The David Hague Early Career Investigator of the Year Award, worth £25,000 in research expenses with a £1,500 personal prize, is presented each year to the most outstanding early career researcher in the field of biomedical dementia research.

The Award is judged by an external panel of prominent international researchers, who look for excellence in scientific research, a significant contribution to the field and quality of scientific writing in an essay. Entries should demonstrate excellence across all areas of our Early Career Research Framework.

Find out more about eligibility, the application process, and the review process in our More Information document.

David Edward Hague, 1942–2015

David was born in Stockport, a working class boy with a free spirit; an optimist, funny and curious. He was also blessed with an outstanding brain. The first in his family to go to university, he read biochemistry at Liverpool and hitchhiked to new worlds in the holidays.

David Edward Hague

In 1966 he moved south to St Mary’s Hospital in London to begin his medical research and continue his sporting activities.

His doctoral thesis, Some biochemical aspects of thalidomide toxicity, was a significant contribution to understanding how the sedative thalidomide, given to expectant mothers to ease morning sickness, was able to exert its disastrous effects on the unborn child.

He subsequently moved to Barts Hospital and trained in medicine. Various clinical and research roles in the UK and US followed, and in 1982, after becoming a full-time single parent, he settled in Finchley as a GP.

David Edward Hague

David was charming, kind and clever, and mostly lucky. But soon after retirement he developed Alzheimer’s disease.

He coped well for several years, knowing that no cure existed but hoping and trusting that one would be found for his grandchildren’s generation. Alzheimer’s ultimately robbed him of his intellect and his independence, and, on 7 September 2015, his life.

Previous winners

2023

Dr Soyon Hong

Dr Soyon Hong

2022

Dr Andras Lakatos

Andras Lakatos

2021

Dr Sophie Bradley and Assistant Professor Renzo Mancuso

2975-Bradley-Sophie
2976-Mancuso-Renzo

2020

Dr Shane Liddelow

Shane Liddelow

2019

Dr Jemeen Sreedharan

Dr-Jemeen-Sreedharan

2018

Dr Selina Wray

Selina Wray 1

2017

Dr Katie Lunnon

katie-lunnon

2016

Dr Rita Guerreiro

rita