Foundation for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) Announces Research Grant Winners

ROSEMONT, Ill., Dec. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Foundation for PM&R announces grant award winners who will receive funding for research in the field of physical medicine or rehabilitation.

Drs. Alfred C. Gellhorn (University of Washington, Seattle), Jonathan S. Kirschner (Mount Sinai School of Medicine, NY) and  Monica Rho (Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago) received Richard Materson ERF New Investigator Grants.  Dr. Gellhorn will study the efficacy of intense focused ultrasound in identifying the source of pain in rotator cuffs tears and tendinopathy, which could improve treatment and expedite recovery.  Dr. Kirschner will compare the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided percutaneous needle tenotomy with and without the use of Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP) in the treatment of chronic tendinosis.  If his hypothesis is correct, patients would have equally effective results at a great cost savings. Dr. Rho is examining preferential load-bearing during double-leg squat with simulated femoracetabular impingement to determine if it contributes to the development of hip osteoarthritis and pain.

Neil Segal, MD (University of Iowa) received the Scott Nadler PASSOR Musculoskeletal Research Grant and will test ways to prevent arch collapse during pregnancy, which may contribute to the development of knee and hip osteoarthritis and functional limitation and disability later in life.

Marcie Ward, MD (Gillette Children's Hospital, St. Paul, MN) is the first recipient of the Gabriella Molnar-Swafford Pediatric PM&R Research Grant.  She will assess the reliability of anaerobic and aerobic fitness testing in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy to maximize their muscle performance.

Cory L. Christiansen, PT, PhD. (University of Colorado, Denver) was given the Mid-career Investigator Research Grant to study typical functional outcomes, and expected early improvements, of current rehabilitation interventions for those who have undergone a dysvascular transtibial amputation. 

The Foundation for PM&R gives over $120,000 annually in seed money for pilot projects to help researchers secure funding for research that has a global impact on individuals with disability.  Over 90% of support for the Foundation comes from private individual donations.

About The Foundation for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation:

Nine out of 10 Americans will suffer functional disability due to illness or injury at some point in their lives.  The Foundation for PM&R is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, strives to enhance health and function for individuals with disability through research and education .  For more contact Phyllis Anderson at 630-863-0950 or [email protected] or visit the website at www.foundationforpmr.org.

SOURCE Foundation for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation