Professor Debbie Tolson joined University of the West of Scotland as the inaugural Director of the Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice in January 2013. In addition to Centre Directorship she Directs the Institute of Health and Care Research.  She is a nurse leader with an international reputation for advancing evidence informed dementia care and gerontological practice.  In 2016 she achieved Principle Fellow Status with HEA UK, and a proud CATE2020 winner (Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence-Advance HE UK) along with UWS colleagues and students for the state of the art Class in a Bag:Understanding Dementia.

In 2010 her contribution to research with older people was recognised by St Louis University (USA) Medical School through the award of the Jim Flood Memorial Alzheimer Disease Distinguished Lectureship. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Nursing UK, and an Honorary Fellow of the Queen's Nursing Institute: Scotland. She was the recipient of the Sigma Theta Tau International, 2007 award for the Best of Worldviews on Evidence Based Nursing. Her research outputs include over 144 peer reviewed research papers, national care guidance for nurses and patients, edited books and book chapters, radio broadcasts, creative performance and popular press. She has secured research funding in excess of £6million   from a range of sources, including Research Council, Chief Scientist Office, EU, industry, UK and charitable organisations.

Current research studies focussed on living the best life possible with dementia.  Ranging from studies of the experience of people with early onset dementia who receive their diagnosis when employed, delirium management in acute hospitals, to studies with older people who have advanced to severe dementia. Education studies focus on equipping the qualified dementia workforce with the skills they need to champion reform and best practice where they work.  All studies are applied and seek to inform both practice and policy for example our European Project - Dementia Palliare. 

Contributions to rapid Covid studies include investigations of the impact of care home lock down on family carers and membership of the Scottish CHARIS Consortium.

Our priority within the Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice at UWS is to generate evidence to inform and advance policy and practice through an experienced based understanding of dementia and dementia care. Through our discoveries we deliver research based dementia education and workforce development programmes to improve practice locally and around the world.

We are particulalry keen to work collaboratively and involve all stakeholders to undertake mission driven research that aligns with the Global Sustainable Development Goals to address dementia related inequalites and through our scholarship improve the lives of all who are affected by dementia.

We would like to work with family carers, individuals, care home providers, day care providers and technology based companies interested in dementia.  With first responders including fire, police and ambulance services and practitioners from criminal justice and prison services where an increasing number of people with cognitive impairments including people with dementia are finding themselves.