Alison Porter-Armstrong

Alison Porter-Armstrong is Professor of Healthcare Technology Innovation and Assessment at Edinburgh Napier University's School of Health and Social Care, where she leads the Healthcare Technology Research Group. As an occupational therapist with over 200 peer-reviewed publications, her work focuses on assistive technologies, rehabilitation robotics, pressure care, and stroke rehabilitation innovations. She has secured approximately £8 million in research funding through collaborations with institutions including UCLA, University of Pittsburgh, and Georgia Tech.

Her research program spans:

• Development of digital healthcare technologies for home-based rehabilitation
• Robotics applications in occupational therapy and dementia care
• Pressure ulcer prevention and management systems
• Virtual reality interventions for neurorehabilitation
• Patient-centered design of pulmonary rehabilitation programs

Publication analysis reveals strong thematic focus on rehabilitation technology implementation (45%), stroke recovery interventions (30%), and respiratory care innovation (25%), with emerging work in autism-adapted therapies and health literacy.

Awards and honors include:

• UK-wide Best Knowledge Transfer Partnerships recognition
• H21 Award for Services to European Seating Symposium
• Praxis Unico Impact Awards finalist

Current doctoral supervision includes projects on:

• Digital delivery of mirror therapy for stroke rehabilitation
• Barriers in hearing technology adoption
• Adapted CBT frameworks for autistic adults

She manages active grants including a £99,720 project on robotics in dementia care (Royal College of Occupational Therapists) and £16,526 EPSRC-funded community care initiative.

Dr. Porter-Armstrong directs the Healthcare Technology Research Group and serves as Trustee/Treasurer for the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, while formerly co-chairing the European Seating Symposium Scientific Committee.