Learning, Leading and Collaborating – My Stroke Research Journey in Oxford

By Margaret Moore

Thanks to the Stroke Foundation’s Future Leader Grant, I recently had the opportunity to spend five weeks at the University of Oxford working with Professor Nele Demeyere and her stroke research team.

The goal of my visit was to grow as a leader, learn new research skills, and build strong collaborations, all with the aim of improving recovery outcomes for stroke survivors.

One highlight was receiving mentorship from Prof. Demeyere. We had regular sessions where we talked about leadership in stroke research and how to build meaningful research programs. I also helped train new master's students in working with survivors of stroke, focusing on respectful communication and inclusive research practices.

I helped set up a new Electroencephalography (EEG) lab designed to better suit survivors. This lab is quicker to set up, more comfortable, and fully accessible. We’ve already started collecting data, and this work will help us understand how stroke changes brain function.

Connecting with researchers across the UK and Europe and starting new collaborative projects, on stroke imaging, brain network changes, and recovery outcomes, has been a fantastic experience. I hope this work will help me make a meaningful difference in people’s lives in the future.

I’m truly grateful to the Stroke Foundation and its donors for making this opportunity possible.