About the Commission
The Geller Commission is an independent review into clinical pathways for people living with dementia in the UK.
The Commission brings together the UK’s foremost experts in dementia from the third sector, academia, research institutions and public health professionals to deliver an evidence based report and recommendations to the government of the day. It will draw its conclusion from quantitative sources, existing research and testimonials from those affected.
The Geller Commission will consider three overarching priorities:
- Prevention: early interventions and preventative measures to avoid initial hospitalisation and empower care providers to act.
- Protection: improving care for people with dementia in hospital to reduce the risk of readmission and expedite a return to a home setting.
- Simplification: identifying immediate barriers to timely or appropriate discharge
The Commission is led by Laurence Geller CBE.
WE ARE A COALITION
Laurence Geller CBE is a businessman and entrepreneur who successfully led multinational corporations in hospitality, leisure, healthcare, medicinal research and care. He founded the world-leading dementia care provider Loveday & Co and serves as the Independent Ministerial Adviser to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s on Concussion in Sport to establish the UK as a global leader in concussion research and treatment. Laurence is also Chancellor of the University of West London and established the Geller
Institute for Ageing and Memory.
Kate Lee joined Alzheimer’s Society as Chief Executive in March 2020. She led the organisation through the pandemic, bringing increased financial stability and an inclusive, collaborative environment to the organisation. Kate was previously CEO at Young Lives vs Cancer and Myton Hospice, an adult palliative care charity. Before that, she spend 16 years at British Red cross leading UK service delivery.
Professor Woodman is Provost and Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor driving research, enterprise, innovation and external engagement across the University. Anthony joined the University of West London in 2011. Before that he was Professor of Translation Medicine at Cranfield University and Chief Executive of ICRI Global Research – a privately owned knowledge-based organisation providing support and training in clinical drug development. Anthony’s research discipline is molecular oncology and specifically the development and implementation of diagnostic and prognostic platforms informing care and management of cancer patients.
Dr Hilda Hayo has been the Chief Admiral Nurse and Chief Executive Officer for Dementia UK since 2013. As a dual registered nurse she has over 39 years’ experience developing and leading dementia specialist teams and services throughout the NHS. Throughout this time, Hilda held senior positions in clinical services, hospital management and higher education. She is a visiting fellow of dementia studies at the University of Northampton and published a book on young onset dementia.
Dr Philip Scheltens, MD, PhD, is Head of the Dementia Fund and partner at EQT Life Sciences. Before joining EQT, Philip worked as founder and Director of the Alzheimer Center at Amsterdam University Medical Center. He has an MD (neurology) and holds a PhD in Medicine from the VU University Amsterdam. Philip is also currently Emeritus Professor of Neurology at Amsterdam University Medical Center.
Julian Jessop is an independent economist with over thirty-five years of experience gained in the public sector, the City and consultancy, including stints at HM Treasury, HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank, and Capital Economics. He now works mainly with thinktanks and educational charities, notably the Institute of Economic Affairs, and is a regular commentator in the media.
Professor David Sharp is an expert in the use of advanced neuroimaging to study the human brain, with a particular focus on causes of cognitive problems across the brain network. David became an NIHR Professor at Imperial College London in 2012. He brings his expertise to the UK DRI Care Research & Technology Centre at Imperial where, as Centre Director, he leads a ground-breaking research programme using technology to transform diagnosis and care for people living with dementia.
Sarah Daniels is an occupational therapist specialising in rehabilitation for people with complex neurological conditions, working within a range of clinical settings. She joined UK Dementia Research Institute Care Research and Technology Centre in 2019. Before that she worked at Imperial College Healthcare NHS trust as a therapy lead for neuro-rehabilitation.