ADLIFE Q&A
Vanessa Zervogianni
Research Assistant
What’s your background and your current role?
I’m a Research Assistant at the University of Strathclyde, heavily involved in developing and enhancing the communications strategy and dissemination for ADLIFE. My background spans various disciplines, including Special Needs Education and Informatics. My professional focus is on bridging the gap between technological advances and the people who benefit from them in real-world settings.
Why did you want to be involved in the ADLIFE project?
My interest in digital health for vulnerable populations and innovative solutions for elderly care drove me to join the ADLIFE project. Given my research background, particularly in the design of digital solutions for vulnerable populations in healthcare and education, I saw ADLIFE as an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to addressing challenges in present-day health care.
What drew me to ADLIFE was its emphasis on patient empowerment and shared decision-making, both of which are highly relevant in today’s healthcare landscape. At the same time, engaging in international collaborations like ADLIFE is professionally rewarding, as that provides opportunities to contribute meaningfully to scientific initiatives with a global reach.
What does your role in ADLIFE involve?
Our team at the University of Strathclyde are delivering work package 2 (WP2) which manages the communications and dissemination strategy of the project. Leveraging my expertise in science communication and public engagement, my focus is on strategically enhancing audience engagement, bolstering project outreach, and transforming project outcomes into impactful outputs. The overarching goals are to benefit academics across various sectors, influence industry stakeholders, and enhance the health outcomes of the elderly population. Additionally, I'm contributing to producing reports and lay articles to disseminate the project findings within academic circles.
What most excites you about working on ADLIFE and with the Consortium?
I’m thrilled to collaborate with passionate researchers in digital health, technology, and elderly care within the ADLIFE Consortium. This presents an invaluable networking opportunity and a chance to expand my knowledge in these domains, shaping my future career trajectory as a researcher and innovator. The most exciting aspect of public health research is the opportunity to address pressing health issues and contribute to evidence-based solutions that have real-world impact.
Finally, tell us something about you that people may not know.
I have a BA in Acting and I used to perform at the theatre about a decade ago. Scientific research won me over in the end, but I never miss an opportunity to watch a high-quality play or a musical!