Profile – David Ross, Lived Experience Researcher

David Ross

Name:

Mr David Savage Gallacher Ross

Job Title:

Past Carer / Retired engineer

Place of work / study:

Retired

Area of Research:

Causes of dementia and the links between other neurological conditions resulting from common medical conditions, environment and lifestyle

How is your research funded:

N/A

Tell us a little about yourself:

Not receiving answers about why my wife developed FTD/ALS I decided to research her family /lifestyle and medical conditions. Being a retired engineer who has travelled the world and been met with many difficult and different situations and cultures I have an enquiring mind and used to solving problems. Having an open mind nothing is really black and white shades of grey like dementia is what we are facing.

I was also a contributor to a book Challenging Assumptions Around Dementia.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself:

I can laugh at myself and anyone who knows me will also, I am a bit of a Klutz.

Why did you choose to work in dementia research?

Determination to change the culture behind current research which need to face up to changes and accept there are others other academics who have a role to play; given the chance!

What single piece of advice would you give to an early career researcher?

We were given 2 eyes and 2 ears and 1 mouth; less talk and more observation and listening to people who have experience not available in the classroom or laboratory.

What book are you reading right now? Would you recommend it?

Alex Fergusons, ‘LEADING’ apart from being a great football manager the man has an amazing insight into the human psyche and how to treat and manage people to get the best out of them at people, something academia would benefit from.

Favourite ways to unplug and unwind?

I don’t, I keep myself busy, with my research work; read, write, bash my drums to relieve stress otherwise I would get depressed thinking about how cruel life can be when you have been exposed to dementia, when no cure is on the horizon.

Favourite film of all time?

Anything Humphrey Bogart was in.

Can we find you on Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn?

Not really