On November 16, 1990, Congress passed an amendment to the Public Health Service Act (P.L. 101-613) to establish the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research (NCMRR) within NICHD to conduct and support research and research training (including research on the development of orthotic and prosthetic devices) in medical rehabilitation. The act also directed NCMRR to disseminate health information and other programs with respect to the rehabilitation of individuals with physical disabilities resulting from diseases or disorders of the neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, pulmonary, or any other physiological system.
NCMRR became operational in January 1991, led by David Gray, Ph.D. The first meeting of the National Advisory Board on Medical Rehabilitation Research (NABMRR) was held in May 1991. Marcus Fuhrer, Ph.D., became the first NCMRR director in 1993, and Dr. Gray was named deputy director. That same year, Drs. Marcus and Gray worked with NABMRR to create the NCMRR Research Plan.
Dr. Fuher’s tenure was followed by Yvonne Maddox, Ph.D., who served as acting director from 1998 to 2000. In February 2000, Michael Weinrich, M.D., became the NCMRR director. After a brief period in which Ralph Nitkin, Ph.D., served as acting director, Alison Cernich, Ph.D., was appointed NCMRR director in January 2015. In September 2019, Dr. Cernich was appointed as Deputy Director of NICHD, and Dr. Theresa Hayes Cruz became acting director of NCMRR.
In 2011, NIH convened a Blue Ribbon Panel to evaluate rehabilitation research at NCMRR, NICHD, and across NIH. The Blue Ribbon Panel on Rehabilitation Research at the NIH (PDF 528 KB) provides details of the panel's findings.
Also in 2011, the center marked its 20th anniversary with a scientific symposium. Presentations addressed NCMRR’s establishment and early years, the important contributions the center has made to the medical rehabilitation field, and its success in improving the health and quality of life for children and adults with disabilities. Read the proceedings from the NCMRR 20th Anniversary Symposium for more information.
More recently, NCMRR led the development of the plan for the conduct, support, and coordination of medical rehabilitation research across NIH. The NIH Research Plan on Rehabilitation (PDF 443 KB) identifies current medical rehabilitation research activities at NIH, opportunities and needs for additional research, and priorities for this research.
BACK TO TOP