Research priorities

Research priorities in brain injury rehabilitation

Research in acquired brain injury has quickly grown over the last ten years and is already driving improvements in care. During this time, we’ve developed a strong network of experts and have invested in ground-breaking research.

However, we must identify ongoing priorities for further research from multiple perspectives. This includes those with lived experience of brain injury, their loved ones and the professionals who support them.

We must also ensure that our research findings can effectively translate into practice. Because generating new knowledge is not enough, we must ensure that discoveries can be successfully implemented to improve the lives of those living with brain injury.

Key areas for our research

Although we’re always open to new ideas, we are primarily interested in four key areas of research:

1. Evaluation of clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness
   It is crucial to understand what affects clinical outcomes after brain injuries. We are also interested in how these outcomes are measured. Cost-effectiveness and the wider economic and societal benefits associated with improved outcomes are also important to evaluate.
2. Evaluating emerging technologies
   Assistive technologies and technologies for cognition have enormous potential to improve the lives of people with brain injury. From extended reality to smart homes, we are examining the benefits of using technology in rehabilitation and support.
3. Clinical tools to enable meaningful assessment and support
   We develop and evaluate clinical tools sensitive to the effects of brain injury. These tools, such as the Brain Injury Needs Indicator (BINI), aim to effectively and reliably assess the support people living with suspected or diagnosed brain injury may need.
4. Brain injury and society
   By investigating and raising awareness of the broader impact of brain injury on society, including within the homeless population, domestic abuse survivors and the justice system, we can develop new ways of supporting individuals, services in the community and help reduce health inequalities.