Suzanne Ackerley

Dr. Suzanne Ackerley serves as a Research Fellow at Lancaster Medical School, Lancaster University, specializing in stroke rehabilitation and telerehabilitation innovation. Her work focuses on developing and implementing evidence-based rehabilitation protocols through the NeuroRehabilitation OnLine (NROL) platform.

Her research interests center on stroke rehabilitation optimization, with particular emphasis on telerehabilitation implementation, biomarker validation for recovery prediction, and increasing rehabilitation intensity through innovative service models. A key focus is the development and regional implementation of the NROL system for multidisciplinary group-based neurorehabilitation.

Dr. Ackerley's recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate consistent focus on stroke rehabilitation service delivery, with major themes including: implementation of group-based telerehabilitation during and post-pandemic, validation of the PREP2 algorithm for predicting upper limb recovery, and national surveys examining variations in stroke care pathways. Her work bridges clinical practice with implementation science.

Scientific recognition includes:

• NHS England Chief Allied Health Professions Officer Awards, Digital Practice Award (Short-listed)

Dr. Ackerley holds an active NIHR Senior Clinical and Practitioner Research Award (SCPRA) project titled 'R2_S Ackerley' running from May 2025 to April 2027. She participates in the 'Interdisciplinary network in culture, health, ethics and society' research group and has delivered invited talks on NROL implementation for the NHS England Chief Allied Health Professions Officer.

Her work operates at the intersection of clinical neuroscience, rehabilitation engineering, and healthcare service delivery, with strong emphasis on translating research into practical clinical applications through robust implementation frameworks.