Your voice. Your research. Your future.

a young woman using a wheelchair with a young man crouching beside her

Short videos about research for people with a spinal cord injury

This series of 16 short videos began life as four webinars held in 2022. They cover a wide range of topics starting from the very basic question, What is research? You’ll find out about the history of spinal cord injury research, and learn how to get involved in research – there are many different ways to do this.

Later in the series, you’ll hear from four active researchers as they explain what they are researching, and what led them to that particular area. They also talk about how and why they involve people with lived experience of SCI in their research.

In the final four videos, spend some time with Leanne Rees, an experienced physiotherapist who made the switch to research and is nearing the end of her PhD journey. She talks about involving people with lived experience in her doctoral research, the challenges she faced, and her advice for others looking to do the same.

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The Consumer Engagement Program is supported by our major partner, the IOOF Foundation.

This series was made possible through the support of the John T Reid Charitable Trusts, The Marian and E.H. Flack Trust, and the Brian M Davis Charitable Foundation.

Series introduction

Your voice. Your research. Your future.

This is a brief introduction to the 16 videos in this series. (1 minute)

Episode 1

What is research?

In this episode, we talk about the basics of what research is and how it works. We also run through an example so you can see the concepts in context. (26 minutes)

Episode 2

History of SCI research

In this episode, Antonio looks at key moments in the history of SCI research, and explains the difference between medical and social research. (8 minutes)

Episode 3

Impacts and benefits of SCI research

In this episode, we talk about the impact SCI research has had historically, and explore the various stakeholder groups that have benefited. (12 minutes)

Episode 4

Question & Answer (Session 1)

This Question & Answer session follows episodes one to three in this series. The questions were asked by audience members live during the webinar. (12 minutes)

Episode 5

The research cycle

In this episode weexplain the research cycle – what it is and why it is important. We point out that consumers have traditionally only been involved in one part of this cycle. (6 minutes)

Episode 6

Who are SCI consumers?

What do we mean when we use the term ‘consumers’ when we talk about Spinal Cord Injury research? Who is covered by this term? (8 minutes)

Episode 7

Engaging consumers in research

This episode discusses the ways in which consumers can get involved in research, not just as subjects, but in all parts of the research cycle. (30 minutes)

Episode 8

Question & Answer (Session two)

This Question & Answer session follows episodes 5, 6 and 7 in this series. The questions were asked by audience members live during the webinar. (13 minutes)

Episode 9

Chat with Dr Annie Palermo

Antonio chats with Dr Annie Palermo, a Postdoctoral Fellow at NeuRA, about her research in balance and respiration after spinal cord injury. (16 minutes)

Episode 10

Chat with Dr Marnie Graco

Antonio chats with Dr Marnie Graco, a Researcher/Scientist at Austin Health, about her research in sleep apnoea and sleep-disordered breathing after spinal cord injury. (20  minutes)

Episode 11

Chat with Dr Ali Lakhani

Antonio chats with Dr Ali Lakhani, a Senior Lecturer at La Trobe University, about his research on how consumers engage with community disability services and community spaces. (16 minutes)

Episode 12

Question & Answer (Session three)

This Question & Answer session follows episodes 9, 10 and 11 in this series. Dr Palermo and Dr Lakhani answer Antonio’s questions. (8 minutes)

Episode 13

Leanne Rees: Consumer engagement in doctoral research

In this video Leanne Rees shares resources and frameworks that can be helpful for those wishing to include consumer engagement in their research. (17 minutes)

Episode 14

Leanne Rees: Consumer engagement in my PhD

In this video, Leanne Rees shares how she went about engaging consumers in her doctoral research. (22 minutes)

Episode 15

Leanne Rees: Advice for engaging consumers in research

In this video Leanne shares her advice for engaging consumers in research and reflects on what she wishes she had known when she first started her PhD. (15 minutes)

Episode 16

Question & Answer (Session four)

This Question & Answer session follows episodes 13, 14, and 15 in this series. Leanne Rees answers Antonio’s questions. (9 minutes)

Clinical Trials

If you have a spinal cord injury there may be clinical trials that you can participate in.
To find out more about clinical trials, visit these websites.

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