The "biological sciences" aspect of this Program promotes basic research to elucidate the scientific underpinnings of clinical rehabilitation and to understand the mechanisms of recovery and adaptation. This research may include studies of neuroplasticity, activity-mediated processes, cell and tissue engineering, brain imaging, muscle and bone function, secondary conditions, and even genomic influences. To further facilitate rehabilitation research, the Center supports access to state-of-the-art research facilities, mentorship, pilot grants, and other collaborative opportunities with expertise in areas such as bioengineering and robotics, cognitive rehabilitation, neurorehabilitation and regeneration, genetics and genomics, and muscle physiology; visit http://www.ncmrr.org for more information about these items.
In addition, this Program provides support for the training and career development of rehabilitation professionals and for attracting established researchers from allied fields to focus on rehabilitative questions. The Center supports a unique program of individual K awards, and national career-development networks for physiatrists , for allied health professionals, and for rehabilitation bioengineers . Other NCMRR-supported activities include an annual grantwriting workshop , and an early-career workshop held in conjunction with the American Congress for Rehabilitative Medicine (ACRM) meeting.