Avril Drummond is an occupational therapist, Emeritus Professor of Healthcare Research at the University of Nottingham and Professor of Rehabilitation at Loughborough. She has worked clinically, in education and in research. Her research interests are diverse- ranging across the spectrum of rehabilitation- and she has published over 200 academic papers to date on clinical services and specific rehabilitation interventions. Avril has been recognised as an NIHR senior investigator.
Although Avril's main areas of interest are stroke rehabilitation and conducting randomized controlled trials, she is interested in all aspects of rehabilitation research. She has conducted trials and service evaluations of stroke units, occupational therapy pre-discharge home visits, falls reduction/management, interventions for people with MS, traumatic brain injury, joint replacements, and ‘fit’ notes.
Avril is currently conducting research into fatigue after stroke, falls, memory rehabilitation, tendon injuries, vocational rehabilitation, and upper limb recovery after stroke.
- Editor- in- Chief of Clinical Rehabilitation.
- Fellow of the College of Occupational Therapists.
- Member of the Royal College of Physicians Intercollegiate Working Party for stroke.
- Senior Chair NIHR Doctoral Clinical and Practitioner Academic Fellowship DCAF panel.
- Trustee UK Stroke Association and Elizabeth Casson Trust.
- Previous Chair of the UK Stroke Forum and founding Chair of the European Life after Stroke Conference panel.
- Previous Board Member, Derby Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
- One of fifteen woman identified by World Stroke Academy as an International Women in Stroke in 2021.
- Made an honorary member of the British and Irish Association of Stroke Physicians in 2023.
Featured publications
- Cadilhac, Dominique A.; Cameron, Janette; Kilkenny, Monique F.; Andrew, Nadine E.; Brancatisano, Olivia; C. Cloud, Geoffrey; et al. (2026). Recovery-focused Community support to Avoid readmissions and improve Participation after Stroke: a multi centre randomised controlled trial. International Journal of Stroke. In press
- Adamson, J., Scantlebury, A., Drummond, A. et al. Why do common sense trials fail in the UK? Lessons learned from a trial which tested the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a community falls prevention programme (the Firefli study). Trials 26, 365 (2025). DOI: 10.1186/s13063-025-09116-x
- Carcel Cheryl; Sandset Else Charlotte; Ali Mariam et al. Addressing sex and gender differences in stroke risk and management: A Scientific Statement from the World Stroke Organization. International Journal of Stroke. 2026;21(3):303-323. DOI: 10.1177/17474930251393009
- Samuelsson, C.M., Hussain, N., Drummond, A. and Persson, C.U. (2025), Health-Related Quality of Life One Year After Intensive Care Unit Admission for COVID-19: A Retrospective, Cross-Sectional, Longitudinal Observational Study. Health Science Reports, 8: e70507. DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.70507
- das Nair R, Mhizha-Murira JR, Topcu G, et al. Providing Emotional Support During the Process of Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis (PrEliMS): A Feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial. Clinical Rehabilitation. 2024;38(11):1506-1520. DOI: 1177/02692155241284781
- Sheehan L, Woodward A, Archer M, et al. Occupational support following arthroplasty of the lower limb (OPAL): trial protocol for a UK-wide phase III randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open 2024;14:e085962. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-085962