Take part in research
Help researchers learn more about your neurological condition
Every day, scientists and researchers work hard to understand more about neurological conditions.
To do this, they sometimes need help from people who have lived with these conditions themselves.
At The Brain Charity, we’re often contacted by research teams who are looking for volunteers to take part in their studies. These studies can help create better treatments, improve support and make life easier for people in the future.
If you have experience of any of the conditions listed below and would like to help, you can get involved by contacting the researchers directly using the details provided.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Researchers are looking for UK-based adults aged 18 to 25 who have experienced a moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) to take part in a study exploring the emotional and social impact of life after brain injury. To be eligible, your injury must have occurred more than one year ago, you must not currently be in inpatient rehabilitation, and you should be able to take part in an online interview.
Participation involves completing a short online screening questionnaire and, if eligible, taking part in a one-hour interview via Microsoft Teams. Researchers hope to better understand the experiences of young adults living with the long-term effects of brain injury. Participants who complete the interview will receive a £25 gift voucher as a thank you for their time.
Click here to find out more and express your interest.
Contact: Abbey Stenning email: A.Stenning@soton.ac.uk
Closing date: 27 November 2026
Fibromyalgia in women
Researchers at LJMU are exploring how fibromyalgia affects pain perception and brain activity. The study compares pain responses in women with fibromyalgia to those without chronic pain.
Participants will complete online questionnaires and attend one laboratory session (around two hours) at LJMU’s Tom Reilly Building. During the session, brief laser pinprick stimuli will be used while brain activity is measured using EEG.
Participants will receive a £20 voucher for taking part.
To take part, you must:
- Be aged 18 to 65
- Have been assigned female at birth
- Live in the UK and understand English
- Have a fibromyalgia diagnosis from a recognised medical professional
The research could help improve understanding of fibromyalgia and contribute to future developments in pain assessment and management.
Click here to find out more and express your interest.
Contact: Maria Planes Alias email: M.PlanesAlias@2022.ljmu.ac.uk
Closing date: 1 December 2026
Young onset dementia in former athletes
Researchers at Loughborough University are looking to speak with former athletes, or individuals with a history of sport participation, living with young onset dementia about their experiences in sport and their experiences of living with dementia.
They are also looking to speak with family members (for a separate project) about their experiences of supporting, and caring for, former athletes living with young onset dementia.
The aim of this research is to improve knowledge and understanding with a focus on improving the support and care that these individuals and their families receive.
Participants will be asked to attend an online interview lasting approximately one hour.
If you are interested please email the lead researcher on the address below.
Contact: Kieran McGee, email K.J.McGee@lboro.ac.uk
Closing date: May 2027
Chronic migraine
Researchers at University College London are recruiting adults aged 18 to 70 with chronic migraine to take part in a four-month study exploring a non-invasive device called Nettle. The headband-like device delivers gentle electrical stimulation and is being investigated for its potential to reduce migraine symptoms. Participants will complete a headache diary for one month before using the device at home for 20 minutes a day over a 12-week period, alongside brief quality of life and mood questionnaires.
The study involves an initial assessment (which can be virtual), a face-to-face training appointment at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London, a short follow-up call, and a final visit to return the device. Travel expenses of up to £50 per visit will be reimbursed. To be eligible, participants must have been diagnosed with chronic migraine by a headache specialist at least one year ago and be willing to keep their migraine medication stable throughout the study.
Click here to find out more and express your interest.
Contact: Lucy Simmonds lucysimmonds@nhs.net
Closing date: 1 March 2027
Acquired brain injury (ABI)
Researchers at Queen’s University Belfast are looking for young people with an acquired brain injury (ABI), parents or carers of a child with a brain injury, and adults with lived experience of a childhood brain injury to help shape a new online resource for social care practitioners. The resource aims to improve understanding of paediatric brain injury and the real-life challenges faced by children, young people and families.
Participants will be invited to take part in a short video interview, answering a few questions about their experiences and journey following brain injury. These videos will form part of the training resource, helping social care professionals learn directly from people with lived experience and improve support for children and families affected by brain injury.
