Copy
View this email in your browser

Hello, MR3 Community! 

Welcome to the September 2020 edition of the MR3 Network e-News, featuring the latest news, training and funding opportunities, and other announcements from the MR3 Network. Visit us to learn more about the latest in medical rehabilitation and share this newsletter with your friends and colleagues.
 

The MR3 Network will be attending the following conferences - be sure to stop by our exhibit booths and connect with center faculty and staff! 

NIH Rehabilitation Research 2020: Envisioning a Functional Future October 15-16, 2020
This trans-NIH conference will highlight advances in rehabilitation research that have emerged since the 2016 Rehabilitation Research at NIH: Moving the Field Forward conference. This meeting also will help inform the revision of the congressionally mandated NIH Research Plan on Rehabilitation. This event is free to attend - register today!

American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, October 21-14, 2020
Booth #501
Attend our Learning Center session on Thursday, October 22 at 12:30 p.m. to learn more about the network centers and have a Q&A session with center faculty and staff. 
 
Pilot Grant Request for Applications
AR3T is looking to support researchers who propose interdisciplinary approaches combining regenerative medicine with mechanical stimulation, with the aim of optimizing outcomes.The Regenerative Rehabilitation research community will benefit from the development of novel lines of research that incorporate methods utilizing mechanical stimulation of stem cells and/or tissue engineering approaches, and assessing stem cell behavior and/or functional outcomes. 

A proposed project must include both a regenerative medicine component as well as a rehabilitative/mechanotransductive component. We encourage you to consider
collaborating with one of AR3T’s researchers. Contact ar3t@pitt.edu if you would be interested in forming a collaboration on a proposal. A letter of intent to apply is due September 20, 2020. More information is available at the AR3T pilot grants website. 
 

Newly Funded Regenerative Rehabilitation Projects
  1. Technology Development Project: Development of an Automated Analysis System of Mouse Gait to Assess Functional Recovery After Injury (Thomas Rando, MD, PhD, Stanford University)
  2. Technology Development Project: Development and Validation of a 3-D Piezoelectric Scaffold Used in Combination with Exercise to Promote Functional Tissue Regeneration (Fabrisia Ambrosio, PhD, MPT, University of Pittsburgh)
  3. Supplemental Grant: The Effect of Combining Neural Stem Cells with Environmental Enrichment in Females (Anthony Kline, PhD, University of Pittsburgh)
  4. Pilot Grant: Combination of Adipose Stem Cells or Autograft-Treated Tissues with Exercise on Peripheral Nerve Repair (Kacey Marra, PhD, University of Pittsburgh)

Biorobotics Post-Doctoral Research Position
The Biorobotics Laboratory at the University of California at Irvine seeks a motivated individual for a post-doctoral research position in the field of Regenerative Rehabilitation. The individual will work in a multi-disciplinary team on the design and evaluation of machine-assisted movement training in rodent and non-human primate models of spinal cord injury, in the context of supporting the efficacy of novel stem cell therapies. The goal is to progress to human trials. Click here for more information.
 
Pilot Grant Request for Applications
Apply for a Restore Center Pilot Project Grant of Up to $30,000

The Restore Center at Stanford seeks proposals for our pilot project program. The program awards seed grants to innovative and meritorious projects that will accelerate the use of sensor and video technology in rehabilitation research and will advance real-world monitoring and delivery of medical rehabilitation for individuals with impaired movement. Applicants can request up to $30,000 in funding. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, as well as individuals with disabilities, are encouraged to apply. Learn more and apply Applications due October 1, 2020
 
 
2D Video-Analysis Technology to Analyze Gait
Individuals from the Restore Center, in collaboration with Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare, have developed a deep neural network model to predict common quantitative gait metrics, such as cadence, walking speed, and the gait deviation index (GDI), from a single-camera video. The model demonstrates good predictive accuracy when applied to videos of children diagnosed with cerebral palsy and compared against quantities from optical motion capture. The study was led by Restore Center research associate Lukasz Kidzinki and published in Nature Communications. Demo software / Access code / Download dataset of trajectories of landmarks extracted from videos

Pilot Grant Request for Applications
The Center for Smart Use of Technology to Assess Real World Outcomes (C-STAR) is designed to equip investigators with the skills necessary to accurately use technologies to measure and interpret sensorimotor and cognitive function in the lab, clinic, home and community. C-STAR is looking for innovative ideas that explore the smart use of technology that will have real-world impact for our patients. Priority will be given to researchers in the early stages of their independent career. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply for funding. Visit C-STAR pilot projects for more information. Applications due October 1, 2020
 

Collaborative Learning Opportunities
We will be offering opportunities to participate in our scientific roundtable sessions (called IdeaLabs), sabbaticals, and other educational programs including 3 virtual webinars and a multi-day course focused on leveraging technology to improve clinical outcomes. Read a brief overview of these opportunities here; we will be sharing more updates on our mentorship and educational services in the coming months.
 

