Rehabilitation Medicine: Resources for Researchers and Health Care Providers

NICHD Resources

• National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research (NCMRR)
  NCMRR serves as the coordinating body for rehabilitation research across the NIH and seeks collaborative opportunities with other NIH Institutes. It also supports research on rehabilitation medicine and rehabilitative and assistive technology. NCMRR programs include:
  • Behavioral Sciences and Rehabilitation Technologies (BSRT) Program
    This program supports research related to development or redevelopment of emotional, cognitive, and physical processes and characteristics.
  • Biological Sciences and Career Development (BSCD) Program
    This program supports basic research on substrate responses to injury and on strategies to promote regeneration, recovery, plasticity, adaptation, and recovery.
  • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Stroke Rehabilitation (TSR) Program
    Projects within this program involve studying how to improve recovery of abilities that can be affected by TBI and stroke.
  • Spinal Cord and Musculoskeletal Disorders and Assistive Devices (SMAD) Program
    This program supports scientists who study issues related to spinal cord injury and musculoskeletal disorders, such as cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy.
• Division of Extramural Research
  • Pediatric Trauma and Critical Illness Branch
    This Branch supports research to address prevention, treatment, management, and outcomes of physical and psychological trauma and the surgical, medical, psychosocial, and systems interventions needed to improve outcomes for critically ill and injured children across the developmental trajectory.
• Division of Intramural Research
  • Section on Nervous System Development and Plasticity
    This section conducts research on the development of the nervous system and nervous system plasticity during fetal and early postnatal life.
  • Program on Pediatric Imaging and Tissue Sciences
    This program develops and evaluates non-invasive imaging methods for assessing normal development, screening, diagnosis and prognosis of diseases, disorders and disabilities in pediatric populations. The Program’s Section on Tissue Biophysics and Biomimetics invents, develops, and implements novel quantitative in vivo methods for imaging tissues and organs.
• Information on several related conditions is available elsewhere on the NICHD site. To find more information for researchers and health care providers, follow the links below:
  • Rehabilitative and assistive technology resources
  • Spinal cord injury resources
  • Stroke resources
  • TBI resources

NIH Resources

• NIH StrokeNet
  The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke funds NIH StrokeNet, a national network of medical research institutions that is designed to develop high-quality, multi-site clinical trials on stroke prevention, treatment, recovery and rehabilitation. It is designed to be the infrastructure and pipeline for new potential treatments for people who have had strokes or are at risk of stroke.
• Rehabilitation Engineering Program
  Through this program, the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering supports research to develop technology for rehabilitation. It includes applications in neuroprosthesis and neuroengineering systems, Brain Computer Interface technology, robotics for rehabilitation, bio-mechanics of human movement, and other areas.

Other Resources

• American Academy of Neurology (AAN)
  AAN is the world’s largest professional association of neurologists and a leading resource for neurologists worldwide. The Academy offers professional journals, research news, and a variety of practice resources.
• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons/American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)
  AAOS is the professional association and musculoskeletal education source for orthopaedic surgeons worldwide. The website offers journals and news, research and scientific data, quality and outcome measurement tools, and other resources.
• American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
  The Academy’s members are physicians who practice physical medicine and rehabilitation. Its mission is to advance the specialty and provide career and professional resources for physicians in the field.
• American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)
  AANS is the professional organization for neurosurgeons. Its mission is to advance the specialty of neurological surgery in order to promote the highest quality of patient care.
• American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine
  This organization of rehabilitation professionals supports research that promotes health, independence, productivity, and quality of life of individuals with disabilities. The website provides free resources for rehabilitation professionals about topics such as evidence-based practice.
• American Nurses Association (ANA)
  ANA publishes professional nursing journals and offers news and a variety of educational and professional development resources. The Association seeks to foster high standards of nursing practice and to project a positive and realistic view of nursing.
• American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA)
  The AOPA is a trade association for orthotic and prosthetic businesses within and outside the United States. The website includes a member directory and links to patient and professional organizations .
• American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
  APTA is a professional organization for physical therapists. Its public information website offers information about how their patients may benefit from physical therapy .
• American Society of Neurorehabilitation (ASNR)
  A professional society of researchers and health care professionals, ASNR supports the pursuit of research into neural repair and neurorehabilitation and effective management of the neurologic patient. The ASNR website offers education, training, and career resources, and access to the society’s journal, Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  The CDC offers a wide range of surveillance data and scientific information on topics of relevance to rehabilitation medicine, including numerous diseases and developmental conditions and stroke and traumatic brain injury.
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS)
  IEEE EMBS is the world’s largest international society of biomedical engineers. Its website offers professional journals, educational videos, and other resources.
• International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals (IARP)
  IARP is a professional organization of practitioners in the fields of long-term disability, disability management consulting, case management and managed care, forensics and expert testimony, life care planning, and Americans with Disabilities Act consulting. IARP supports professional growth of members, promotes rehabilitation research and influences public policy.
• National Rehabilitation Association
  This organization of vocational rehabilitation professionals offers career development, advocacy and networking opportunities. The organization offers an annual training conference .
• Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America
  This is a membership association for rehabilitation engineering and assistive technology professionals. Its website includes position papers related to assistive technology.

Please note: Links to organizations and information included on this page do not indicate endorsement from the NICHD, NIH, or HHS.