Click here to find out more and express your interest.
Contact: lmckeown38@qub.ac.uk
Closing date: 1 November 2026
Aphasia
A team of independent researchers is looking to understand how people with aphasia after stroke process and understand speech.
Aphasia can make it harder to understand or use words. This isn’t about intelligence — it’s about how the brain processes speech, which is actually very complex.
The researchers have already learned more about how the brain supports speech understanding. Now, they want to explore whether gentle brain stimulation can help improve this, making listening easier and clearer.
You may be able to take part if you:
Have aphasia after a stroke
Are able to walk independently
Can speak, but sometimes find that words come out with mixed-up sounds
You would:
Take part in some language and thinking assessments (online or in person)
Attend two sessions at University College London for the brain stimulation part of the study.
All expenses will be paid (including travel and hotels if necessary).
Time commitment is around 6 hours in total. This will be spread across sessions in a way that works for you.
You’ll also receive a shopping voucher as a thank you for your time.
If you’d like to find out more or take part, please email the research team or express your interest here: https://redcap.idhs.ucl.ac.uk/surveys/?s=8J9RMCY333WRPD8L
Contact: Holly Robson, email h.robson@ucl.ac.uk
Closing date: October 2026
Informal caregivers of stroke survivors
This research project aims to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of informal carers of stroke survivors, particularly their emotional responses.
Carers sometimes report feeling overwhelmed, exhausted and/or isolated. The research hopes to explore and understand this in relation to caring for a stroke survivor.
The research seeks to raise awareness of the unique experiences of caregivers for stroke survivors and the impact this has on their lives, an area that has received limited research attention. By highlighting any emotional difficulties faced, the research aims to encourage more support for carers of a stroke survivor.
You can take part if you:
- are aged 18 or over
- care for or support someone who has had a stroke
- are not paid for your caring role
The research will take place online via MS Teams and takes 60-90 minutes.
Participants will receive a £20 Love2shop voucher after taking part as a thank you for their time.
If you’d like to find out more or take part, please email the research team at the address below.
Contact: Sophie Langley, email langleys2@coventry.ac.uk
Closing date: 1 November 2026
Right hemisphere stroke or auditory processing disorder (APD)
This study will explore speech responses after stroke affecting the right side of the brain and compare this to stroke affecting the left side of the brain so that we can better understand the causes of difficulties and how treatments should differ.
You may be able to take part if you have had a stroke in the right side of the brain that did not affect walking and talking.
Anyone with symptoms or a diagnosis of auditory processing disorder after right side stroke may be eligible.
Participants will do language, speech listening and cognitive assessments – usually over zoom.
They will also do an experiment using EEG where we record brain activity is recorded, either at home or at University College London.
Time commitment is around 6 hours, but this will depend on the participant. Sessions can be split into smaller parts to suit you, with breaks as needed.
All expenses are paid (including travel and hotels if necessary) and a shopping voucher as a thank you for your time.
If you’d like to find out more or take part, please email the research team or express your interest here: https://redcap.idhs.ucl.ac.uk/surveys/?s=8J9RMCY333WRPD8L
Contact: Holly Robson, email h.robson@ucl.ac.uk
Closing date: October 2026
Catheter users
Researchers are inviting adults who use intermittent self-catheterisation to take part in a study exploring experiences of a digital Emotional Wellbeing Programme.
The aim of the study is to understand how this programme fits into daily life, how it affects emotional wellbeing, and what people find helpful or challenging about using it.
Participants will first complete an online consent form and a short questionnaire about themselves.
Participants will then be given access to the Emotional Wellbeing Programme, which can be used at their own pace over around 8-14 weeks using a smartphone, tablet, or computer. This programme involves 10 modules, including focus on socialising, fears and pain, intimacy, movement and confidence.
Participants will receive a brief online introduction to the programme and a short check-in partway through.
After completing the programme, participants will be invited to take part in a one-to-one interview about their experiences of using the programme with a member of the research team. The interview will last around 45-60 minutes and will take place online or by phone, depending on participant preference.
