Research programs and projects

We aim to tackle the main identified issues in the current research into aphasia by focusing on five research programs and projects.

Aphasia-DOOR: Your Voice in Measuring Research Success    

We want to make a better way to check if aphasia therapy really helps.

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M-MAT Tele

M-MAT Tele is a group therapy that aims to improve talking for people with aphasia.

Multi-Modality Aphasia Treatment (M-MAT) is a group-based aphasia intervention delivered face-to-face which focuses on improving spoken communication. Spoken output is facilitated through practice of speech, drawing, reading, writing, and using gestures. It is an intensive treatment with individuals receiving 30 hours of therapy spread across 5 weeks. Treatment is delivered in a group of 2-3 people with aphasia.

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Mild Aphasia

To co-design better assessments and interventions for people with very mild/subclinical aphasia.
Funded by a $23K La Trobe Kickstarter Scheme, this project is led by Dr John Pierce.

Activities -

• Conduct traditional and exploratory assessments on people with mild aphasia and very mild/“subclinical” aphasia as per WAB; interview participants about their perceptions of these assessments.
• Focus groups with n=6 very mild aphasia, n=5 health professionals, to understand gaps and priorities for an intervention.
• Unfunded: Co-design an intervention package.

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Aphasia Therapy Finder phase 3

To develop, evaluate, maintain and grow a clinical implementation tool for evidence-based aphasia therapy.

Funded by: The Tavistock Trust for Aphasia, UK

Activity: Survey to establish need for ATF (2022). Developed and tested prototype web-app (2022-2023). Built webapp (2023). Worked with 60 aphasia researchers internationally to develop therapy profiles for 25 aphasia therapies (2022-2024). Launched web-app (IARC, 2024). User experience evaluation (surveys and focus groups, 2026).

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COMPARE Aphasia Therapy Research Trial                                     

COMPARE was an NHMRC-funded randomised controlled research trial that compared the outcomes of two different treatments for people with aphasia.

Outcomes of the trial have now been published and resources are available now.