AWARDS REPORT
Dr Niina Kolehmainen Carolyn Coole Paul Boyle Becky Field Wendy Wilkinson Beverley Turtle
UK Occupational Therapy Research Foundation( UKOTRF) Research Grants The UKOTRF is a division of RCOT and was launched in 2007 listen more to people who use services. This principal is central to to build the evidence-base for occupational therapy and to my research and I hope to disseminate interesting findings.’ increase research capacity within the profession. It invites research Becky Field has an MSc Clinical Research, and is undertaking proposals to be submitted for two main categories of grants to be a PhD at Sheffield University about the uptake of psychosocial awarded on an annual basis: research priority grant to support a interventions by people with early-stage dementia. She previously major research project that addresses an identified professional worked as an NHS occupational therapist. research priority area; research career development grant to
Becky received a Research Career Development Grant towards support doctoral studies or post-doctoral activity undertaken her research project‘ A qualitative study to explore how people within five years of completing a PhD or similar for occupational with early stage dementia respond to offers of psychosocial therapists who intend to pursue a research career. Five members interventions’. were successful in their funding bids.
She said:‘ The UKOTRF research career development grant
Dr Niina Kolehmainen, senior clinical lecturer at Newcastle will support my PhD, allowing me more time to focus on it than I University, leads research to find out how best to enable underfives to be active, and to support children with neurodisability was inspiring. I would definitely encourage others to consider the
have had so far … meeting others and hearing about their work to develop self-care. With training in occupational therapy, different awards that could support their practice or service and public health, health services research, behaviour change, and research development.’ implementation science, she integrates a range of perspectives to Wendy Wilkinson qualified as an occupational therapist in her work.
Albury, Australia. Her current role as Macmillan lead allied health Niina has been awarded a Research Priority Grant towards professional for the Wales Cancer Network promotes evidencebased, person-centred cancer rehabilitation service design and her research project titled‘ Enabling self-care in children with developmental disabilities: pre-protocol research for a cluster delivery. She started her Professional Practice Doctorate in 2013, randomised trial’. and is interested in closing the gap between research and clinical On receipt of her grant she said:‘ We are absolutely thrilled practice. to receive this award. It allows us to advance a core piece of
Wendy has been awarded a Research Career Development multidisciplinary research into self-care interventions for children. Grant towards her research project‘ The impact of therapeutic This study builds towards the first large-scale self-care trial, and relationships on self-management outcomes after cancer building new research capacity is also central to this project.’ rehabilitation: Understanding participant perceptions using a
Carolyn( Carol) Coole, became a research occupational Modified Delphi Technique’. therapist at University of Nottingham in 2008. Her main research‘ I am grateful to RCOT for considering my research worthy interests are around return to work and work retention. Carol has of investment. Being recognised amongst the cohort who were been awarded a Research Priority Grant towards her research presented with awards on the day was a humbling experience. It project titled‘ Comparing a reusable learning object with face-toface training for occupational therapists in advising on fitness for ideas about our projects.’
was so great to be able to talk with other grant winners, and share work.
The UKOTRF Early Researcher Award is given to an early Paul Boyle is a senior lecturer at the University of Brighton, researcher for the best oral presentation at RCOT’ s annual who is particularly interested in issues relating to living with conference, which took place in June in Belfast. Applicants must disability and the use of equipment and adaptation of the present research findings from their post-registration masters or environment. Paul is awarded a Research Career Development doctoral studies, or other first piece of ethically approved research Grant towards his research project,‘ The lived experience of undertaken post-registration as an occupational therapist. transition from adolescence to adulthood for young people with This prestigious prize, which recognises excellence in research cerebral palsy’. and presentation skills, was given to Beverley Turtle, who is in Paul commented:‘ I am very pleased to receive this award, not the second year of her doctoral studentship at Ulster University. only to fund my research, but also to have my ideas recognised as Her research interests include upper limb stroke rehabilitation and worthy. Practitioners are doing great work but I believe we must outcome assessment.
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