Strategic Research Group
Encourage debate and promote research into the many outstanding questions in childhood disability.
Strategic Research Group Vacancies - deadline to apply 20 Feb 2026
Nurse
Occupational Therapist
Paediatrician (in an NHS post with no funded research time)
Psychologist
Speech and Language Therapist
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 |
| Nursing Dr Emma Popejoy, Clinical Assistant Professor in Children and Young People’s Nursing, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust |
| 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 |
| Paediatrics Dr Morag Andrew, Consultant in Community Paediatrics, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Dr Ben Marlow, Consultant Paediatrician Neurodisability, East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust |
| Physiotherapy Rachel Knight Lozano, Lecturer in Rehabilitation (Postgraduate Studies), University of Plymouth and Paediatric Physiotherapist, Child and Family Health Devon Dr Phill Harniess, Clinical Academic Paediatric Physiotherapist, Northumbria University |
| Psychology Dr Katherine Knight, Associate Professor/Reader in Palliative and Supportive Care, Edge Hill University |
| Speech & Language Therapy Rebecca Davidson, Clinical Lead Developmental Dysphagia, NHS Lanarkshire |
| Amanda Allard, Assistant 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 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 |
