One of the Country’s Top Recipients of Funding for Rehabilitation-Related Research

The UPMC Rehabilitation Institute is part of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) at the University of Pittsburgh.

The University of Pittsburgh is ranked among the top 25 American Research Universities by the Center for Measuring University Performance.

The Department of PM&R is among the country’s top five recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health for rehabilitation-related research. The department provides access to research, clinical trials, and technology unavailable elsewhere in the region. This research has resulted in advancements in diagnostic mechanisms, treatments, and rehabilitation therapies.

Areas of Interest

Physicians and scientists at the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute are partnering with other departments and laboratories at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University to find answers to questions such as:

• What happens to the brain after a traumatic injury?
• Can paralysis be manipulated after a stroke?
• Can repetitive motion injuries be prevented in wheelchair users?
• What are the mechanics of low​er back pain and how does physical activity affect it?

Some topics of our current research initiatives include:

• Inner workings of the brain
• Mechanics of movement
• Robotic aids
• Neuroprosthetics
• Effects of gender on recovery after brain injury
• Role of stem cells in neuromuscular diseases such as muscular dystrophy
• Role of age and degenerative disk diseases

Pitt+Me Clinical Trials

The Pitt+Me initiative is a program of the University of Pittsburgh's Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) that engages researchers, patients, and volunteers from the greater Pittsburgh community in an effort to advance science and improve health for future generations.

We encourage you to join the more than 100,000 participants in the Pitt+Me Registry​ who have signed up to receive our newsletter and hear more about research opportunities that may be of interest.

Learn more about research studies and clinical trials that are related to rehabilitation​.