2026 OPSYRIS Annual Meeting (Hybrid)

Friday 11th September 2026

The University of East Anglia Enterprise Centre

Our 2026 theme

Cognition and Emotion after Acquired Brain Injury: Clinical and Technological Advances

 

The 2026 hybrid meeting is available for both in-person and virtual attendance via Zoom.

 

Registration for OPSYRIS 2026 can be found on the following link:

>>>>>>> Registration  <<<<<<<

Registrations cost between £25 and £60. Full pricing information can be found using the Registration link below. We will accept on the door in person registrations on the day at a cost of £65, made via bank transfer.

 

 

The deadline for abstract submissions has now passed.

 

 

Our  keynote speakers 

 

Prof. Céline Gillebert is a clinical neuropsychologist and Professor of Neuropsychology at KU Leuven (Belgium). Her research focuses on cognitive and perceptual consequences of acquired brain injury, using neuroimaging, experimental methods, and immersive VR to advance mechanistic understanding and develop validated diagnostic and rehabilitation tools. She currently co-leads major projects on (impaired) cognition and XR-based neurorehabilitation, aiming to bridge cognitive neuroscience and clinical practice.

Provisional title: HEMIRehApp: An immersive VR serious game for the assessment and rehabilitation of spatial neglect

 

 

Prof. Niall Broomfield is Head of the Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychological Therapies at Norwich Medical School and holds the Chair in Clinical Psychology at University of East Anglia. Niall’s research interests are in neuropsychological consequences of stroke (mood and cognition), modelling and treating post-stroke emotionalism and improving understanding of psychological adjustment to stroke, and behavioural sleep medicine – determining putative mechanisms of cognitive behavioural therapeutics for insomnia disorder.

Provisional title: Tears without sadness: exploring the clinical psychology of post-stroke emotionalism

 

 

Dr. Nicola Hancock is Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Innovation at the University of East Anglia and an Associate Professor in Physiotherapy. Her research and evaluation work focuses on personalised approaches to stroke and brain injury rehabilitation via technological innovation, self-management strategies, and innovative clinical service initiatives. She co-chairs the European Life After Stroke Forum Scientific Committee and leads the AbiliTec Network, promoting evidence-based approaches to rehabilitation technology.

Title: From Concept to Clinic: Guiding Principles for Technological Innovation in Neurorehabilitation

 

 

Prof. Andrew Bateman is a Professor in the School of Health and Social Care at the University of Essex and Chair of the United Kingdom Acquired Brain Injury Forum. His research spans neuropsychological rehabilitation, outcome measurement, and service quality improvement for people with acquired brain injury and related conditions, with a focus on translating evidence into rehabilitation practice and supporting holistic assessment, assistive technologies, and rehabilitation service innovation.

Title: How the NIHR can help OPSYRIS members achieve their research objectives?

 

OUR OPSYRIS 2026 PROGRAMME

08.30 – 09.20	Registration, Posters & Refreshments
09.20 – 09.30	Welcome from OPSYRIS Chair (Dr. Stéphanie Rossit, University of East Anglia, UK)
Invited Symposium Cognition and Emotion after Acquired Brain Injury: Clinical and Technological Advances
09.30 – 09.50	KEYNOTE ADDRESS – Prof. Céline Gillebert (KU Leuven, Belgium) HEMIRehApp: An immersive VR serious game for the assessment and rehabilitation of spatial neglect
09.50 – 10.05	Dr. Nicola Hancock (University of East Anglia, UK) From Concept to Clinic: Guiding Principles for Technological Innovation in Neurorehabilitation
10.05 – 10.20	Prof. Niall Broomfield (University of East Anglia, UK) Tears without sadness: exploring the clinical psychology of post-stroke emotionalism
10.20 – 10.30	Discussion
10.30 – 11.00	Posters and refreshments
Open Symposium 1: Assessments for Cognition and Emotion
11.00 – 11.15	Elise Palmans (KU Leuven, Belgium) Heterogeneity in post-stroke executive dysfunction: differential impairments in updating, shifting and inhibition
11.15 – 11.30	Prof. Randi Starrfelt (University of Copenhagen, Denmark) Cancellation task performance in chronic posterior stroke – the challenge of interpretation
11.30 – 11.45	Dr. Joshua Blake (University of East Anglia, UK) Anxiety Intensity Scale Circles (AISCs) and the Yale-anxiety: exploring the validity of two anxiety screens and Natural Language Processing in stroke
11.45 – 12.00	Kellsey McCann (University of East Anglia, UK) A Professional Consensus on Suicidality Assessment in Aphasia: A Delphi Study (SAADS)
12.00 – 12.15	Jacob Stoumann Fosgrau (University of Copenhagen, Denmark) Stroke survivors’ experiences of cognitive assessment and related clinical interactions: a qualitative systematic review
12.15 – 13.15	Posters & Lunch
13.15 – 13.30	OPSYRIS AGM

