National Center For Medical Rehabilitation Research

National center for medical rehabilitation research (NCMRR) is one among the 6 components of National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). Established in 1962 by congress, NICHD conducts and supports research on subjects concerning health of children, families, adults, and population. NICHD's core task of research is broadly divided in following 6 components:

1. Center for Developmental Biology and Perinatal Medicine (CDBPM)
2. Center for Population Research (CPR)
3. Center for Research for Mothers and Children (CRMC)
4. Division of Epidemiology, Statistics, and Prevention Research (DESPR)
5. Division of Intramural Research
6. National center for medical rehabilitation research (NCMRR)

National center for medical rehabilitation research was established as an integral part of NICHD in the year 1990. The goal of NCNNR is to strengthen the development process of scientific knowledge to enhance health, productivity, independence and quality of life of disabled persons. This goal is achieved by supporting research focused towards improving physical performance levels of disabled persons in their daily activities.

As a primary objective towards accomplishing its goal, National center for medical rehabilitation research strives to bring various problems of disabled persons to the notice of various scientists involved in biological, engineering and behavioral sciences. This would help in incorporating the new bio-engineering advances in a way beneficial to persons with disabilities.

National center for medical rehabilitation research focuses on supporting research in following core areas:

• Behavioral sciences
• Biologics
• Disabilities
• Rehabilitation

National center for medical rehabilitation research has following programs supporting various fields:

• Behavioral sciences and rehabilitation technologies (BSRT) program
• Biological sciences and career development (BSCD) program
• Pediatric critical care and rehabilitation (PCCR) program
• Spinal cord and musculoskeletal disorders and assistive devices (SMAD) program
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and stroke rehabilitation (TSR) program Additionally National center for medical rehabilitation research also has various supported Networks, Programs and initiatives such as:
• Collaborative pediatric critical care research network (CPCCRN)
• Medical rehabilitation research infrastructure network
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI) clinical trials network

National career development networks:

• Comprehensive opportunities in rehabilitation research training (CORRT) for physical and occupational therapists
• Pediatric critical care scientists development program (PCCSDP)
• Rehabilitation medicine scientists training program (RMSTP) for physiatrists
• Rehabilitation research and career development (RRCD) program for physical and occupational therapists

National center for medical rehabilitation research has determined 7 priority areas to support research and initiatives. These include:

1. Enhance functional mobility
2. To promote behavioral adaptation in case of functional or physical loss
3. Analyzing the effectiveness of various medical rehabilitation therapies and practices in term of value and utility
4. To develop advanced assistive technologies
5. Critically analyzing how the body responds to physical impairments and functional changes
6. Developing precise methods of measuring impairments, disabilities, and societal and functional limitations
7. Training research scientists in the field of rehabilitation

National center for medical rehabilitation research (NCMRR) with all its diverse programs for supporting people with disabilities has truly established itself as a pioneering organization committed towards excellence by providing innovative treatments in physical rehabilitation.