Dr. Rebecca Palmer is a speech and language therapist with extensive experience in clinical and research settings, focusing on improving interventions for patients with dysarthria and aphasia. Her career includes roles in clinical practice, research project leadership, and involvement in trials that explore the effectiveness of technology-based therapies. She has contributed to building research capacity within her profession and has been involved in public engagement and evidence-based practice initiatives.

1. From post-doc to present day
Dr Rebecca Palmer

2. Background
• Speech and language therapist
• Qualified university Reading 1999
• Worked as generalist SLT in North Lincolnshire for
2.5 years
• Interest in research:
– Much of treatment based on theory and experience
– Wanted to know more about what works
– Interested in how we can improve the interventions
we deliver to patients and improve understanding of
what works for who and why.

3. • Research opportunity at University of Sheffield
– SLT on European research project
(Computer programme for dysarthria therapy using
speech recognition)
– With leading researcher in SLT
– PhD

4. Post doc
• Decision time – clinical / research / other?
0
10
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Percentageworktime
year post-doc
network
research
clinical

5. • Band 7 specialist SLT on stroke unit (2005-2010)
• Research associate working on project
developing speech recognition technology for
a communication aid (2005-2007)

6. • NIHR stroke research network – rehabilitation and community trials
manager in Trent region (2007-2013)
• NIHR RfPB grant – pilot RCT evaluating independent aphasia
therapy delivered via computer software (2009-2012) - CACTUS
• Combined:
– Knowledge of trials
– Clinical awareness of limited amounts of therapy can offer
– Interest in using technology as mode of delivery of SLT post stroke
• NIHR CLAHRC South Yorkshire – stroke theme and telehealth theme
(2010-2014)

7. http://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/training-programmes.htm

8. Assessment
Tailoring software
-personalisation
-targeted exercises
Independent practice
~30 mins per day
Volunteer
support
-motivation
-encourage
use of vocab
-feedback
Clinical activity within fellowship (2012-2017)
Piloted implementation of independent aphasia therapy
delivered using computer software.

9. Academic activity within fellowship (2012-2017)
• NIHR HTA multicentre
RCT of clinical and cost
effectiveness of
computer aphasia
therapy (Big CACTUS)

10. Academic activity within fellowship (2012-2017)
• Building clinical research capacity:
– Masters students (MClinRes)
– PhD students
– Development of team of researchers
• Co-investigator on range of studies
– Focus on the rehabilitation of communication post stroke
– Focus on technological solutions
– Enabling people with aphasia to participate in stroke
rehabilitation research
• Stroke patient and public involvement
• Publications

11. • Build networks, external activities

12. • Trustee for research and development
– Building research capacity of the profession
– Setting research priorities for profession
– Encouraging evidence based practice

13. Thank you for listening!