Length of paperleading research? We share the perspectives of people with dementia about these questions, building on previous research (Scottish Dementia Working Group 2014;Stevenson and Taylor 2019). Following the principle of "Nothing about us, without us", the paper features the contributions of six authors with dementia, supported by a seventh author, a disability studies academic who has not been diagnosed with dementia. The authors are all Dementia Pioneers, who are the group helping to shape the Dementia Enquirers programme. This paper describes how the Dementia Pioneers work together nationally. We talk about how people with dementia have been excluded from research.We describe the local research projects which have been funded under the Dementia Enquirers programme, before discussing new forms of ethical governance. Finally, we discuss the implications of this approach to dementia research.Are the Dementia Pioneers typical of people with dementia? We are a group of white British people, who come from a range of occupational backgrounds, mainly professional, and who were diagnosed with dementia between three and six years ago. Because we have been involved in the Dementia Engagement and Empowerment network (DEEP), we have become activists for our wider community. Teresa is a retired landscape gardener, diagnosed with Alzheimer's when 59. Wendy was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's in 2014. She took early retirement from her work in the NHS to enjoy life "while I'm still me". She writes a popular blog. Mhari describes herself as a mother, a wife, a friend, an advocate for Dementia Inclusive Churches, and as someone who likes dancing, riding her tandem, and meeting colleagues on Zoom. George is a retired teacher and accountant, diagnosed with mixed dementia in 2014. He has become an activist for better dementia care, and, recently, a dementia craftivist. Agnes was trained as a Queen Alexandra Army Nurse. When she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2006, she became a dementia activist. Howard was an Auxiliary Nurse in the NHS until his diagnosis of Alzheimer's and Frontal Temporal Dementia in 2017, and is now a dementia activist.The experience of the DEEP Network and the Dementia Enquirers research programme has been transformative. Mhari explained: "It's the only place that somebody listened. Very often, people can treat you like a child, as if you can't do anything at all. We are