Introduction/Background:
People living with dementia have historically been excluded from research and, despite the current patient-oriented research movement, are largely still excluded. This is a result of the false belief that people living with dementia are unable to understand research processes or give consent. People living with dementia and their caregivers are experts in the lived experience of dementia and can contribute greatly to research. 

Methods:
In October 2018, the Alzheimer Society of B.C. hosted a pre-conference workshop at the Canadian Association on Gerontology’s conference. The event brought together researchers, people living with dementia, caregivers, health leaders and other key stakeholders from across Canada to start defining what dementia-friendly research could look like.

Results:
The following key points arose from participants’ moderated discussions: 
Research is dementia-friendly when it:
•	Meaningfully engages people affected by dementia before the study begins to develop research questions.
•	Invites people with lived experience to take on advisory and co-researcher roles during the study.
•	Commits to accessible knowledge mobilization after the study is completed.

To overcome barriers to dementia-friendly research, researchers must:
•	Combat stigma.
•	Educate research ethics boards on the unique needs and abilities of people living with dementia.
•	Create flexible research designs. 

Discussion: Research is key to creating a future where people affected by dementia are acknowledged, supported and included. However, for this world to become a reality, research must be as effective as possible and this can only be achieved by meaningfully engaging with people affected by dementia as participants, collaborators and advisors. 

Dissemination plan: The Society will host follow-up events throughout B.C. We envision a suite of resources for people affected by dementia, researchers and ethics boards to inform a framework for dementia-friendly research and support them to feel more confident and able to engage in research together. 
Acknowledgements: The Alzheimer Society of B.C. thanks the UBC Centre for Personhood in Dementia for their support of the event and all who participated, including our panelists: Mario Gregorio and Jim Mann from the Society’s Leadership Group of People Living with Dementia; Krista James, Director of the Canadian Centre for Elder Law; Dr. Allison Phinney, Director of the UBC Centre for Personhood in Dementia; Dr. Gloria Puurveen, Postdoctoral Fellow with the W. Maurice Young Centre for Applied Ethics; Dr. Heather Cooke, Postdoctoral fellow with UBC Nursing; Dr. Elaine Wiersma, Director of Lakehead University’s Centre for Education and Research on Aging & Health; Dr. Robin Hsiung from the UBC Clinic for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders; and Dr. Larry Mroz, Patient Engagement Coordinator at the BC SUPPORT Unit. 
References: None.

Defining dementia-friendly research: Engaging people with lived experience as collaborators and advisors