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2nd Annual Conference of the Rehabilitation and Therapy Research Society

The 2nd Annual Conference of the Rehabilitation and Therapy Research Society took place on Friday May 26th 2006, in the Health Sciences Centre, University College Dublin.

The Rehabilitation and Therapy Research Society (formally the All Ireland Rehabilitation and Therapy Research Society) was established in May 2004 by representatives of physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy university staff across Ireland. The aim of the Society is to promote cooperation and collaboration between these disciplines on the island of Ireland to develop research activity. The 2nd Annual Conference was sponsored by Failte Ireland and many health and technology companies.

Speaking at the conference, Society Chairperson Professor Suzanne McDonough of the University of Ulster said, "This is a very exciting time for rehabilitation and therapy research in Ireland. We hope that by harnessing research potential across a range of therapy disciplines that we can have a real impact on health services provided across Ireland".

The theme of the conference was 'The Challenges of Clinical Research'. Keynote speaker Professor Julius Sim, Professor of Health Care Research at Keele University spoke about the methodological challenges in randomised clinical trials. Ms Bernie McNally, Chief Therapist Advisor, Therapy Advisory Unit, Department of Health and Children Ireland gave a talk about 'Developing research capacity amongst Irish Therapy professionals'. Professor James Law, the Director of the Centre for Integrated Healthcare Research, Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh spoke about the challenges of setting up a Centre for Integrated Healthcare Research in Scotland. The society was also addressed by Ms Mary Harney, Tánaiste and Minister for Health which showed the commitment of the Irish government in supporting this conference and research initiative.

Pictured above (from left to right) are Dr. Deirdre Hurley-Osing, Vice-Chairperson, Rehabilitation and Therapy Research Society, Professor James Law, Director, Centre for Integrated Healthcare Research, Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh, Ms. Mary Harney, T.D, Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Professor Julius Sim, Professor of Health Care Research, Keele University, Ms. Bernie McNally, Chief Therapist Advisor, Therapy Advisory Unit, Department of Health and Children and Professor Suzanne McDonough, Chairperson, Rehabilitation and Therapy Research Society.

See links below for media coverage from the conference.

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Chartered Physiotherapists Karen Coughlan and Sinead Murphy have devised the following advice for athletes.