 

Workshops: Research funding opportunities
13.30 – 13.45	Dr. Rebecca Fisher (The Stroke Association) The Stroke Association’s new research strategy
13.45 – 14.00	Prof Andrew Bateman (University of Essex, UK) How NIHR can help OPSYRIS members achieve their research objectives
Open Symposium 2: Cognitive and Mood interventions
14.00 – 14.15	Dr. Emma Patchwood (University of Manchester, UK) Wellbeing After Stroke-2 (WAterS-2): a feasibility study with process evaluation exploring inclusive, accessible, online psychological support after stroke
14.15 – 14.30	Dr. Yidian Gao (University of East Anglia, UK) Spatial Inattention Grasping Therapy (SIGHT) for rehabilitation of spatial neglect post-stroke: a randomised-controlled multicentre efficacy trial with embedded mechanistic study of determinants of therapy response
14.30 – 14.45	Dr. Jessica Tamiazzo (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain) An Enriched Environment Incorporating Leisure and Music Activities in Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation: A Randomized Controlled Trial Assessing Cognitive, Emotional, and Motor Outcomes and Intervention Moderators
14.45 – 15.00	Dr. Laura Manno (University of East Anglia, UK) Assessing the Clinical Feasibility of the AI-guided EyeFocus App for Attention Rehabilitation in ABI – trial update
15.00 – 15.30	Posters & Refreshments
Open Symposium 3: Stroke survivor perspectives & service development
15.30 – 15.45	RISING STAR AWARD: Dr. Madeleine Harrison (University of Sheffield, UK) Communication Training for UK Stroke Staff: A National Survey Exploring Current Provision, Training Needs and Implementation Factors
15.45 – 16.00	Dr Samantha Barton (University of Nottingham, UK) Using Nominal Group Technique to establish the priorities for developing a mood care pathway for people with a Transient Ischaemic Attack
16.00 – 16.15	Dr Anima Rana (University of India, India) A study of behaviour attitude and perception of caregiver towards stroke survivor
16.15 – 16.30	Dr. Chloe Webb (University of Nottingham, UK) Exploring factors relating to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Symptoms and Mood Problems in People following a Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA)
16.30 – 16.45	Alice Gordon (Ulster University, Ireland) International cross-sectional survey exploring psychological impact of young stroke
16.45 – 17.00	BEST POSTER AWARD announcement & closing remarks from OPSYRIS Chair

 

>>>>>> CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE CONFERENCE PROGRAM <<<<<<

 

The event kicks off at 7:30 on Thursday 10th September. Tickets cost £45 and can be purchased alongside your OPSYRIS registration on Eventbrite.

 

ACCOMODATION: We have a couple of recommendations for accommodation for OPSYRIS 26:

• • Broadview Hotel (on campus): see details here
  • George Hotel (on bus route to campus): see details here

TRAVEL TO NORWICH: Norwich is easily accessible via public transport:

• • Plane: Norwich international airport is close by, offering direct flights to mainland Europe. Stansted airport has a direct train to Norwich too.
  • Train: Direct routes available from London Liverpool street (1hr 45min), Stansted airport (1hr 45min), Peterborough (1hr 28m) and Cambridge (1hr 11mins). Indirect routes include Manchester (4hr 24m), Edinburgh (5hr 40m), Cardiff (4hr 21m), Birmingham (3hr 47m), and Oxford (3hr 8m).
  • Car: UEA is easily accessible by car via the A11 or A47, with clear signage directing drivers toward the campus as they approach Norwich. Delegates can follow signs for the University of East Anglia and use the main car parks located close to the conference venues. Parking on campus is limited. See here  for information on parking, including accessible parking. Parking on campus can be expensive and details about a free park and ride service to the UEA campus as well as other transport links is available here .