2012 Annual Report
Postdoctoral fellow Abhijit Das, MD, DM, and Foundation colleagues Glenn Wylie, DPhil, and Drs. Chiaravalloti and Botticello found a rise in neurological disabilities in India caused by increases in TBI, age-related dementia, and stroke. The researchers identified the enforcement of traffic safety measures to reduce TBI, development of standardized data tools for assessment and accurate statistics, training of more professionals in neurorehabilitative care, and expanded research in neurorehabilitation as a way to curb the epidemic. “Neurologic Disability: A Hidden Epidemic for India” was published in the November issue of Neurology. Das’ fellowship was funded through NIDRR’s Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training Program.
Kessler Foundation researchers study the effect of disability across racial, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds. The addition of John O’Neill, PhD, as Director of Employment and Disability Research integrates employment considerations in research studies. Through his work, and in collaboration with other researchers, Kessler Foundation examines the best methods to keep people with disabilities active in the workforce. Other highlights include:
• Research scientist Amanda Botticello, PhD, MPH, and Dr. Chen found that caregivers of stroke survivors have decreased memory. These findings support providing adequate resources to lessen the stress on caregivers.
• With a three-year, $738,216 grant from the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Botticello will study the role of environmental factors in rehabilitation outcomes in individuals with SCI. “We can identify community factors that threaten the physical, psychological, and social gains made in rehabilitation,” she said.
ADVANCING OUTCOMES RESEARCH
Kessler Foundation was awarded a five year, $2.2 million grant from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) of the US Department of Education to fund the NNJTBIS, a comprehensive system of care, research, education, and dissemination aimed at improving quality of life for people with TBI. NNJTBIS is a cooperative effort of Kessler Foundation, Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center, Morristown Memorial Hospital, Hackensack University Hospital, and University Hospital. “We are interested in more than recovery; we want to get people back to school and back
to work as productive members of their communities,” said Dr. Chiaravalloti, project director of the NNJTBIS.
Foundation scientists published findings in scientific journals and conducted presentations to share the latest rehabilitation strategies. Stroke researchers, for example, made 18 national and six international presentations in 2012. NNJTBIS also hosted a two-day conference for consumers and professionals to explore advances in care, research, and recovery strategies. Richard Pimentel, a founding father of the Americans with Disabilities Act, was the keynote speaker.
ADVANCING DISSEMINATION
Kessler Foundation is increasing collaborations to improve research and access to rehabilitation around the world. Researchers worked with scientists in China to develop a method for delivering cognitive rehabilitation to people with stroke. In partnership with the Santa Lucia Foundation in Rome, Dr. DeLuca explored its extensive database of patients with MS, correlating clinical symptoms with changes on fMRI.
ADVANCING COLLABORATORS
JOHN DELUCA, PHD, VP FOR RESEARCH & TRAINING
