rehabilitation research & development service danielle m. kerkovich, ph.d. acting assistant...
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Rehabilitation Research & Development Service
Danielle M. Kerkovich, Ph.D.
Acting Assistant Director
Website: www.vard.org
ORGANIZATION:Rehab R&D Service
Director, Rehab R&D Service
Deputy Director
Portfolio M gr Portfolio M gr Portfolio M gr Portfolio M gr Portfolio M gr Portfolio M gr Portfolio M gr Portfolio M grPNS/Locomotion/Mobility SCI/CNS Pros/Ortho/Orthoped Chronic Disease Vision AUD/SLP Statistics/Trials Mental HealthALS MS Orthoped Surg Arthritis RP SNHL Outcomes PTSDTraumatic Injury Parkinson's Prosthetics GWS ARMD CHL Translation Schizophrenia P Neuropathy TBI Orthotics Diabetes Trauma Presbycusis Statistical design Substance abuse Motoneuron Disease Stroke COPD Presbyopia Tinnitus clinical trials Mood Disorders Gait SCI CVD VestibularExercise Phys Paralysis Gastroenterology Dysphagia
Alzheimer's Obesity Aphasia Oncology
Rehab R&D Funding
• Centers of Excellence– Large group investigators: research, training,
outreach to veterans & community at large
• Research Enhancing Award Program– Support small group of researchers
• Multi-Year Projects– Single investigator studies– Multi-site trials for evaluation & efficacy
• Pilot Studies– Collect preliminary data to lead to full project
• Career Development Awards
Rehab R&D FYO3
Investigator InitiatedResearch
Pilots
Centers (core$)
REAPs (core$)
Career Development
Research CareerScientist
Rehab R&D Centers of Excellence
• Functional Electrical Stimulation: Cleveland • Restoration of Function in SCI & MS: West Haven• Functional Recovery in Chronic SCI: Miami• Medical Consequences of SCI: Bronx• Wheelchair & Associated Rehab Technologies: Pittsburgh• Bone & Joint Rehab: Palo Alto• Rehabilitative Auditory Research: Portland• Limb Loss Prevention & Prosthetic Engineering: Seattle• Aging Veterans with Vision loss: Atlanta• Innovative Visual Rehab: Boston• Brain Rehab: Gainesville• Rehab Outcomes Research: Gainesville
• http://www.vard.org/cent/centers.htm
Continued Growth in all Career Development Programs
Mentored Awards• Associate Investigator • Research Career Development• Advanced Research Career Development
• Continue to seek applications from outstanding rehabilitation researchers
Research Career Scientist Program
Current Initiatives
• BION ® Technology
• Prosthetics/Orthotics/Orthopedics
• Vocational Rehabilitation
• Research Enhancing Award Program (REAP)
• Rehabilitation Enhancing Activity-Dependent Plasticity
• Platform Technology Centers
• CRADA with Alfred Mann Foundation to
provide Veterans with promising technological
advances for restoration of function, prevention
of secondary disabilities and amelioration of
pain due to neurologic dysfunction
• Reviewed BION proposals July 2003 Merit Review
6 proposals received meritorious scientific scores
2 more proposals from January 2004
• AMF is in contact with the individual investigators to manufacture BIONs that meet specific research applications
New Directions: BION® Technology
Radio Frequency BION System
Prosthetics/Orthotics/Orthopedics
November 17-18, 2003 State-of-the-Art Prosthetics Workshop
• Approximately 90 attendees from VA, DOD, Academia & Private Industry
• Secretary Anthony J. Principi gave speech of support to group• This strategic planning meeting has set an agenda for the direction of
amputee healthcare research over the next 10-years• Will launch major collaborative efforts with other federal agencies, non-
profits & academic institutions
Prosthetics/Orthotics/Orthopedics: cont’d
Major efforts are currently underway. Workshop participants are designing studies in the following areas:
• Socket design• Integration of computer technology & robotics into prosthetic design• Comparison of low-tech versus high-tech solutions• Multidisciplinary approaches to function: limb lengthening, tissue
engineering, body power, myoelectrics• Amputation QUERI (with HSR&D)• Potential for wounded (amputee) military personnel to return to active
duty
Vocational Rehabilitation
Impact of Vocational Rehabilitation Programs Among Veterans
• Researchers in the field pleased we recognized need to target this area
• Enthusiastic response to the Request For Proposals• Scientific Merit Review in January 2004
– Anticipate funding of January submissions and September resubmissions
Research Enhancing Award Program (REAP) Solicitation
• Researchers are glad to have the opportunity to develop formal collaborative partnerships
• Resemble small-scale research centers with a specific research focus
• Scientific Merit Review in January 2004
Rehabilitation Enhancing Activity-Dependent Plasticity
• In response to the Secretary’s request for multidisciplinary proactive approaches to functional recovery following SCI
• Special program to form new collaborations exploring neurobiological issues in SCI, MS & other conditions leading to loss of neurological function
• These research efforts will seek ways to restore function & fully understand mechanisms underlying recovery
• Some involve use of Lokomat®
• Scientific Merit Review January 2004: Preliminary Results
LOKOMAT
Platform Technology Centers
• Represents concerted effort to incorporate cutting edge technology used in other venues (DOD, entertainment) into rehabilitative care– Virtual Reality– Telemedicine– Nano-, micro–, macrotechnology– Robotics
• Review: May 2004
Future Directions in Rehab R&D
• Long-term Care / Quality of Life– In conjunction with Rosalynn Carter Institute – Caregiver training program
• Dual Sensory Loss (hearing & vision)– Hearing loss & vision loss a major problem
among aging veterans
• ALS Initiative
Future Directions in Rehab R&D : cont’d
• Pain control & management– Innovative interventions to address problem
• Obesity & comorbidities– In conjunction with several centers
• Balance / Vestibular Dysfunction & Rehabilitation– In conjunction with NASA Biomedical Institute
Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development
• Primary information dissemination vehicle
• Highest impact factor of any Rehab Res. Journal
• Accepts manuscripts on Rehab Res. From VA, non-VA, international
• Scientifically peer-reviewed & indexed
• Six issues a year & supplements
• JRRD.org
Rehabilitation Research & Development Service
Danielle M. Kerkovich, Ph.D.
Acting Assistant Director
Website: www.vard.org