Mentorship from Experts in Outcomes, Engineering, Implementation Science and More
An interdisciplinary team of clinicians, scientists and administrators are available to help support your research at all stages. For those who are not ready to submit a pilot grant application by the October 1 deadline, mentoring opportunities could help with the preparation of a submission to next year's pilot grant competition. Learn more about our cores here.
 
LeaRRn is Launched!
The Learning Health Systems Rehabilitation Research Network (LeaRRn) is a national resource network to advance stakeholder-partnered, rehabilitation learning health systems (LHS) research to improve quality of care, demonstrate value, and enhance patient and system outcomes.
 

LeaRRn Identifies Stakeholder Research Priorities
As a first step and to inform our activities, LeaRRn surveyed out health system partners to identify priority areas for learning health system research. These findings will be presented in a poster at the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine Annual Conference 2020. The poster “Health Systems' Rehabilitation Research Priorities During the Novel Coronavirus Pandemic: Findings from the Learning Health Systems Rehabilitation Research Network (LeaRRn),” will report on the stakeholder engagement process used with LeaRRn’s eight health system partners to ascertain their research priorities and the extent to which their priorities changed in response to the pandemic.
 
 
LeaRRn Announces our First Learning Health System Scholars
LeaRRn’s Learning Health Systems (LHS) Scholar Program selects rehabilitation researchers to work with health system stakeholders on learning health research projects. Our LHS Scholars program will establish meaningful research partnerships focused on a priority topic identified by the health system, with mentoring by LeaRRn faculty. This year-long scholarship aims to position the LHS Scholar and health system to develop a plan for their learning health system research project, including seeking pilot study funding. We are pleased to announce our four LHS Scholars:
 
Peter Coyle, PT, DPT, PhD, Clinical Research Scientist, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware.
 
Joshua K. Johnson PT, DPT, PhD, Assistant Staff, Cleveland Clinic Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Investigator, Cleveland Clinic Center for Value-Based Care Research.
 
Jake Magel, PT, PhD, DSc, OCS, FAAOMPT, Research Assistant Professor, University of Utah, Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training. 
 
Tracy Mroz, PhD, OTR/L, Associate Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington. 

Visit our Learning Health Systems Scholars page to learn more about our scholars, their mentors, and areas of research. 
 
 

Upcoming Workshops and Conferences

Transcranial Focused Ultrasound for Neuromodulation Conference: "What Is Needed Before Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Can Become a Clinical Rehabilitation Technique?" 

Featured Speakers
Mark George, MD, Medical University of South Carolina 
Bashar Badran, PhD, Medical University of South Carolina 
Kim Butts Pauly, PhD, Stanford University 
Wynn Legon, PhD, University of Virginia 
Martin Monti, PhD, University of California Los Angeles
Alexander Bystritsky, MD, PhD, University of California Los Angeles 

When: October 1, 2020 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. EDT
Where: From anywhere - this conference will be delivered virtually, via Zoom
Cost: This event is FREE to attend. Click here to view the agenda and register (registration is required). 

Neuromodulation for Rehabilitation Introductory Workshop
The purpose of this introductory level workshop is to introduce a range of concepts of NM4R (brain stimulation and operant conditioning) and give skills in basic TMS and operant conditioning neurophysiology.

When: November 16-19, 2020
Where: From anywhere - this workshop will be delivered virtually, via Zoom
Cost: This event is free to attend to NM4R members. Agenda and registration details TBA. Visit our workshop website for more information and to become an NM4R member. 

 
Spinal Cord Plasticity in Motor Control Meeting
Presented in partnership by the National Center of Neuromodulation for Rehabilitation (NM4R) and the National Center for Adaptive Neurotechnologies (NCAN).
This symposium will focus on the role of activity-dependent spinal cord plasticity in motor control and motor learning in health and disease. The topics addressed will include: spinal cord plasticity during motor learning and in response to trauma and disease; interactions between brain and spinal cord plasticity; physiological and anatomical mechanisms underlying spinal cord plasticity and its impact on behavior; induction and guidance of plasticity in spinal reflex pathways and in corticospinal connections; activity-dependent neuromuscular plasticity; therapeutic applications of spinal cord plasticity; and related subjects

When: December 1 and 4, 2020 (previously scheduled from March 2020)
Where: From anywhere - this meeting will be delivered virtually, via Zoom. 
Agenda and registration details TBA. 
 
