We believe that investments in today's research will result in tomorrow's advances in patient care. The Christoph Ruesch Neuroscience Research Center at MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital is dedicated to implementing initiatives that probe new rehabilitative interventions, address the health and rehabilitative needs of persons with disabilities, and develop better ways to deliver and pay for these services.
Interdisciplinary research is an integral part of the Department. We strive to advance knowledge that can be translated to the care of the patients we serve and as well as perform basic science research. The research center focus on research that can only be done in rehabilitation populations. We conduct state of the art research in;
Current areas of disability research
- Arm Amputee
- Spinal Cord Injury/Disease (SCI/D)
- Stroke
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Pediatric stroke
- Pediatric Cerebral Palsy
Current scientific areas of research
- Neuroplasticity
- Motor control
- Robotics
- Language and aphasia
- Exercise physiology
- Community specialty care
- Brain stimulation
- Metagenomics
- Multi-omics
- Health services/Big Data
The center of our clinical, research and training activities are at MedStar National Rehabilitation Network and Georgetown University, and these also include investigators from Catholic University of America, George Washington Hospital, George Mason University and the adjacent Washington DC Veteran Affairs Medical Center.
Our affiliated centers include:
- Center for Applied Biomechanics and Rehabilitation Research
- Center for Brain Plasticity and Recovery
- Spinal Cord Injury Research Center
- Stroke Capital Area Network for Research
- Mechanisms of Therapeutic Rehabilitation Lab (MOTR Lab)
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine – Georgetown University
Our University affiliations include:
As a free standing hospital, MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital has a strong history of university collaborations. We partner with many of the finest universities in the United States. Our collaborators share our commitment of studying rehabilitation and disabling conditions while helping individuals with disabilities.
- Georgetown University – Department of Rehabilitation Medicine
- Georgetown University
- Catholic University of America
- George Mason University
- George Washington University
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Georgetown University
In partnership with MedStar National Rehabilitation Network and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, the Department encompasses a broad range of interdisciplinary academic activities in patient care, teaching, and research. Our location in Washington, D.C. provides us a unique relationship with national policymakers, scientists, and clinicians in matters related to rehabilitation and the post-acute continuum of care. Learn more.
MedStar Health Research Institute
MedStar Health Research Institute (MHRI), founded in 1963, is the research division of MedStar Health. MHRI provides scientific, administrative, and regulatory support for clinical research throughout the MedStar Health system. Led by Dr. Neil Weissman, MHRI supports more than 1,000 associates dedicated to advancing health through research. Learn more.
