On November 16, 1990, Congress passed an amendment to the Public Health Service Act (P.L. 101-613) to establish the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research (NCMRR) within NICHD to conduct and support research and research training (including research on the development of orthotic and prosthetic devices) in medical rehabilitation. The act also directed NCMRR to disseminate health information and other programs with respect to the rehabilitation of individuals with physical disabilities resulting from diseases or disorders of the neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, pulmonary, or any other physiological system.
NCMRR became operational in January 1991, led by David Gray, Ph.D. The first meeting of the National Advisory Board on Medical Rehabilitation Research (NABMRR) was held in May 1991. Marcus Fuhrer, Ph.D., became the first NCMRR director in 1993, and Dr. Gray was named deputy director. That same year, Drs. Marcus and Gray worked with NABMRR to create the NCMRR Research Plan (for reference only).
Dr. Fuher’s tenure was followed by Yvonne Maddox, Ph.D., who served as acting director from 1998 to 2000. In February 2000, Michael Weinrich, M.D., became the NCMRR director. After a brief period in which Ralph Nitkin, Ph.D., served as acting director, Alison Cernich, Ph.D., was appointed NCMRR director in January 2015. In September 2019, Dr. Cernich was appointed as Deputy Director of NICHD, and Dr. Theresa Hayes Cruz became acting director. Dr. Cruz was appointed NCMRR director in August 2020.
In 2011, NIH convened a Blue Ribbon Panel to evaluate rehabilitation research at NCMRR, NICHD, and across NIH. The Blue Ribbon Panel on Rehabilitation Research at the NIH (PDF 528 KB) provides details of the panel's findings.
Also in 2011, the center marked its 20th anniversary with a scientific symposium. Presentations addressed NCMRR’s establishment and early years, the important contributions the center has made to the medical rehabilitation field, and its success in improving the health and quality of life for children and adults with disabilities. Check out proceedings from the NCMRR 20th Anniversary Symposium for more information.
In 2016, NCMRR led the development of the plan for the conduct, support, and coordination of medical rehabilitation research across NIH. The NIH 2016 Research Plan on Rehabilitation (PDF 443 KB) identified medical rehabilitation research activities at NIH, opportunities and needs for additional research, and priorities for this research.
In 2020, NCMRR asked stakeholders with knowledge of limb regeneration research for input into the current state of limb regeneration science and its potential for rapid advancement. The request for information aligned with an aspirational goal from the NICHD Strategic Plan to “advance the ability to regenerate human limbs by using emerging technologies to activate the body’s own growth pathways and processes.” NCMRR compiled a summary of limb research responses (PDF 187 KB).
In 2021, NCMRR reached out to stakeholders involved in medical rehabilitation research for their perception of progress on the NIH 2016 research plan. After reviewing summary of responses (PDF 113 KB), NCMRR drafted updated research themes and objectives and once more asked stakeholders for their input. Their second round of responses (PDF 178 KB) helped lead to the publication of an updated NIH Research Plan on Rehabilitation (PDF 1.51 MB), which details progress on the 2016 plan’s activities, provides themes and objectives for new research, and details collaboration with other federal agencies.
Also in 2021, NCMRR sought input from the limb loss research community on common data elements (CDEs) for lower limb loss research standards. The summary of CDE responses (PDF 148 KB) indicated that the field was generally supportive of the effort to establish CDEs, with many stakeholders confirming the benefit.
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