Newcastle University

The Trustees of the Tavistock Trust for Aphasia are delighted to announce that Professor David Howard is the 2013 recipient of The Robin Tavistock Award.

This award, named after Robin Tavistock, the 14th Duke of Bedford who founded The Tavistock Trust for Aphasia, is presented annually to a person, or group, who has made a significant contribution in the field of aphasia.

David Howard is a Research Professor at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom. He is a speech and language therapist and neuropsychologist. His research is mostly focussed on aphasia, encompassing issues on language processing, therapy and the representation of language in the brain.

This award is given in recognition of David Howard’s invaluable contribution to the world of aphasia. With over 100 publications to his name David is a towering figure in aphasia research. He was one of the first to bring the insights of cognitive neuropsychology to the field of aphasiology, and particularly to the domain of therapy. As a result he has hugely added to our understanding of the nature of aphasic impairments and how to treat them. His more recent research has used advances in brain imaging to illuminate the neural representation of language. In addition to theoretical rigour David’s research has a strong focus on the clinical needs of people with aphasia. With colleagues at Newcastle University and elsewhere he has generated a legacy of therapy and assessment materials that are widely used by therapists both in the UK and beyond.

This award is also made in recognition of David’s role in student education. His skills as a teacher, supervisor and mentor have been felt by countless students, particularly of speech and language therapy. Indeed many of those former students are now clinical and research leaders in their own right.
Last but not least we are recognising David’s contribution to the setting up in 1999 of The North East (since renamed as The Tavistock) Aphasia Centre at Newcastle University. Now acknowledged internationally as a pinnacle of excellence, the centre offers intensive therapy to people with aphasia,
provides cutting edge clinical education for SLT students and is leading research into the assessment and treatment of aphasic impairments. Most recently, the centre has supported the development of the North East Trust for Aphasia, known as NETA. This charity, run largely by people with aphasia, has become an independent, award winning self-help group that is inspiring others across the country.

Collaboration is a major theme in all of David’s work and he would be the first to credit his fellow team members for aspects of his success. Nonetheless, the TTA recognises that it is under his inspired leadership that so much has blossomed over the years in Newcastle. David has been a pioneer: an inspiration to students, colleagues and people with aphasia alike. We are delighted that he is accepting this award.

Henrietta, Duchess of Bedford will make the presentation at a private ceremony in October, to be attended by friends, colleagues and family of Professor David Howard and the Trustees of the Tavistock Trust for Aphasia.