Dubliner Aviva Cohen has received €50,000 (£37,000) from Enterprise Ireland to help families whose loved ones have speech and language difficulties following stroke, brain injury, dementia and other chronic conditions.
In 2006, the former university lecturer's partner, Steve O'Connor, survived a stroke that robbed him of speech, movement and cognition. The family were told there was little chance of improvement.
"Our daughters were one and six years old," Dr Cohen, 49, said. "I just had to do something."
Using her research skills, she produced a free online resource, Research and Hope, explaining cutting-edge stroke therapies. As Mr O'Connor tried various treatments, his condition improved - stem-cell therapy enabled him to move his right arm after three years of paralysis and therapy improved his cognition.
