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UPMC Rehabilitation Institute Academic and Research Partners

UPMC Rehabilitation Institute's collegiate partners add to our leading-edge research and resources. They include the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU).

We also offer training to help prepare future rehab experts.

The Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R)

The PM&R Department's goal is to improve the health, function, and well-being of the people we treat.

Our renowned faculty hold positions in other centers, college departments, and research labs.

We're one of the country's top recipients of rehab research funding from the National Institutes of Health.

We also receive funding from:

  • National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.
  • U.S. Department of Defense.
  • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • Private foundations.

Our researchers are improving lives in many ways. These include new rehab treatments and technology.

Our research is also improving our knowledge of physical and cognitive injuries.

PM&R training

  • Four-year residency.
  • Rehab scientist training.
  • Fellowship programs in:
    • Brain injury medicine.
    • Sports medicine.
    • Pediatric rehabilitation.
    • Spinal cord injury medicine.
    • Value-based spine and musculoskeletal medicine.
    • Lifespan rehabilitation neuropsychology.

PM&R research

Research highlights from the PM&R Department at Pitt include:

  • Regenerative medicine.
  • Functional and cognitive changes after brain and spinal cord injuries.
  • Neuroprosthetics.
  • Assistive devices for making daily life easier for people with disabilities.
  • Brain-computer interface.
  • Traumatic brain injury.

The Department of Communication Science and Disorders (CSD)

Pitt's CSD program:

  • Offers the only clinical doctoral degree in the world for medical speech-language pathology.
  • Has one of the largest and most productive research PhD programs in the U.S.

The Department of Physical Therapy (PT)

The Department of PT at Pitt prides itself on being innovative.

Our renowned faculty offer training programs in:

The Department of Occupational Therapy (OT)

Pitt's OT training program is among the best in the nation, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

Programs include:

The OT department's research interests are:

  • Stroke.
  • MSK disorders.
  • Cardiac arrest.
  • Late-life depression.

The Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Technology (RST)

Pitt's Department of RST makes assistive technologies and devices to make life easier for those with disabilities.

The Center for Assistive Technology (CAT) provides assistive technology products, services, and innovations. It's a joint program of our department and UPMC.

We pride ourselves on preparing students to be innovators through our rehab science and tech training programs.

The RST department's research topics include:

  • Rehabilitation engineering.
  • Rehab counseling.
  • Assistive technology.
  • Rehab science.
  • Biomechanics.
  • Standards development and outcomes measures.

The UPMC Stroke Institute

The UPMC Stroke Institute focuses on quality patient care through:

  • A team approach.
  • Flourishing clinical research programs.
  • Ongoing education for health professionals and the community.

UPMC Neurology

UPMC neurology offers:

  • General services for nervous system problems.
  • Headache Center.
  • Epilepsy Center.
  • Movement Disorder Clinic.
  • Neuroimmunology and MS Division.
  • Neuromuscular Disease Center.

The Department of Neurosurgery

U.S. News & World Report ranks the Department of Neurosurgery at Pitt among the nation's best. It's also among the highest in the country in NIH research funding.

UPMC Neurosurgery offers:

  • Brain and skull base treatment.
  • Neurophysiology.
  • Spine treatment.

The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

UPMC Orthopaedic Care:

  • Has award-winning and nationally renowned experts.
  • Is among the nation's best programs for orthopaedic excellence by U.S. News & World Report
  • Has one of the nation's highest-funded orthopaedic research departments, giving patients access to ongoing clinical trials.

Orthopaedic services at UPMC include:

Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition (CNBC)

The CNBC is a joint program between CMU and Pitt.

It studies the link between the brain and behavior, bringing together Pitt's strength in neuroscience with CMU's expertise in:

  • Computer science.
  • Statistics.
  • Biology.
  • Psychology.

Human Engineering Research Laboratories (HERL)

The HERL at Pitt research, design, and improve assistive technology devices. These devices increase the independence of people with disabilities.

It's a partnership between Pitt and the VA Health Administration in Pittsburgh.

Robotics Institute

Human-centered research areas at the Robotics Institute at CMU include:

  • Medical and surgical robotics.
  • Health care and rehab robotics.
  • Evolutionary and bio-inspired robots.
  • Robots that help humans with complex tasks.

Safar Center for Resuscitation Research

The Safar Center at Pitt studies methods to reduce disabilities and death "in people with 'hearts and brains too good to die.'"

Some of the center's research programs include:

  • Brain injuries.
  • Cardiac arrest.
  • Rehab for central nervous system injuries.

Stem Cell Research Center at the McGowan Institute

Pitt and UPMC formed the McGowan Institute, where experts work on tissue engineering techniques to repair damaged or diseased tissues and organs.

Stem cell research topics include:

  • Ways to find and kill dormant cancer cells.
  • How to use stem cells to treat or cure diabetes.
  • Ways to use stem cells to treat other diseases — such as liver failure, heart disease, and urinary incontinence.

Contact the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute

To learn more about our partners and research contact the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute.