VIDEO: Dr. DeLuca, chair of the 2016 International MS Cognition Society conference, stresses the importance of cognitive research in multiple sclerosis.
VIDEO: Dr. DeLuca and Elaine Katz shared an overview of the Foundation’s research and grant making with NJTV’s Steve Adubato.
John DeLuca, PhD
Senior Vice President
Research and Training Director,
Rocco Ortenzio Neuroimaging Center
at Kessler Foundation
TRAINING PROGRAM
In 2016, three aspiring researchers joined our postdoctoral fellowship training program, which has launched the careers of many leaders in rehabilitation research. Our graduates conduct research in Europe, India, South America, and major universities in the U.S., as well as at Kessler Foundation. Listen in as Drs. Erica Weber and Silvana Costa discuss their fellowship experiences. Dr. Costa further details her cognitive research, supported by a generous fellowship funded by the Hearst Foundation.
COLLABORATION WITH CHILDREN'S SPECIALIZED HOSPITAL
Applying our expertise and experience to new populations is expanding the impact of our research. Through our collaboration with Children’s Specialized Hospital, we have made progress in improving mobility and cognition in children and adolescents with disabilities, as well as finding ways to improve their educational and vocational outcomes. Scientists in Human Performance and Engineering Research are gaining new perspectives on the disabling effects of cancer treatment, and collaborating with NJIT to develop new technology.
VIDEO: Dr. DeLuca, talks about the foundation's collaboration with Children's Specialized Hospital.
Impact of Research
Throughout 2016, Foundation scientists achieved advances in rehabilitation research that are improving strategies for recovery from serious injuries and illnesses. By achieving a 33.3% success rate with their grant applications, we secured almost $9 million in research grants from federal and state sources, professional societies, and foundations. This remarkable accomplishment brought our total for external funding to nearly $84 million since 1999.
This year, we are highlighting the impact of our research and training on the lives of people with disabilities. Since 1990, we have been part of the federally funded Spinal Cord Injury Model System (SCIMS), exploring ways to improve care and rehabilitation, as well as long-term outcomes, for people with spinal cord injury. In 2016, our SCI research team was awarded one of 14 SCIMS grants, a $2.3 million award that funds their research studies through 2021. Throughout this report, you will find more about the Foundation’s progress toward improving mobility, cognition, and employment outcomes for people with disabilities.
ROCCO ORTENZIO NEUROIMAGING CENTER
Researchers conducted 243 scans at the Rocco Ortenzio Neuroimaging Center at Kessler Foundation during 2016. The Center’s unique capabilities enable us to correlate cognitive and motor function with activity in the brain and spinal cord. How the spinal cord recovers after injury, and the mechanisms that underlie fatigue, are just two areas where we are making important discoveries. By combining new technology with neuroimaging, such as eye-tracking system and simultaneous EEG recording, we are broadening the impact of our clinical studies.
SHARING OUR FINDINGS
In 2016, we shared our findings with the scientific community through 100 articles, two texts, 8 book chapters, and 128 presentations at conferences here and abroad. Consumer audiences learned about our work through appearances on broadcast media, internet radio, and videos and podcasts produced by our communication team. Three scientists gave TedX talks that are educating thousands of YouTube viewers about our research in robotics, hidden disabilities and memory retraining. We have included these, and selected videos and podcasts, in this report.
For a complete listing, check out our Research Publications Listing
book
chapters
8
102
presentations
128
WHEN RESEARCH CHANGES CARE
We achieve our mission when research changes care. Treatments developed by Foundation scientists are being used by professionals in Canada, Europe, Australia, Asia, and South America, to rehabilitate people with cognitive deficits caused by stroke, multiple sclerosis, brain injury, and other disabling neurological conditions. Stroke recovery is improving with use of the Kessler Foundation Neglect Assessment Program and Kessler Foundation Prism Adaptation Therapy in seven countries. Memory deficits are being treated with the modified Story Memory Technique in nine countries.
KF Neglect Around the World - KF-NAP and KF-PAT
6 countries Internationally and 12 Facilities in 5 US states
modified Story Memory Technique (mSMT)
8 countries Internationally and 22 Facilities in 16 US states
Research is tremendously important to
society as a whole. It’s research that’s responsible for advances in technology like computers and cell phones, as well as our knowledge of what keeps us healthy… Research allows us to live the highest quality of life possible. At Kessler Foundation, research is designed to improve the daily function and health of individuals with disabilities.”
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