Partners

Researcher working with a study participant.The broad nature of the medical rehabilitation field means that no single agency or organization can do it all. NCMRR collaborates with many other government agencies and organizations to help advance medical rehabilitation research and care.

The following list includes some of the center's partners outside of NIH. For links to tools and data related to rehabilitation, visit the Research Tools and Resources page.

In addition, https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/topics offers resources on benefits, civil rights, community life, education, emergency preparedness, employment, health, housing, technology and transportation for people with disabilities, their families, veterans, educators, employers, and others.

  • Biological Technologies Office external link, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
    DARPA’s Biological Technologies Office develops capabilities that embrace the unique properties of biology—adaptation, replication, complexity—and applies those features to revolutionize how the United States protects all its service members.
  • Medical Research and Development (MR&D) external link, U.S. Army MR&D Command
    NCMRR’s work with this program focuses on definitive and rehabilitative care innovations required to reset our wounded warriors, both in terms of duty performance and quality of life.
  • Research Programs external link, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs
    The center works with this office on medical research programs related to spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury as well as its clinical and rehabilitation research program.

Department of Transportation (DOT)
NCMRR collaborated with DOT on the now-archived Accessible Transportation Technologies Research Initiative (ATTRI), which focused on removing barriers to transportation for people with visual, hearing, cognitive, and mobility disabilities. ATTRI supported development of technology and creative service models to offer all Americans enhanced travel choices and accessibility.

Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), Department of Labor 
Through ODEP, NCMRR helps to generate and validate evidence to inform policies and practices that increase the number and quality of employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) external link
This nongovernmental organization was authorized by Congress in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 to improve the quality and relevance of evidence available to help people make informed health decisions. NCMRR has worked with PCORI on research projects on muscular and skeletal disorders, neurological disorders, and trauma/injury; visit https://www.pcori.org/explore-our-portfolio external link for more information.

National Science Foundation (NSF) 
Among the collaborations between NCMRR and NSF is the Disability and Rehabilitation Engineering (DARE) program, which supports engineering research to improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities. DARE’s work includes development of new technologies, devices, or software; advancement of knowledge regarding typical or pathological human motion; or understanding of injury mechanisms.

Common Data Elements (CDEs) for Lower Limb Loss Research Standards
CDEs make it easier for researchers to share, compare, and replicate findings; generalize results; and integrate data across studies. NCMRR is working with other NIH institutes and centers, as well as AHRQ, CMS, FDA, and NIDILRR within HHS, DoD, and the VA to establish and recommend two types of CDEs for lower limb loss research: Core Variables and Supplemental Variables. Using CDEs in this research can help optimize investment, accelerate and enhance understanding of those with lower limb loss, and advance a culture of scientific collaboration. Please check back for additional details about this effort.

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