The National Aphasia Association (NAA) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025–2026 Research Grants. This year’s cohort reflects the continued growth of our organization and our commitment to supporting innovative, person-centered research in aphasia. With increased donor support, the NAA now offers three $10,000 grants: two through our longstanding partnership with the Academy of Aphasia and one dedicated grant for Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA), made possible by the Outdrive Aphasia initiative.
These awards were formally announced during our Ask the Expert session: “Aphasia Research in Action,” on October 9, 2025. This special event featured all three recipients in a panel discussion highlighting how their research is advancing communication access, improving therapy techniques, and addressing the needs of people with aphasia.
Outdrive Aphasia Grant Recipient
🏆 Dr. Jeanne Gallée
Institution: University of Washington School of Medicine
Email: jgallee@uw.edu | Phone: +1 425-246-5579
Project Title: Setting The Standard: Normative Parameters for The Progressive Aphasia Communication Toolkit (PACT)
Plain Language Description:
Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) changes how people connect with the world. To meet the need for real-world assessment tools, Dr. Gallée’s team developed the PACT: a conversation-based tool co-designed by 97 researchers, clinicians, care partners, and individuals with PPA. This project will refine and validate the PACT to ensure its practicality, reliability, and accessibility.
What the Grant Means:
“Receiving the Outdrive PPA Grant award is both an honor and a responsibility. Together, we can break down barriers to care and reimagine what communication, autonomy, and personhood look like for people living with PPA.”
NAA/Academy of Aphasia Grant Recipients
🏆 Dr. Victoria Tilton-Bolowsky, Ph.D. CCC-SLP
Institution: Teachers College, Columbia University
Email: veb2119@tc.columbia.edu | Phone: (212) 678-8302 / (516) 993-0091
Project Title: Semantic Feature Analysis + Metacognitive Strategy Training: A Phase-II Study
Plain Language Description:
This project will compare two approaches to aphasia therapy to determine which is more effective in improving naming and communication. One group will receive standard Semantic Feature Analysis; the other will receive a modified, more functional version. The study aims to show that the modified version improves naming, compensatory communication, and functional language use.
What the Grant Means:
“Receiving this grant is the ultimate honor—the National Aphasia Association does such important work supporting and connecting people with aphasia.”
🏆 David Ifeoluwa Ajayi, Ph.D. Student
Institution: University of South Florida
Email: ajayi20@usf.edu | Phone: 813-399-6183
Project Title: Neural Correlates of Recursive Self-Feedback
Plain Language Description:
This study investigates how stroke survivors with aphasia can use recursive self-feedback (RSF)—listening to and analyzing their own speech errors—to improve language production. The project uses neuroimaging to explore how RSF works in the brain and aims to validate its use in therapy.
What the Grant Means:
“I am excited about this grant because it will support the equipment and resources needed to complete my study and help validate a powerful communication strategy for people with aphasia.”
