Dr John Pierce is a speech pathologist and postdoctoral researcher at the Centre of Research Excellence in Aphasia Recovery and Rehabilitation, La Trobe University. His research focuses on improving outcomes for people with aphasia through innovation including rehabilitation technology and telehealth. John leads several funded programs of research, including the M-MAT Tele project—a novel, group-based telehealth intervention for aphasia—and a suite of initiatives exploring multilingual therapy access. He is also interested in the application of artificial intelligence to the field of aphasia.

John is the Lead Chief Investigator on over $800,000 in research funding, including a nationally competitive MRFF grant, and collaborates as chief investigator on projects totalling nearly $2 million. He coordinates the Communication Connect project, a $1.8 million initiative co-designing a digital platform to support people with communication disabilities after stroke and traumatic brain injury.

Committed to accessibility and equity in rehabilitation, John developed and maintains a free online aphasia therapy platform used by over 60,000 people annually, now available in ten languages. He is also active in international research networks and contributes to national clinical guidelines.

John’s work is widely cited and integrated into clinical practice globally.

He is passionate about sharing research in accessible ways—through student supervision, coordinating seminars, and creating practical resources for clinicians and people with aphasia.