2023 OPSYRIS Annual Meeting (hybrid)
4th July 2023, Institute of Mental Health, Nottingham University, Jubilee Campus
Follow this link to register via Eventbrite
Click here to submit an abstract (deadline 10th May 2023)
Featuring Invited Symposium
Lessons learned from running clinical trials testing complex interventions
& Workshop: NIHR funding for testing complex interventions (NIHR Research Design Service East Midlands)
Symposium Chair
Prof. 
Avril Drummond
Occupational therapist by professional background and Professor of Healthcare Research at the University of Nottingham.
Has diverse rehabilitation research interests including conducting trials of cognitive rehabilitation in MS and stroke.
Currently a trustee of the UK Stroke Association, member of the RCP Clinical Guidelines for Stroke and editor-in-chief of Clinical Rehabilitation.
Keynote Speaker
Prof. Audrey Bowen: “Trials – love them or loathe them, you can’t live without them”
Audrey Bowen is a Professor of Neuropsychological Rehabilitation at the University of Manchester, with affiliations to the Manchester Centre for Health Psychology and the Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre. Audrey has enjoyed a happy 25 year career in stroke rehabilitation research, enabled by funding from NIHR and Stroke Association, collaborative multidisciplinary teamwork and, superb Patient, Carer and Public Involvement.Through the use of RCTs and other designs Audrey’s research explores the evidence base for rehabilitation, with the ultimate aim of reducing the impact of the neuropsychological sequelae of stroke.
Symposium speakers
Prof Kate Radford: “Lessons learned from running clinical trials testing complex interventions: Supporting delivery of the trial intervention”
Kate Radford is an Occupational Therapist and Professor of Rehabilitation Research, with expertise in developing and evaluating complex rehabilitation interventions. Her research interest is in vocational rehabilitation (VR). Kate’s current research involves trials to determine the clinical and cost effectiveness of job retention interventions for stroke survivors, trauma survivors and people with inflammatory arthritis, studies to develop and evaluate VR interventions for people with multiple sclerosis and post Covid-19; and peer coaching and assistive technology interventions to promote self-management and participation following brain injury.
Kate leads the Centre for Rehabilitation and Ageing Research and the Doctoral Training Centre for Rehabilitation and Healthcare Research at the University of Nottingham.
Dr Shirley Thomas: “Lessons learned from running clinical trials testing complex interventions: Trial logistics “
Shirley is an Associate Professor in Rehabilitation Psychology at the University of Nottingham in the UK and a health psychologist. Her main research interest is in the psychological impacts of stroke, including the assessment and management of mood and cognitive problems. She led completed multicentre trials of behavioural activation for depression after stroke and collaborates on a range of stroke psychology and rehabilitation trials with researchers and clinicians in the UK and Australia.
Dr Eirini Kontou: “Lessons learned from running clinical trials testing complex interventions: Training and competency”
Dr Eirini Kontou is a clinical academic clinical psychologist who holds appointments at Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and at the University of Nottingham. She is currently a part-time Senior Research Fellow based at the School of Medicine. She has recently been awarded the NIHR Development Skills & Enhancement award to develop her expertise in developing and evaluating complex interventions in clinical trial.