Taking part is entirely voluntary, and you can withdraw at any time. The findings will help improve future emotional wellbeing support for people who self-catheterise.
Contact: Sula Windgassen, catheterwellbeing@kcl.ac.uk
Closing date: TBC
Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC)
The main focus of this research is to understand the experiences of children with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) in education in the United Kingdom, alongside the resources available to educational professionals who support them. The study aims to capture both professional perspectives and children’s own views of what they enjoy most about school and what they find most challenging.
There are two aspects to the project. Educational professionals will take part in a one-hour online interview and complete short online questionnaires. Children aged 6–11 years with a diagnosis of TSC will take part in a face-to-face or online session with the research team, using a show-and-tell approach to share their favourite and most challenging aspects of school. Parents will be asked to complete a series of online questionnaires. Total participation time is up to 1.5 hours for professionals and up to 2 hours for children and families.
Educational professionals who have supported a pupil with TSC for at least one school term are eligible to take part. Children must be aged 6–11 years, have a diagnosis of TSC, and be enrolled in education in the UK (mainstream, SEND provision, or home education). Participants will receive a thank-you e-voucher (£20 for educational professionals and £25 for children and families). Participation can take place remotely or face to face.
Contact: Cheyenne Contreras, King’s College London, cheyenne.contreras@kcl.ac.uk, Closing date: January 2027
Staff and volunteers supporting families after acquired brain injury (ABI)
This research aims to understand how staff members and volunteers help family members stay socially connected after an acquired brain injury (ABI).
Researchers hope the findings will improve understanding of how charities and other organisations can support families to build and maintain social connections following ABI.
You may be able to take part if you:
- Are aged 18 or over
- Work or volunteer in a role that supports families affected by acquired brain injury with social connection
Participants will take part in a one-to-one online interview lasting approximately one hour via Microsoft Teams.
Participants will receive a £10 thank you payment for taking part.
To find out more or sign up, complete the online form or contact the researcher directly.
Contact: Tara Self, email t.self@uea.ac.uk Closing date: 31 October 2026
Mothers of teenagers diagnosed with ADHD
This research aims to gain a better understanding of how mothers who have or had teenagers diagnosed with ADHD experience parental burnout.
Participants will be asked to take part in an online one-to-one interview lasting approximately 60 minutes.
It is anticipated that the findings will help clinical psychologists and other health professionals provide more targeted support for mothers with children diagnosed with ADHD.
Eligibility criteria: mothers who have or had a teenager (aged 13–19) diagnosed with ADHD (self-reported) and identify with parental burnout, defined as overwhelming exhaustion related to parenting, emotional distancing from children, and persistent feelings of ineffectiveness (Mikolajczak et al., 2019).
This study is important because there is a lack of research exploring mothers’ experiences of parental burnout while parenting a teenager with ADHD.
Participants will receive a £20 shopping voucher as a thank you for their time.
To take part, please email the researcher for further information.
Contact: Jessica Fox, email foxj13@coventry.ac.uk Closing date: 30 September 2026
Young women with ADHD
This dissertation project focuses on the experiences of young women with ADHD. As a young woman diagnosed with ADHD herself, the researcher is particularly interested in exploring the occupation of flirting, considering its form, function, and meaning for this group. Within occupational therapy, ‘occupation’ refers to meaningful and purposeful activities that individuals need, want, or are expected to do.
This project will examine how social expectations, stereotypes, norms, and interpersonal experiences may shape this occupation. It aims to amplify the voices of young women with ADHD and contribute to a greater understanding of a currently underexplored topic.
Inclusion criteria: Women aged 18–25 with ADHD.
The study will involve interviews, questionnaires and diaries, requiring a commitment of around two hours. Interviews will be held in person in Brighton or virtually via Zoom.
Contact: Romy Beer, email r.beer3@uni.brighton.ac.uk
Closing date: October 2026
If your condition is not listed above, please keep checking this page. Researchers often ask us to help them find people for their studies and we’ll add new opportunities here when they become available.
If you are a researcher looking to add your study to this list, please visit this page for further details.
