RSE Research Award
Dr Silvia Paracchini FRSE, Reader at the School of Medicine, is a recipient of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) Research Awards for the project ‘Specific learning disorders in Scotland’. The new awards programme was launched in Spring 2021 with a view of supporting Scotland’s academic researchers, stimulate research in Scotland, and promote international collaboration, which will be of lasting benefit to the individuals, communities and to broader society. Dr Paracchini’s proposal was awarded as part of the RSE Workshop Grants category.
Dr Paracchini’s research focuses on understanding the genetic basis of dyslexia and learning difficulties. Through this project she will join forces with Dr Michelle Luciano, Reader at the School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh. They will organise a major workshop in the Summer of 2022 to bring together researchers from different disciplines but united by common interest in learning disorders such as dyslexia, dyscalculia and language difficulties. The goal is to shape the direction of research in this field to make it relevant to the key stakeholders. An important component of the workshop will be the dialogue with families, teachers, and charities to understand how research can address the priorities of individuals with direct experiences of learning disorders. By delivering this workshop and bringing people together to engage and discuss ideas, Paracchini plans to raise awareness of these conditions and formulate a coordinated research agenda for Scotland and beyond. Paracchini commented on the announcement: “Setting up such a network and engaging with families and teachers is extremely important, yet not typically supported by traditional funding schemes. I am looking forward to working with Dr Michelle Luciano, co-PI at the University of Edinburgh, and establishing closer links between our Institutions. I believe that this work will significantly adjust the direction of my research”.