate as a record.