Research

Strategic aim: Promote excellence in the evidence base, translating research into best practice for families after ABI.

Stay informed

We provide a platform to share contemporary research findings about the impact of ABI on families.

Papers of interest

A PDF document titled 'Interventions to support children after a parental acquired brain injury: a scoping review,' authored by Kate Dawes, Grahame Simpson, Lauren Lines, and Maayken van den Berg. The document includes an abstract, introduction, and
Academic article titled 'A window into the reality of families living long-term with challenging behaviors after a TBI,' discussing research on support strategies for families managing traumatic brain injury, including author information, abstract, a
Scientific journal article titled 'Developing the 'Life Threads' approach to supporting families after traumatic brain injury in UK community settings' with authors Charlotte Jane Whiffin, Caroline Ellis-Hill, Alyson Norman, Morag Lee, Parmeej Kaur S
Title of an academic article: 'Working within a perfect storm: the current UK care crisis in community neurorehabilitation.' Edited by Alyson Norman and others, published in the Journal of Long-Term Care. The summary discusses the shortage of support
Screenshot of an academic article titled 'A systematic review of remotely delivered interventions to support wellbeing amongst caregivers of adults with acquired brain injuries,' published in Brain Impair in 2024.
Title page of an academic article titled 'Young Carers in Early Childhood' with author information, abstract, keywords, and introduction sections.
Academic journal article page titled 'Reconnecting to the Person Before Acquired Brain Injury: A Continuing Bonds Grief Intervention' by Elizabeth Gilmour and Alyson Norman, published in 2025 with abstract and keywords, includes the Sage Publishing l

Conference posters

Check out these posters from UKABIF 2024!

Poster titled 'Communication between families and health care professionals prior to discharge post ABI' with sections on introduction, research aim, methodology, results, observational study, interviews, survey, potential impact, and references, inc
Poster presentation titled 'The Effects Parenting Stress and Parents' Ruminative Response on Behavioural Problems in Children and Young People with Acquired Brain Injuries' from the University of Exeter, UK. It includes sections on background, method
A research poster titled 'Development of an Acute Pathway of Family-Sensitive Care After Brain Injury' from King's College Hospital, displaying sections on introduction, aims, methods, results, conclusions, and next steps, with charts and QR codes.
A bulletin board display titled 'My painting of how I felt as a Mum of David with acquired brain injury' featuring a painting of a single chair with sunlight rays, a detailed drawing of a tree labeled 'Tree of Life', and a photo of a young man with h
Research poster titled 'The Dramatic Rise in Paediatric Intracranial Empyema & Abscess: What do we know about Neuropsychological Outcomes & Family Needs?' presented by Nottingham University Hospitals. Includes graphs showing annual rates of abscess a

Research presentations.

Study recruitment

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Driving change through research

We have been supporting researchers to recruit participants to studies that will improve the lives of families after ABI. Check out these study adverts to find out more.

A flyer titled "Would You Mind Sharing Your Experiences for a Research Project?", featuring a photo of Emma Brooks, a trainee clinical psychologist. The flyer asks if the reader is a parent of a child with a brain injury and supports the research on
Flyer seeking participants for a study on social consequences of brain injuries, detailing eligibility criteria, contact info, and interview details.
Flyer from University of Plymouth calling for research participants. Features a pink and gray megaphone, a brain illustration, and text about the research focus on traumatic brain injury, requirements, participation details, location options, contact
Flyer with purple background promoting a research project called 'Life Threads - TBI' supporting families after traumatic brain injury, featuring a broken rope graphic, call to action to scan a QR code, and contact information.
Flyer from the University of Birmingham seeking volunteers for a new therapy to protect relationships and wellbeing, with contact details and ways to find out more, featuring colorful raised hands at the bottom.
A flyer from Coventry University calling for participants for an online intervention study focusing on partners of brain injury survivors. It includes questions about experience with brain injury and mentions collaboration in developing the program.

Looking to get involved?

If you are a family member and would like to help researchers design better research, or take part in research yourself you can register your interest on the Register for Healthcare Involvement and Technology Evaluation (RHITE)

Once registered in may be a little while before you are paired with a research team.

https://orion.net/rhite

Looking for a supervisor?

Are you looking for an expert to supervise research that will make a difference to families after ABI?

Check out our profiles below and contact them directly with your ideas for research to improve the lives of families after ABI.

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  • University of Derby

    Specialist areas: Qualitative research/narrative inquiry/thematic analysis/ Traumatic brain injury

    email: c.whiffin@derby.ac.uk

  • University of Plymouth

    Specialist areas: mixed methods; qualitative; social care; literature reviews; sibling perspectives, ambiguous loss

    email: a.norman@plymouth.ac.uk

  • University of East Anglia

    Specialist areas: DClinPsych; identity; qualitative inquiry