Strategic Research Group
Encourage debate and promote research into the many outstanding questions in childhood disability.
In 2008, the Strategic Research Group (SRG) was formed with the aims:
- To identify and encourage high quality clinical research in childhood disability in Britain; in particular collaborative multi-disciplinary projects
- To encourage and assist people in the field , including families, young people and clinicians, to identify research priorities
- To facilitate and support the development of major research applications to Wellcome, Medical Research Council, National Institute for Health Research and national charitable funding bodies
- To encourage and help clinicians, who are interested, to participate in research, and potentially pursue an academic career path
The SRGs achievements and impact were described in an Editorial for Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology in 2018. That editorial is Open Access and available for you to read here.
Drooling Reduction Intervention randomised trial (DRI)
- The SRG conceived the Drooling Reduction Intervention randomised trial (DRI): comparing the efficacy and acceptability of hyoscine patches and glycopyrronium liquid on drooling in children with neurodisability, which was published in 2017.
- The trial provided new clinical evidence for the treatment of a key issue for many children, families and professionals. The results were included in NICE Cerebral Palsy guidance.
- The trial has shown that multidisciplinary multisite trials are possible to run in the UK through neurodisability teams. This sets the scene for a trials in the coming years to provide clinical evidence for children, families and clinicians.
- The paper is open access and can be viewed here.
SRG Committee
| Co-Chairs Prof Melissa Gladstone, Professor in Neurodevelopmental Paediatrics and International Child Health, University of Liverpool Prof Lindsay Pennington, Reader in Communication Disorders, Newcastle University |
| Past Chair Prof Jeremy Parr, Paediatrician and Senior Lecturer in Paediatric Neurodisability, Newcastle University |
| Education Dr Paul Lynch, Reader in Early Child Development and Inclusive Education, University of Glasgow |
| Nursing Dr Eve Allen, Senior Nursing Lecturer - Children and young people and families, Edge Hill University Dr Emma Popejoy, Clinical Assistant Professor in Children and Young People’s Nursing, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trus |
| Occupational Therapy Dr Hortensia Gimeno, PhD Associate Director of Therapies Research, Barts Health NHS Trust; and Clinical Reader in Child Health Research, Queen Mary University of London Dr Jill Massey, Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist, Evelina London Children’s Hospital and Honorary Senior Lecturer, King’s College London |
| Paediatrics Dr Morag Andrew, Consultant in Community Paediatrics, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
| Physiotherapy Dr Phill Harniess, Clinical Academic Paediatric Physiotherapist, Northumbria University Rachel Knight Lozano, Lecturer in Rehabilitation (Postgraduate Studies), University of Plymouth and Paediatric Physiotherapist, Child and Family Health Devon |
| Psychology Dr Katherine Knighting, Associate Professor/Reader in Palliative and Supportive Care, Edge Hill University |
| Speech & Language Therapy Rebecca Davidson, Clinical Lead Developmental Dysphagia, NHS Lanarkshire |
| Amanda Allard, Director, Council for Disabled Children |
Past Committee Members
| Paediatrics Chinwe Osuchukwu - Oxford Allan Colver - Newcastle Melissa Gladstone - Liverpool Val Harpin - Sheffield Andrew Lloyd Evans - London Stuart Logan - Exeter Ian Male - Brighton Ben Marlow - Colchester Anne O'Hare - Edinburgh Doug Simkiss - Birmingham | Speech & Language Therapy Nicola Jolleff - London Diane Sellers - Sussex Vicky Slonims - London Penny Williams - London | Psychology Emma Honey - Newcastle Juliet Goldbart - Manchester Samantha Johnson - Leicester Helen McConachie - Newcastle Chris Oliver - Birmingham Nicola Yuille - Sussex Sinead Rhodes - Edinburgh |
| Methodology Chris Morris - Exeter | Paediatric Trainees Morag Andrew - Oxford Caroline Bodey - Bristol | Occupational Therapy Rob Brooks, Leeds Anne Gordon - London Niina Kolemainen - Newcastle Jennifer McAnuff - Manchester |
| Physiotherapy Sarah Crombie - Sussex Lesley Katchburian - London Dawn Pickering - Cardiff Terry Pountney - Sussex Nick Preston - Leeds | Nursing Kate Oulton - London Joanne Smith - Leeds |
