We are happy to announce that Dr. Emma Patchwood has been recognised as the 2020 rising star.
Emma obtained her PhD in 2015 and began a Stroke Association post-doctoral fellowship at Manchester in 2019. The fellowship (March 2019 – May 2022) involves co-development and feasibility testing of a remotely-delivered psychotherapeutic intervention to support adjustment post stroke. Emma has a rapidly growing, well-deserved reputation for her collaborative, inclusive, applied psychological research in stroke, specialising in service user involvement and supporting people living with cognitive and communication difficulties. As co-chief investigator on the OSCARSS carers’ cRCT Emma presented the results to 5000 stroke researchers at ESOC2019, demonstrating effective leadership, passion for research and commitment to stroke. In addition, Emma developed the evidence base for six-month reviews for stroke survivors, working effectively at getting these into practice, e.g. publishing practical guidance for commissioners/providers for the six-month review CQUIN through membership of NHS England National Stroke Plan, Task and Finish Group.
Yet more content has been added to the website and, while it will need several updates and tweaks, has taken shape in its current form. Recent additions are
It is with regret, but with safety in mind, that the meeting at the Universty of East Anglia, Norwich, originally planned for 18th September, will not be running this year.
Norfolk, with its historic buildings, canal lined streets in the idyllic Norfolk, is the host city of the OPSYRIS 2021 meeting
However, we are delighted that the host, Dr Stephanie Rossit, welcomes us to Norwich for Autumn next year. As always, we look forward to a variety of oral and poster presentation. While it might be a year away, it might be good time to consider what work you would like to submit. It is also time to consider candidates for our rising star award.
The University of East Anglia, with its distinctdistinctive zigurat buildings and spacious grounds, where the OPSYRIS 2021 meeting shall be held
Remember that thankfully there will still be a meeting, allbeit a virtual one, planned for this year, and it is coming soon. The virtual meeting should take place on the 18th of September. Look forward to seeing many of you then.
I began my clinical research career with the stroke research group at the University of Edinburgh in 2014. After being awarded the Chief Scientist Office of Scotland Clinical Academic Fellowship, I conducted an observational study on the subtypes of anxiety disorders after stroke. I found that phobic disorder was the predominant anxiety subtype post-stroke. This led to the development and pilot testing of a telemedicine guided self-help cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety after stroke (TASK-CBT) in a randomised controlled trial (TASK-I RCT). I presented the results of TASK-I RCT for the first time at the OPSYRIS conference in Glasgow in October 2018. I am hoping to take my work forward and evaluate TASK-CBT in a large definitive TASK-II RCT.
I am currently completing my clinical training as a geriatrician and stroke physician. My current research interests include applying evidence-based innovative digital technology to improve stroke care, empower stroke patients, and expedite the generation of robust evidence through efficient and high-quality clinical trials. My ongoing work includes developing an automated conversational agent for stroke patients, using actigraphy as clinical outcome measure in stroke trials, and efficient digitised clinical trial design e.g. TASK-II RCT.
She is a post-doctoral research fellow on the StrokeCog project at Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). Her research focuses on the development and testing of a novel complex intervention aimed at improving outcomes for patients with post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI).
Currently, psychological involvement in stroke care, and cognitive rehabilitation, is severely limited in Ireland. The intervention has been developed using an evidence-based approach in accordance with the framework recommended for developing and evaluating complex interventions by the Medical Research Council (MRC). Dr Merriman has undertaken a systematic review of the evidence-base for effectiveness of non-RCT psychological interventions for PSCI, and is currently involved in a Cochrane review of RCT psychological interventions aimed at PSCI.
She has done extensive qualitative work with stroke survivors, carers, & healthcare professionals to identify stakeholder perceptions on intervention.
Currently, Dr Merriman is engaged in a series of carefully constructed feasibility studies to establish the feasibility of intervention components including recruitment, assessment, intervention content and delivery. Findings from the intervention development process have been published in BMJ Open and in Disability and Rehabilitation, and presented at the European Stroke Organisation Conference and OPSYRIS 2018. Following feasibility testing, the aim is to test a pilot intervention and ultimately conduct a definitive trial of a psychological intervention for PSCI.
Dr Merriman has extensive experience in intervention design, having previously conducted intervention studies in the area of multisensory perception and spatial navigation at Trinity College Dublin (where she was awarded her PhD in 2015) and Disney Research.
After the highly successful 2018 OPSYRIS meeting in Glasgow, the next host was the highly prestigious University of Oxford. The meeting took place in Saint Anne’s College on Friday the 4th of October.
Saint Anne’s College, Oxford was the location for the 2019 OPSYRIS meeting
A highlights of the meeting was the talk from keynote speaker Professor Sarah Pendlebury from the host University renowned for her work on clinical neuroscience, geratology and stroke prevention.
Kenote speaker, Oxford University’s Sarah Pendlebury, discusses the risk of dementia after stroke
As with previous OPSYRIS meetings, talks covered a broad range of topics. These included cognitive screening, spacial memory after stroke, prioritising actions for post stroke survivors, screening for visual perception deficits, brain network degeneration, support for carers of stroke survivors, psychoeducation, post-stroke insomnia, reading impairments, rehabilitation and befriending for people with aphasia, ocupational therapy and several others.
One of several interesting “quick-fire” talks whose brevity allow for a wide range of topics to be covered
As with oral presentations, posters covered a wide range of topics. These included rehabilitation tools and strategies for discharged stroke victims, aceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for psychological distress after stroke, feasibility and pilot testing, depression in caregivers, returning to work after stroke, spatial neglect, the effect of brain training on blood flow, associations between physical activity, sedentary behaviour and cognitive function among others. Several researchers from the host university contributed as well as those from Imperial College and King’s College, Glasgow, Cardiff, Lancaster, Manchester, Nottingham, Aga Khan (Pakistan) and East Anglia Universities.
Poster presentations provided an equally impressive range of topics
On what is becoming a highlight of OPSYRIS meetings, the rising star prize was this time nominated by OPSYRIS members. It was awarded to Dr Niamh Merriman from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). She has made important contributions on interventions improving the outcomes of patients with post stroke cognitive impairment.
Rising star Dr. Niamh Merriman receives her award fom Dr. Satu Baylan
Another feature making a welcome return from last year was the “how to…” sessions. This year they focussed on Patient, Carer and Public Involvement (PCPI) and prioritisation of Cochrane reviews. Following feedback from last years meeting, we also added sessions on implemented innovation in clinical service.
How to session on prioritising research giving valuable advice to researchers
After the meeting, OPSYRIS members looked forward to the next meeting due to be held at the University of East Anglia, Norwich. Until then, many of the speakers have thankfully shared their work and can be found on the shared drive for the Oxford 2019 OPSYRIS meeting.
