Neurodiversity Spark is proud to announce the launch of a new Research Hub, set to transform the development of research, policy, and innovation in Northern Ireland. This pioneering new venture will put the authentic voices of the neurodivergent community at the heart of its work, headed by the newly appointed Director of Research, Professor April Hargreaves, a renowned psychologist with over 15 years of experience.
The Hub’s core mission is to bridge the crucial gap between well-intentioned initiatives and their real-world impact. To do this, it will apply a trauma-informed lens to its work, recognising that psychological safety is essential for the genuine partnership needed to gather authentic, high-quality data. This modern approach replaces standard models with a focus on trust, choice, and collaboration, creating safe environments where people feel seen, respected, and empowered as expert stakeholders in the research process.
Instead of traditional methods, the Hub will use an innovative "co-production" framework that treats community members as key partners in gathering and analysing data. This human-centred design approach aims to build a reliable, localised evidence base that can help de-risk new policies and ensure services are designed to work for the people who actually use them.
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Leading this work is Professor April Hargreaves, who also serves as the Programme Director of Psychology at ICEP Europe and has a background in crucial areas like psychosis, autism, and stigma. She explains that the Hub’s methodology is inspired by the principles of user-focused development seen in the tech world.
"In the tech world, you wouldn't launch a product without extensive user feedback. We're applying that same logic to social policy," Professor Hargreaves explained. "I've always believed that research should be a tool that helps people directly; it’s about creating a bridge of understanding between lived experience and the services designed for them."
She continued: "By embedding lived experience directly into our research framework, we fundamentally improve the quality and integrity of our data. This allows our partners to develop policies and services that are not just well-intentioned but are precision-engineered to be effective and efficient. We are essentially providing the high-quality, human-centred data needed to build better systems for our community here in Northern Ireland."
Professor Hargreaves' leadership will ensure the Hub produces not just data, but deep understanding, creating a respectful, collaborative space for lasting, positive change.
The Neurodiversity Spark Research Hub seeks to collaborate with forward-thinking partners from government, academia, business, and the third sector who are interested in adopting a data-driven, compassionate approach to innovation and social impact.
Sync NI's Summer 2025 magazine celebrates women in tech across Ireland as we continue to encourage more women to enter the thriving sector and address the current gender imbalance. Read the Summer 2025 Sync NI Magazine online for free here.
