Jodie Bloska

Jodie Bloska is a Clinical Research Fellow at the Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research (CIMTR) within Anglia Ruskin University's Cambridge School of Creative Industries. She serves as a qualified music therapist specializing in neurodisabilities and dementia care while contributing to research, clinical supervision, and postgraduate teaching.

Education:

• MA Music Therapy, Anglia Ruskin University
• BMus in Music Cognition, McMaster University

Her research focuses on music therapy interventions for dementia patients, particularly examining how shared music activities enhance relationships between people with dementia and family caregivers. Current work includes the international HOMESIDE trial using mixed-methods approaches combining quantitative outcomes with social neuroscience techniques to analyze emotional processing during social connectedness. Her studies frequently address neurorehabilitation, caregiver support systems, and community-based dementia care models.

Publication analysis reveals consistent focus on dementia intervention efficacy across care settings (homes, care facilities), with recent work emphasizing international trial methodologies, caregiver training protocols, and neural mechanisms underlying music therapy benefits. Key trends include expanding from single-case neuroscience studies to large-scale RCTs addressing global dementia challenges.

Professional Activities:

• Registered Music Therapist (HCPC)
• Associate Fellow, Higher Education Academy
• Neurologic Music Therapist
• Ad hoc reviewer for Nordic Journal of Music Therapy

She actively supervises clinical placements for MA Music Therapy students and contributes to major trials like MIDDEL and HOMESIDE. Her work bridges academic research with real-world implementation through partnerships with care homes, military support organizations, and international research networks. Current projects emphasize translating neuroscience findings into practical caregiver-delivered interventions while addressing pandemic-related disruptions to dementia care.