Autism Research Innovation Centre
Enriching Lives
The Autism Research Innovation Centre (ARIC) is focused on strengthening the wider autism community through participatory action research. The group's mission is to create a diverse and inclusive environment where community knowledge and academic expertise merge to produce evidence-based innovative professional approaches and services for enriching the lives of autistic people and those who support them throughout their lifespan.
About the Autism Research Innovation Centre
We are combining the diverse expertise of academic professionals in the fields of autism research, business, computer science, dog and animal-assisted interventions, education, health, human resource management, medical statistics, and psychology with the in-depth, first-hand experience of community leaders, community partners, and policy-makers, including governmental organisations, local government and public authorities, charities, and engagement groups.
Why Our Research Is Important
Our objective is to empower autistic communities by developing, evaluating, and cultivating modern, efficient, evidence-based initiatives and protocols to strengthen the connection between autistic people and those supporting them – from early childhood to late adulthood – and to enhance and maximise the rewards of their collaboration.
Ultimately, we envisage and realise practices, techniques, and technologies, which inherently enable and actively promote the organic creation of a society that cherishes and thrives on its diversity and inclusivity.
Our Research Is Different
Our work is grounded in the innovative principles of participatory action research and community-based participatory research, where we strategically involve all stakeholders to co-develop the stages of project design, data collection and dissemination, in order to break through the current boundaries of scientific- and public understanding of autism and of autistic individuals.
Using this framework, the multiple perspectives we adopt and combine, shed light onto various unique life experiences shared by autistic people from accessing additional support in education, through gaining novel opportunities by making the most of skill development programs and service provisions, to improving overall quality of life by finding and retaining employment. We draw on these experiences and research outcomes to inform policy development and re-assess current professional practices in the UK.
ARIC’s Organisational Structure
Chair: Responsible for providing leadership and strategic oversight to ensure effective governance and alignment with the centre's mission.
Director of Research: Responsible for shaping the research agenda, managing operations, mentoring researchers, and ensuring the overall success and impact of the research centre.
Research Programme Leads (RPL): Responsible for developing and coordinating research projects.
Board: Responsible for facilitating development, sharing information, monitoring and recording actions and progress in a strategic, complementary, robust, secure and consistent way.
Progressive Autism Group: A student-led, neuro-affirming research and social group dedicated to creating a supportive and proactive community for autistic students.
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
|
Dr Paul Baxter |
RPL in Robotics and Autonomous Systems |
|
Robert Dean |
RPL in Creative Arts |
|
Dr Jenny Hamilton |
RPL in Counselling/ Psychological Therapies |
|
Dr Niko Kargas |
Chair and Director of Research |
|
Prof Lambros Lazuras |
RPL in Inclusive Sports |
|
Rachael Mason |
RPL in the Criminal Justice System |
|
Prof Kerstin Meints |
RPL in Animal-Assisted Interventions |
|
Dr John Mendy |
RPL in Inclusive Employment |
|
Prof Daniel Mills |
RPL in Animal-Assisted Interventions |
|
Prof Michael Rowe |
RPL in Digital Health & Social Care Innovation |
|
Dr Lauren Smith |
RPL in the Criminal Justice System |
|
Dr Matina Tsiora |
RPL in Community Engagement |
Academic Staff
| Name |
|---|
|
Academic Staff |
|
Dr Ana Barcelos |
|
Dr Victoria Brelsford |
|
Dr Mirena Dimolareva |
|
Dr Francesco Del Duchetto |
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Dr Simon Durrant |
|
Dr Stephen Earl |
|
Mr Stephen Fisher |
|
Dr Julia Foecker |
|
Dr Christos Frantzidis |
|
Dr Kathleen Green |
|
Dr Georgina Gous |
|
Prof Kun Guo |
|
Dr Rebecca Hawkins |
|
Prof Todd Hogue |
|
Dr Mark Hudson |
|
Dr Robin Kramer |
|
Dr Kirsten McKenzie |
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Dr Hannah Merdian |
|
Dr Lynn Pickerell |
|
Dr Amanda Roberts |
|
Dr Jim Rogers |
|
Rachel Scarrott |
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Dr Valentina Sclafani |
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Dr Andre Soares |
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Dr Brett Still |
|
Dr Emile van der Zee |
|
Dr Fenja Ziegler |
Doctorate Students
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
|
James Baggott |
|
|
Sally Becker |
|
|
Lauren Bourn |
Chair of the Progressive Autism Group |
|
Thomas Davies |
Co-Chair of the Progressive Autism Group |
|
Anum Farooq |
|
|
Elle Hatam (Boden) |
|
|
Lauren Leivers |
|
|
Orfeas Stavrou |
|
|
Andrei Zarie |
|
Forensic and Clinical Research Group
Psychologists in this group undertake research which is focused in applied settings and on clinical or forensic populations, concerned with psychological functioning related to clinical and forensic problems.
Perception, Action, and Cognition Research Group
The Perception, Action, and Cognition Research Group works across a broad range of issues including visual motion processes, emotion and memory, and the visual processing in dyslexic, autistic, and neurological populations.
Development and Social Behaviour Research Group
This group includes a team of developmental, social, and evolutionary psychologists who examine the development of motor, behavioural, and cognitive processes, and the social psychological processes affecting interpersonal, intergroup, and interspecies attitudes, cognition, emotion, and behaviour.