BRAIN Lab: Brain Research for Aphasia and Intensive Neurorehabilitation Lab

02/05/2026

BRAIN lab P*s Dr. Off and Dr. Musick celebrated two successful grant proposals with cake and the newest BRAIN lab member, baby Arlo.

11/23/2025

Do you or someone you know have aphasia?
We are recruiting adults with aphasia in rural areas of the Mountain West to take part in a research study through the University of Montana.
This study involves joining a 10-week online Telehealth Community Aphasia Group (Tele-CAG), led by speech-language pathologists, and completing surveys and interviews before, during, and after the group.

More Information about the Tele-CAG:
🗣 Connect with others who have aphasia
💻 Meet weekly on Zoom (Jan–May 2026)
📱 Free tablet loan if needed
💵 Earn up to $125 for completing study activities

If you are interested or want more information, complete this online form https://umt.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1LCJQzps26BKGy2 or email [email protected].

Please share with anyone who may benefit.

📄 Flyer attached.

11/04/2024

The BRAIN Lab and the GAB Lab UM Speech & Hearing University of Montana had the opportunity to participate in NSF's I-CORPS 5-week training this past spring. Check out this write up of our eperience:

When Dr. Cathy Off and her team joined I-Corps, they were still discovering how to develop and market a technology that would enhance the lives of stroke survivors with aphasia. Learn more about their journey!

05/04/2024

The BRAIN Lab at the University of Montana is excited to celebrate Jenna Griffin-Musick’s successful doctoral dissertation defense! We are also over the moon to announce that Dr. Griffin-Musick will be starting her career as a tenure-track Assistant Professor in UM Speech & Hearing this coming fall!! Congratulations Jenna!! We can’t wait to see where your research takes you next!! It has been an absolute honor to collaborate with you as your research mentor all these years.

04/23/2024

Congratulations to BRAIN lab researchers McKinlee Mihelish and Shannon Welby, who presented at the University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research last Friday!

02/10/2024

BRAIN Lab’s own!!

Adele Derendinger, a Master's student, is the highlight. Adele saw the ANCDS Student fellowship as "an opportunity to progress towards two of my most important goals: expanding on my academic growth and fostering strong mentor relationships."

Adele talked about her expectations as a Student Fellow: "My expectation is that I will be able to learn as a young clinician, contribute as a researcher, and someday continue the cycle of mentorship as I gain experience. Dr. Catherine Off has been a foundational mentor for me, and I am excited to continue to grow as a student member of ANCDS. I have my clinical fellowship in the forefront of my mind as I eagerly anticipate my last semester of clinical rotations. I hope to contribute to clinical research as I aspire to find a role as a clinical fellow in a rehabilitative hospital setting. I desire to build and contribute to the team that I join just as I continue to learn and build my own expertise from them."

Adele also described her current research project: "As part of my thesis research project with the Behavioral Research for Aphasia and Intensive Neurorehabilitation (BRAIN) Lab at the University of Montana, I am comparing cognitive-linguistic (language) outcomes of patients with aphasia who are participating in either intensive or non-intensive treatment. This summer, I played an important role in facilitating the Big Sky Aphasia Program (BSAP) for my clinical rotation and thesis research project. This included administering nearly 150 cognitive-linguistic assessments to compare outcomes of patients receiving various amounts and intensities of treatment. My experiences from this practicum solidified my passion for pursuing a career with adult populations."

10/21/2023

Congratulations to Adele Derendinger, BRAIN Lab MS thesis student! 2023 ANCDS student fellow and Montana Speech-Language-Hearing Association student researcher award!

08/23/2023

So proud of BRAIN Lab Grad Student Adele!!

Proud program alert: we have truly rockstar students. 🥹

SLHOS MS SLP student, Adele Derendinger, was awarded 1 of only 12 student fellowships granted by the Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences (ANCDS) to attend the 2023 ANCDS Conference in Boston on November 15th. This award includes: (1) a one-year ANCDS Membership, (2) registration to attend the 2023 ANCDS Annual Scientific Meeting in Boston, and (3) "Fellow-Mentor Networking" events during the 2023 ANCDS Annual Scientific Meeting.

[ID: MS SLP Student Adele Derendinger is wearing sunglasses, a baseball cap, a backpacking backpack; there are trees and mountains in the background.]

02/10/2023

Just released!! New issue of Topics in Language Disorders, "Stakeholder-Engaged Research: Examples From Aphasia"

The BRAIN Lab and Dr. Victoria Scharp collaborated to contribute
"Graduate Student Clinicians in Health Care Professions as Stakeholders in Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program (ICAP) Implementation and Research"

on focus group to characterize their perceived roles in stakeholder-engaged research. Following an extensive ICAP training orientation and clarification of key definitions, the focus group prompt asked GSCs to describe what they view as important issues for developing future research protocols that....