Understanding and improving the lives of people with aphasia
Official title: From Impairment to Participation: A Systems Approach to Understanding the Complexity of Aphasia
Funded at Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago D/b/a Shirley Ryan Abilitylab · NIH-11035284 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how aphasia affects not just talking, but also thinking and socializing in everyday life, and it aims to create a new way to help people with aphasia feel better and more connected by focusing on their overall well-being.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago D/b/a Shirley Ryan Abilitylab NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 24, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $466,746 |
| NIH project number | 1R21DC022357-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11035284 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with aphasia, regardless of the severity of their condition.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have aphasia or related language disorders may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how aphasia, a language disorder, affects not only communication but also cognitive and social participation in daily life. It aims to develop a new model that combines both impairment-focused and life participation approaches to better understand and address the needs of individuals with aphasia. By analyzing various factors that influence language processing and participation, the research seeks to create a framework that can guide effective rehabilitation strategies. Patients with aphasia may benefit from this comprehensive approach that considers their overall well-being and social engagement.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved rehabilitation strategies that enhance communication and quality of life for individuals with aphasia.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in combining impairment-focused and life participation approaches, indicating potential for success in this novel model.
Where this research is happening
-
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago D/b/a Shirley Ryan Abilitylab
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ashaie, Sameer Afzal — Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago D/b/a Shirley Ryan Abilitylab
- Study coordinator: Ashaie, Sameer Afzal
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Communication Bridge: Improving language therapy for people with primary progressive aphasia
A proven language-therapy program called Communication Bridge helps people with primary progressive aphasia improve and maintain how they communicate with others.
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Neural signals linked to recovery from aphasia after stroke
This grant follows people who recently had a stroke and aphasia to understand why some recover language abilities better than others.
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Bilingualism and language resilience in Hispanic people with primary progressive aphasia
Researchers compare different bilingual experiences to see how they relate to language decline and thinking skills in Hispanic adults with primary progressive aphasia.
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Functional reorganization of language and general brain networks in aphasia
This project studies how language areas and general brain networks work together to help people recover language after a stroke, by looking at brain activity and responses to language tasks.
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eSANA: revealing and improving AAC use after stroke for aphasia
A project to explore how people with aphasia after a stroke can best use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) during early rehabilitation.
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Cortical Organization of Syntax in Aphasia
A patient-facing study to understand how brain injury affects sentence structure and help people with aphasia communicate more clearly.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.