Hi, I’m Alana! I work as a researcher on project CECiLiA. I have experience working with autistic adults and adults with learning disabilities in mental health. I am based in Kent and will be meeting with adults and children in the South East of England.
Hi, I’m Jen! I work for Project CECiLiA. I work as a researcher, and I am based at University of East Anglia.
Hi, I’m Nik. I am working as a researcher on the CECiLiA project. I have previously worked in direct support roles with adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults. I am based at the University of Birmingham.
Hello. I am Louise. I am the study manager for Project CECiLiA based at the University of Birmingham. My research interests focus on the dissemination of evidence-based practice in the support of people with learning disabilities with a view to maximising their quality of life. You can contact me with any queries about the project at [email protected]
Peter is the co-lead for CECiLiA and is a Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Birmingham. He is also an Honorary Consultant Clinical and Forensic Psychologist and has worked as the Responsible Clinician within inpatient hospitals for adults with learning disabilities or autistic adults for many years.
Karen is Professor of Language, Communication & Developmental Disability in the School of Health Sciences at the University of East Anglia. She has a background in speech & language therapy and applied linguistics. Karen’s research focuses on people with developmental disabilities and complex communication needs, in particular the way language is used to support empowerment, inclusion and participation. She is co-principal investigator on Project CECiLiA.
Magali is a Senior Lecturer in Forensic Psychology and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Chartered Psychologist at the Tizard Centre, University of Kent. Magali’s research focuses on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who have come into contact with the Criminal Justice System as victims, witnesses, and/or perpetrators of crime. Magali is a Co-Investigator on the CECILIA Project, with a particular focus on the qualitative aspect of the evaluation. Click here to see Magali’s staff profile at the University of Kent.
Ashok is a Consultant Psychiatrist and Associate Medical Director in Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust and Professor at Warwick University. He is primarily a clinician working with people with intellectual disabilities and autistic people in both inpatient hospital wards and community services. He regularly attends Care Education and Treatment Reviews in both settings and is deeply committed to ensuring their quality and effectiveness. He brings a clinical perspective to the investigating team.
Anne is a registered occupational therapist and associate professor. She has led national collaborations researching active involvement of older people in research and mistreatment in older people’s care. She has collaborated on research with people with dementia, learning disabilities, people with aphasia and autistic people aiming to increase representation in research, before joining CECiLiA. She recently co-led public involvement in a study DACHA) developing a minimum data set for care home use. She is committed to the active involvement in research of the people affected by the research. Aligned to this she supports social care practitioners in development of research experience, including for example through collaboration as co-applicants in research and Fellowship opportunities.
Richard is the founding Director of the Intellectual Disabilities Research Institute (IDRIS) at the University of Birmingham. He has worked at Birmingham since 2024 when he was appointed as a 125th Anniversary Chair and Professor of Psychology Health and Social Care. Richard’s research focuses on understanding inequalities and (co)designing supports and intervention approaches to reduce inequalities experienced by people with learning disabilities and their families and to improve their quality of life. More information about his research can be found here.
Glynis Murphy is Professor of Clinical Psychology & Disability at the Tizard Centre, University of Kent, UK. She is a clinical and forensic psychologist, HCPC member, Fellow of the BPS, and Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. She has worked in a variety of NHS community services and hospital services for people with learning disabilities and autistic people. She was co-editor of the journal JARID until 2014 and was President of IASSIDD 2008-2012. In 2013, she was awarded the British Psychological Society’s Monte Shapiro prize for contributions to clinical psychology. Prof Murphy chaired the NICE guidelines in challenging behaviour and learning disabilities in 2015 and is currently serving on the panel of a Public Inquiry into abuse at a hospital in Northern Ireland. She has held over £3 million in research grants and has over 200 publications. Her research interests include intellectual disabilities, autism, challenging behaviour, abuse, offending, mental capacity and the law.
Paul is an Associate Professor in Applied Statistics and Chartered statistician at the Intellectual Disabilities Research Institute, University of Birmingham. Paul’s research focuses on applied statistics research, and randomised controlled trials in social care, education, and health care settings. Paul is a Co-Investigator on the CECILIA Project, with a particular focus on the quantitative aspects of the evaluation. Click here to see Paul’s staff profile at the University of Birmingham.
David is associate professor of health economics at the University of East Anglia (UEA). He specialises in estimating cost-effectiveness of interventions as part of clinical trials. David’s role in CECiLiA is to advise on how the project estimates the costs related to using C(E)TR, both for individuals involved and the NHS.
Rachel Upton works as a Lead for Patient Experience and Co-production at Reach Out, the West Midlands Secure Care Provider Collaborative. She is a nurse by background with 30 years experience of working in services across Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Autism. She has a number of years of experience both as a panel member and participant in the C(E)TR process.
As a neuro-divergent person, she also has many years of direct lived-experience of mental health services and is a parent of an autistic adult who experienced in-patient care in a locked ASD service.
Viv’s son has severe learning disabilities (SLD) and displays a range of behaviours described as challenging. Because of her family experiences when he was young, in 1997 Viv founded the Challenging Behaviour Foundation (CBF), a small, national charity focused on the needs of children and adults with severe learning disabilities whose behaviour challenges and their families. Viv has participated in a range of groups and networks at local, regional and national level. In 2012, Viv was awarded an OBE for services to families and people with severe learning disabilities, and in 2015 was awarded an Honorary Doctorate at the University of Kent for her work in this area.
Sarah is the administrator for the CECiLiA project. She supports a portfolio of research projects in the School of Social Policy and Society at the University of Birmingham. She finds it meaningful to support research that has the potential to create real-world impact for individuals, families, and communities.