About us

The MaxCCEL lab is a group of neuropsychologists, researchers, and student researchers who are passionate about making a positive difference for the lives of our research participants and individuals in society more broadly. We have extensive experience in designing studies to characterise cognitive functioning, developing interventions to improve cognitive difficulties in daily life, and using implementation science to maximise the translation of research into clinical practice.

The MaxCCEL lab is led by Associate Professor Kerryn Pike, a clinical neuropsychologist whose research focuses on characterisation of mild cognitive impairment and designing interventions to improve cognitive outcomes and minimise the effect of cognitive impairment on everyday function and quality of life.

Our Highlights

The LATCH Project

LaTCH is a group memory management program originally developed for older adults, including those with mild cognitive impairment. We have been working on making LaTCH for older adults more widely available (see below). We have also adapted LaTCH for people with brain tumours and are currently evaluating it in this group (see Brain Tumour Research for more information). It is called LaTCH as this represents the two institutes where the original founders were based – La Trobe University (Emeritus Professor Glynda Kinsella and Associate Professor Kerryn Pike) and Caulfield Hospital (Elizabeth Mullaly and Elizabeth Rand).

Older Adult Research

A major focus of our research team is to investigate cognitive and behavioural changes associated with ageing, and interventions to improve everyday cognition for older adults. Current intervention projects include the OPTIMiSE (Online Personalised Training in Memory Strategies for Everyday) program, and Dr Pike's work as the chair of the Cognitive Interventions Working Group for the Australian Dementia Network (ADNET). Our research has observed long term effects of cognitive training and older adults' awareness and preferences for cognitive interventions. We are currently characterising cognition in older adults with Type I diabetes.

Brain Tumour Research

A primary brain tumour diagnosis presents with multiple risk factors for impaired cognition, resulting from the tumour itself, surgical resection, or subsequent treatment. Despite this, there is limited knowledge regarding the cognitive characterisation of brain tumour survivors and very limited options for cognitive management post diagnosis. With these two factors in mind, the MaxCCEL lab is striving to improve clinical outcomes for brain tumour survivors, by first characterising their cognitive journey, identifying whether specific treatment or tumour characteristics are associated with cognitive outcomes, and researching the applicability and feasibility of the group memory management program, LaTCH, in improving these outcomes.