UNDERSTANDING SLEEP AND BEHAVIOUR IN CHILDREN WITH NEURODEVELOPMENTAL CONDITIONS
OUR TEAM
Professor Caroline Richards
Professor Richards leads the Richards Lab. She is a Clinical Psychologist and Professor of Neurodevelopmental Conditions at the University of Birmingham. The aim of Professor Richards’ research is to reduce negative clinical outcomes for individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions (to view Professor Richards' research output, click here). Her work with autistic children and children with rare genetic syndromes has thus far focused on reducing self-injury, improving sleep disorders and understanding the impact of premature birth. Professor Richards collaborates with researchers from the Universities of Surrey, Aston and Warwick as part of the Cerebra Network (see www.cerebranetwork.com) and supervises a number of undergraduate and postgraduate students within the School of Psychology.
Dr Stacey Bissell
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​Dr Stacey Bissell conducts sleep-focused and behavioural research with children diagnosed with rare genetic syndromes associated with autism, epilepsy and intellectual disability. She has specific research expertise working with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), Smith-Magenis syndrome, Potocki-Lupski syndrome, SATB2-associated syndrome and Kleefstra syndrome. Her current work aims to i) profiles sleep and behaviour in children with TSC using actigraphy and mobile app technology, ii) profiles sleep in same-household siblings of children who have complex nocturnal health needs, and iii) utilises qualitative methodologies with TSC families to capture lived experiences and priorities for sleep management service provision and support.
Dr Kelly Wade
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Dr Wade was appointed as the Cerebra Network Coordinator in December 2020. She has an interest in the role that pain and painful health conditions play in behaviour that challenges. Dr Wade completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Birmingham and worked with the Cerebra Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders during her MRes. This MRes research project led by Professor Chris Oliver and Dr Lucy Wilde explored the persistence of behaviour that challenges in TSC. After her MRes, Dr Wade worked with the Cambridge Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Group, before returning to the University of Birmingham to complete her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Dr Wade is now Assistant Professor in Clinical Psychology, contributing to the teaching of clinical psychology trainees and supporting them through to qualification.
Dr Catherine Laverty
Dr Catherine Laverty is a research fellow in the School of Psychology at the University of Birmingham working on the REFINE project. Catherine’s research focuses on improving clinical outcomes in children within ‘at risk’ populations, with a particular current emphasis on self-injury, sleep, and behaviour in autistic children with an intellectual disability. Catherine’s PhD work explored social understanding within infants born moderately or late preterm. Catherine is passionate about conducting research that aims to improve clinical outcomes for children and their families.
Dr Caitlin Williams
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Dr Wiliams is a Research Fellow working on the i-KNOW Under 3 Project assessing the feasibility of preventative intention programme for individuals at Clinical High Risk for Behaviours that challenge. Caitlin has returned to the Richards Lab after completing her PhD at the University of Warwick, where she explored the wellbeing of families that have a child with intellectual disabilities. Caitlin initially worked as an Honorary Research Assistant at the Richards Lab whilst completing her MSci Psychology and Psychological Research degree in 2020.
Rory O'Sullivan
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Rory completed his BSc in Psychology at Loughborough University, during which he worked as an Honorary Research Assistant at Richards Lab. Whilst at Richards Lab, Rory assisted with several projects including e-SNORE which investigated sleep in children with tuberous sclerosis complex, and the impact of sleep on daytime behaviour and functioning. Rory has since developed an interest in sleep research with at-risk groups, and returned to Richards Lab in 2021 to undertake a PhD under the supervision of Dr Caroline Richards, Professor Andrew Bagshaw and Dr Stacey Bissell. Rory’s project is examining the ways in which we measure sleep and daytime behaviour, and applying these measures to investigate associations between sleep and daytime behaviour amongst children with rare genetic syndromes. Rory is now Research Fellow working on the REFINE project.
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Rachel Martlew
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Rachel completed her BSc in Neuroscience at Aston University, during which she undertook a placement year at the Richards Lab, working on the CHARGE project, SIB study and IPSU project. Rachel has since begun her PhD, which is funded by the Baily-Thomas Charitable Fund, and is supervised by Professor Caroline Richards and Professor Andrew Bremner at the University of Birmingham. Her PhD aims to understand the underpinnings of repetitive behaviours in infants with genetic syndromes and intellectual disability. To do this, both behavioural and EEG brain imaging methods will be utilised to try and decipher any commonalities between infants that show high versus low levels of repetitive behaviours.
Lauren Walters
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Lauren works on the iKNOW study assessing the feasibility of preventative intention programme for individuals at Clinical High Risk for Behaviours that challenge. This work is in partnership with the NHS and supervised by Professor Caroline Richards. Lauren also works on the OASIS project, an objective actigraphy study in sleep of children with intellectual disability and their siblings, supervised by Dr Stacey Bissel.
Kiran Kaur
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Kiran graduated with a BSc in Psychology from Aston University, and her dissertation investigated the correlation between sleep, anxiety and autism traits in undergraduate students. Through her studies, she also worked as an honorary research assistant, as part of her placement year, contributing to various projects such as The Sleep-Impulsivity Behaviour (SIB) study, the i-KNOW feasibility project, and research on self-harm and autism. She has now re-joined Richards Lab, holding the position of Research Assistant for the i-KNOW Under 3 Project.
Dr Marie Dunnion
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Dr Marie Dunnion, Cerebra Network’s Impact Lead, started her academic career at the University of Birmingham and is delighted to have recently joined the Cerebra Network as a Research Associate. Marie is a Chartered Psychologist with Bachelor’s, Masters and Doctorate degrees, all of which incorporated the study of psychology. Marie’s Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) was in Business/Occupational Psychology and focused on a form of unethical work behaviour referred to as 'false performance.' Marie is also the parent carer of a young child on the autism spectrum. And she is currently a Lived Experience Partner on an NHS project designed to improve the sensory experience of patients with autism when visiting their GP. Marie is enthusiastic about optimising the impact of the Cerebra Network’s research in her current role.
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Josh Covey​
Josh is completing his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy) at the University of Birmingham and is on placement within the team. He has previously worked in specialist autism services at Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital as well as in prisons and CAMHS services throughout the UK. Josh's specialist area is working with teenagers with autism who are experiencing complex mental health difficulties. He completed his undergraduate psychology degree at Royal Holloway and his Masters degree at the University of Warwick in the field of clinical psychology.
Arfaa Riaz​
Arfaa is currently undertaking a 7-month clinical research placement with Richards Lab, as part of her MSci Psychology and Psychological Practice degree. The projects Arfaa is involved in are the OASIS study, an objective actigraphy study in sleep of children with intellectual disability and their siblings, and the I-KNOW Under 3 study, which is a study assessing the feasibility of preventative interventions for children aged 3 and under at clinical high risk of developing behaviours that challenge.
Rejina Rai​
Rejina is an undergraduate student from Aston University and is currently undertaking her placement year at the Richard’s Lab, working on the OASIS project and i-KNOW Under 5’s project. OASIS is an actigraphy study interested in the sleep of children with an intellectual disability and their same-household sibling. The i-KNOW Under 3 project is an early intervention programme designed to help parents and carers better understand their child’s communication and behaviour and prevent behaviours that challenge before they start.