Dr Brenton Hordacre

Welcome to my homepage. I’m interested in how we can help people recover after stroke, brain injury or other neurological conditions. Stroke is a global leading cause of adult disability, with 1 in 4 adults (aged 25 or above) likely to experience a stroke in their lifetime. Many will experience ongoing disability that can affect ability to participate in social, recreational or leisure activities. Maximising recovery is important for improved health and wellbeing, with significant health economic value for society. 

I'm fortunate to work directly with people who have experienced stroke (and their families), both as a clinician, and researcher. My research aims to discover, test and implement new innovations that can accelerate stroke recovery. Beneficial therapies are rapidly translated to clinical practice through the Brain Recovery Clinic at UniSA. My hope is that the work we do leads to better outcomes and better life for those who have experienced a neurological injury.

Here's a little more about me….

Dr Brenton Hordacre is a Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy (UniSA) with a PhD in neurorehabilitation from Flinders University. He previously held an NHMRC Fellowship to conduct research into new technologies to help people with stroke recover. This work led to the establishment of the Brain Recovery Clinic at UniSA which is a technology focussed service, offering innovative solutions to maximise recovery. Dr Hordacre has been awarded $2 million in research funding. He holds the following positions;

• Co-Director, Innovation, IMPlementation and Clinical Translation (IIMPACT) in Health research concentration.
• Research Degree Coordinator, Allied Health and Human Performance.
• Chair, HDR Training Action Group

Dr Hordacre’s research expertise has been recognised on several national and international platforms. This includes significant prizes and awards such as;

• Young Tall Poppy of Science Award (2021)
• Australasian Brain Stimulation Society ECR prize (2021)
• Brain Foundation Elizabeth Penfold Simpson prize for best neuroscience paper (2018)
• University of South Australia ECR prize (2018)

Publication and research metrics are available here 

Several major discoveries have been translated to scientific communication videos

• Critical window of enhanced plasticity after stroke
• Boot Camp to accelerate arm recovery after stroke
• Innovative gait training for improving mobility outcomes

If you have research interest in Stroke Recovery for PhD, Masters or other collaborations, please feel free to contact me to discuss opportunities.

• Australian Physiotherapy Association - SA Branch Council (2017)
• Australian Physiothearpy Association Member
• SA Health Young Professionals Group
• Allied Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Registered Physiotherapist)

Qualifications

• Doctor of Philosophy Flinders University

• Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) The University of South Australia

Work history

Post-Doctoral Researcher (June 2014 – March 2017)

Neuromotor Plasticity & Development Research Group,

School of Medicine,

The Robinson Research Institute,

The University of Adelaide

Senior Physiotherapist (January 2011 – current)

Repatriation General Hospital

Department of Physiotherapy

SA Health

Lecturer (July 2013 – December 2015)

School of Physiotherapy

Faculty of Health Science

Flinders University