Advances in electrical stimulation, pharmacotherapy, and regenerative medicine are greatly impacting research and treatment outcomes in physical medicine and rehabilitation. New adaptations of and improvements to existing technology are leading to new understandings of brain mechanisms through neuroimaging, advances in assistive devices, and improvements in mobility. Research is improving lives through the development of new therapies, greater understanding of physical and cognitive impairments, and state-of-the-art rehabilitation technology. The following is a snapshot of recent press coverage of the activities and research efforts of the University of Pittsburgh's Department of Rehabilitation Science & Technology.
The Rehabilitation Science & Technology Continuing Education Program outdid itself organizing the largest-yet International Seating Symposium (ISS) in Nashville, TN. According to Pitt's course director Mark Schmeler, PhD, OTR/L, ATP, this year's attendees represented 31 countries, an increase of 50 percent from 2009, the last time the University of Pittsburgh hosted ISS. Read more here.
The Rehabilitation Counseling Program of the Department of Rehabilitation Science & Technology at the University of Pittsburgh has broken into the top 25 rankings from US News and World Report! A terrific milestone noted here.
Human Engineering Research Laboratories (HERL) are proud to have contributed to the Battlefield Extraction-Assist Robot (BEAR) project, which is working on a remotely-controlled robot that will safely recover wounded soldiers from the battlefield. This Mercury article (p.4) from the Army Medical Department cites HERL and describes the project in greater detail.
There's been a lot of news about the upcoming National Veterans Wheelchair Games, August 1- 6, 2011, Pittsburgh. McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine affiliated faculty member and HERL director Rory Cooper, PhD, along with honorary Games chair (and Steelers great) Rocky Bleier (pictured right and left, respectively) attended the recent "Breakfast of Champions" event to raise awareness of the Games. Local television station KDKA reported on the event on the web and on their local TV news. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review also reported on how the Games are spurring improvements at the Pittsburgh airport.
And finally, The Knowledge Network from the National Science Foundation has released their fun Innovation Nation video about HERL's Personal Mobility and Manipulation Appliance (PerMMA). Check it out here!
Picture: Copyright VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System.
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