Lightning Oral Presentation Australian and New Zealand Stroke Organisation Conference 2026

Mapping Early Career Researcher Development Needs in Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation: a global survey from the ISRRA Early Career Researcher Group (139383)

Lilian Carvalho 1 , Jessica Nolan 2 , Chiao-Hsin Teng 3 , Sarah Ashcroft 4 , Rinita  Mascarenhas 5 , Nistara Chawla 6 , Potturi Upendranatha Reddy 7 8 , Pradeepa Nayak 9 , Saran Chamberlain 10 , Ana Flavia Silveira 11 12 , Bernat de las Heras 13 , Sebastian Gallegos-Berrios 7 14 , Mandeep Mandeep 15 , Asalet Aybuke Gup 1 16 , Kevin Moncion 17 , Dimple Dawar 5
  1. The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
  2. Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia
  3. Chang Gung University, School of Nursing, Taoyuan, Taiwan
  4. Recovery and Performance Laboratory, University of Newfoundland, Canada
  5. Department of Neurology, Christian Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
  6. Department of Physiotherapy, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academic of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka
  7. The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  8. Woodlands Health, Singapore, Singapore.
  9. Department of Health Professions, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
  10. Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
  11. Federal University of Sao Carlos, Sao Carlos, Brazil
  12. Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
  13. Cereneo: Center for Neurology and Rehabilitation, Weggis, Switzerland
  14. University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
  15. Department of Neurology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, India
  16. Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Muğla, Türkiye
  17. McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada

Background and Aims:

The International Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Alliance (ISRRA) established an Early Career Researcher (ECR) group (launched in 2025) to support career development in stroke recovery and rehabilitation. An international survey explored ECRs perspectives, challenges, and training needs to inform future initiatives.

Methods:

A cross-sectional global online survey of ECRs in stroke recovery and rehabilitation was conducted (September 2025-March 2026). The survey explored career goals, challenges, opportunities, and support needs, with training needs evaluated using modified Likert-scale items across Knowledge, Professional skills, Project management, and Leadership domains. Open-ended questions allowed participants to further elaborate on responses. Pilot-testing was performed prior to recruitment. Snowball sampling via professional networks, organisations and social media recruited ECRs across multiple countries. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively. Qualitative data were analysed thematically by two researchers, with discrepancies resolved through discussion.

Results:

Eighty-seven complete responses were received, representing 11 professional backgrounds and 24 countries. The most commonly reported challenges were: securing funding and resources (71%), competing professional priorities (balancing clinical, teaching, administrative and research roles (60%), and competing personal priorities or achieving work/life balance (51%). Highest-priority training needs across the domains were: Knowledge–writing grant applications (41%); Professional skills–reviewing grants (39%); Project management–securing funding (44%); Leadership–maximising research impact (37%).

Conclusions:

ECRs in stroke recovery and rehabilitation face multifaceted challenges, with securing research funding, competing professional priorities, and work–life balance as key barriers globally. Targeted group initiatives addressing grant-writing and funding acquisition should be prioritised, alongside support for managing competing demands.