Staff Spotlight – Kimberly De Man

Celebrating 12 years with Alzheimer’s Research Australia

Kimberly De Man’s passion for supporting participants and her dedication to advancing research shine through every day.

Kimberly works as a Research Nurse and Clinical Trial Coordinator here at Alzheimer’s Research Australia.

We asked Kim to answer a few questions so our community could learn more about the people behind the faces of Alzheimer’s Research Australia.

What inspires you to work within the Alzheimer’s Research space?

I feel incredibly privileged to be part of this important work. What inspires me most is knowing that the research we are involved in has the potential to make a real difference to individuals, families and future generations. This role is incredibly meaningful to me.

Please tell us about your role and what a typical day involves.

A typical day involves supporting the delivery of clinical trials through participant assessments, sample collection and processing, visit coordination, and accurate study documentation. Working collaboratively with participants and the multidisciplinary research team, I help ensure study visits run efficiently while maintaining high standards of participant care, data quality, and compliance with study protocols, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), and regulatory requirements.

What is one rewarding part of your role?

One of the most rewarding parts of my role are the people I meet along the way. Every participant has their own story, and I enjoy getting to know them and hearing about their experiences. Building genuine connections with participants and being able to support them throughout their involvement in research is something I find very rewarding.

If you could choose your favourite Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet food group, what would that be?

Berries! They are delicious, full of antioxidants and easy to incorporate into everyday meals.

Participants support the advancement of Alzheimer’s research and knowledge by…

Generously volunteering their time and dedicating themselves to research. Their willingness to participate in research and share their experiences helps researchers learn more about Alzheimer’s disease and what we can do to make a difference in the future.

If you could give the public advice from something you have learnt whilst working at Alzheimer’s Research Australia, what would that be?

The advice I would give, is that it is never too early to start looking after your brain health and making it part of your everyday life. I encourage everyone to stay physically active, eat a healthy, eat a balanced diet (such as the MIND Diet), maintain social connections and keep their minds engaged. These are all positive steps we can take to support our brain health as we age.