NARI dementia researcher recognised globally with prestigious Atlantic Fellowship

Tuesday 15th July 2025

MEDIA RELEASE

The National Ageing Research Institute (NARI) is proud to announce that Principal Research Fellow Professor Tuan Anh Nguyen has been awarded the prestigious Atlantic Fellowship for Equity in Brain Health for the 2025–2026 cohort. In further recognition of his leadership in dementia research and policy, Professor Nguyen has also been elected Programs Chair of the Health Policy Professional Interest Area (PIA) Executive Committee within the International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART), the professional society of the Alzheimer’s Association.

The Atlantic Fellowship, hosted by the Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI) - a partnership between Trinity College Dublin and the University of California, San Francisco - is a highly selective 12-month residential program. It brings together a global network of emerging leaders committed to tackling disparities in brain health and dementia care through interdisciplinary collaboration, training, and innovation.

A leading expert in ageing and dementia at NARI, Professor Nguyen has been at the forefront of efforts to improve brain health equity for vulnerable populations. His selection for the Atlantic Fellowship underscores NARI’s commitment to global leadership in dementia research, and to driving evidence-informed, equitable solutions for older people in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.

"I am honoured to be selected for the Atlantic Fellowship," said Professor Nguyen. "This opportunity will allow me to work alongside world-leading experts, deepen international partnerships, and bring back innovative strategies to improve brain health outcomes in vulnerable populations including Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities in Australia."

The fellowship will commence later this year, with Professor Nguyen based at Trinity College Dublin. His focus will be on developing and implementing innovative, community-led strategies to support underserved populations affected by dementia - building on his recently MRFF-funded iSupport Digital project to support family carers of people with dementia from CALD backgrounds in Australia. His work aligns closely with GBHI’s mission to reduce the global burden of neurodegenerative diseases.

In addition to the Fellowship, Professor Nguyen’s recent election as Programs Chair of the ISTAART Health Policy PIA Executive Committee further reflects his growing influence in shaping the future of dementia policy and practice worldwide. In this leadership role, he will help steer global conversations and initiatives aimed at translating research into effective policy to address the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

For more information about the Atlantic Fellowship for Equity in Brain Health, visit: www.gbhi.org

For more information about the Health Policy PIA and ISTAART, visit: https://istaart.alz.org

Media Contact:

Amy Parker
Senior Manager Government Relations and Strategic Communications, National Ageing Research Institute (NARI)
[email protected]

Available for Comment:

Professor Tuan Nguyen
Principal Research Fellow, National Ageing Research Institute (NARI)
[email protected]

About NARI:

The National Ageing Research Institute (NARI) is Australia’s leading independent, non-profit medical research centre dedicated to ageing, health and aged care research. With a strong focus on translational research – from healthy ageing through to end-of-life care across all services and settings – NARI makes a measurable difference to the lives of older people and those who care for them.

Founded in 1976, NARI is highly respected across the community, health, aged care and research sectors in Australia and internationally. Our work is underpinned by effective and meaningful collaboration, engagement and co-design with a range of key stakeholders to understand and respond to identified need. We bring together the expertise of industry leaders, advocacy groups, academics, clinical experts, world- class educators and older people themselves to influence and shape the agenda, providing a bridge between academia, policy and practice by rapidly translating research into accessible evidence, knowledge, tools and resources to enable informed decision making by government, service providers and clinicians. This has positive health, wellbeing, social, cultural, environmental, and economic impacts for individuals and the community.

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