Pilot Project Grant Awardees Announced
Congratulations to our pilot project grant awardees for the 2020-2021 cycle: 
  1. Andreana Benitez, PhD, Medical University of South Carolina. High-dose Accelerated rTMS to Cognitive Control Neurocircuitry in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Safety and Feasibility Study.
  2. Marian Dale, MD, MCR, Oregon Health and Science University. TMS for Modulation of Motor Control in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. 
  3. James Sulzer, PhD, University of Texas at Austin. Simulating Operant Conditioning Performance. 
  4. Lee Fisher, PhD, University of Pittsburgh. Preventing Episodes of Phantom Limb Pain in Lower Limb Amputees. 
  5. Ryan Zarzycki, PT, DPT, PhD, Arcadia University. Non-invasive Brain Stimulation to Improve Quadriceps Muscle Function after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. 
Learn more about our awardees and their research projects on our pilot funding website. 
 

Visit us to learn more about Neuromodulation for Rehabilitation and join our community!
 
Connect with C-PROGRESS at AACPDM

C-PROGRESS will be in attendance and presenting at the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine's 74th Annual Meeting, September 23-26, 2020. AACPDM is a professional partner with C-PROGRESS. 

Thursday
LL08: Pearls and pitfalls of measuring fidelity in early intervention clinical trials for infants at high risk of cerebral palsy│Kimberley S. Scott, DPT; Roslyn N. Boyd, PhD; Leanne Sakzewski, PhD, OT; Jill Heathcock, MPT, PhD
 
B6: Relationship between reaching and type of toys in infants with hemiparetic cerebral palsy│Gardenia O. Barbosa, PhD; Thais Invencao Cabral, PhD; Tanya Tripathi, PhD; Menglin Xu, PhD; Amy Darragh, PhD, OTR; Sharon Ramey, PhD; Stephanie C. DeLuca, PhD; Jill Heathcock, MPT, PhD

Friday
LL27: Upper Extremity Interventions for Infants and Toddlers with CP: State of the Science and Implementation Case Study│Kelly J. Tanner, PhD; Jill Heathcock, MPT, PhD

F4: Manual abilities Are Associated with Cognition in Children with cerebral palsy│Thais Invencao Cabral, PhD; Tanya Tripathi, PhD; Jill Heathcock, MPT, PhD

H8: Understanding The Use Of The Affected And Unaffected Arm By Mapping Simple And Complex Fine Motor Skills In Children With Hemiparesis│Tanya Tripathi, PhD; Thais Invencao Cabral, PhD; Gardenia Barbosa, PhD; Amy Darragh, PhD, OTR; Sharon Ramey, PhD; Stephanie C. DeLuca, PhD; Jill Heathcock, MPT, PhD

Saturday
LL31: Efficacy of Activity-Based Interventions to Expand Motor Function & Mobility in Infants & Toddlers│Susan V. Duff, EdD, MPT, OT/L, CHT; Jill Heathcock, MPT, PhD; Laura A. Prosser, PT, PhD

K6: Age of CP diagnosis, but not current rehabilitation services, are related to gross motor function level in school-aged children│Rachel L. Bican, DPT; Jill Heathcock, MPT, PhD; Rachel Ferrante, DPT; Sarah Hendershot, DPT

L8: Play Abilities in Children with Cerebral Palsy are Delayed in Multiple Domains of Development│Tanya Tripathi, PhD; Thais Invencao Cabral, PhD; Rachel L. Bican, DPT; Gardenia Barbosa, PhD; Jill Heathcock, MPT, PhD
 

Pilot Project Grant Awardees Announced
C-PROGRESS is pleased to announce our first round of pilot project grant awardees: 
  1. Heather Feldner, PT, PhD, PCS, University of Washington, Sam Logan, PhD, Oregon State University, and Lisa Kenyon, PT, DPT, PhD, PCS, Grand Valley State University, for their study "Early Powered Mobility for Toddlers with Cerebral Palsy: A Comparative Case Series of the Permobil® Explorer Mini and a Modified Ride-On Car"
  2. Danielle Levac, PT, PhD, Northeastern University, Alexa Craig, MD, MS, Tufts University School of Medicine, and Minxen Chen, MA, Northeastern University, for their study "Immersive Virtual Reality for Eye-Hand Coordination Assessment in Children with Hemiplegia"
  3. Yanlong Song, PhD, Christos Papadelis, PhD, Warren Marks, MD, Stephanie Acord, MD, and Georgios Alexandrakis, PhD, Cook Children's Medical Center; University of Texas at Arlington, for their study "Multi-modal Neuroimaging in Children with Hemiplegia to Assess Brain Functional Network Reorganization in Relation to Manual Response Inhibition". 

Learn more about C-PROGRESS by visiting our website. 
 
Website
Copyright © 2020  All rights reserved.
National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
NIH Partner Institutes: NCCIH, NIBIB, NIDCD, NINDS, NINR

National Coordinating Center:
Medical University of South Carolina
Questions? Contact our Program Manager: 
Michelle McLeod, PhD, ATC | mcleodmi@musc.edu
 






This email was sent to <<Email Address>>
why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences
MR3 Network · 77 President St · Charleston, SC 29425-5712 · USA