Creating a Specialized Technological center for Assistive Rehabilitation Research (STAR) - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Here we seek to improve the biomedical research facilities at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), an Institution of Emerging Excellence, minority-serving institute (MSI) and a historically black college and university (or HBCU), the nation’s only urban land grant institution and the only public institute of higher education within the District of Columbia. Of significant societal relevance, is our long-term goal to improve the biomedical research capacity & outputs of UDC, located in our nation’s capital, such that it serves as a national hub for biomedical research tied to biomechanical & rehabilitation engineering and assistive technologies. With increases in average life expectancy, and the number of Americans over 65 years old set to nearly double within the next decade, the importance of methodologies and assistive technologies towards maintaining overall health, improving balance & mobility, and preventing falls has significant societal relevance. The overarching goal of this project is to expand, renovate, and equip multi-researcher laboratories comprising a new Specialized Technological center for Assistive Rehabilitation Research (or “STAR” facility) focused on biomechanical and rehabilitation engineering-related research, a critical need. The STAR facility will be used to investigate aging populations and other impaired and unimpaired populations such as veterans, amputees, stroke survivors, and Parkinson’s patients. Our main aims are: 1) to create and renovate the new and existing core facilities focused on a) Gait & Balance; b) Assistive Robotics for Rehabilitation; c) Biomechanics; d) Virtual Reality Rehabilitation and 2) to supply fixed equipment to these new laboratories. This contribution is critical to modernizing the biomedical research facilities needed to enhance research infrastructure and outputs at UDC. Further, UDC is an affiliate within a network (Consortium) of 17 Washington DC Metropolitan Area Universities; all of these Universities (faculty & students) would have access to the research Center. Aside from Universities, there will also be opportunities for new and enhanced collaborations between UDC and Institutes (e.g., MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital). The proposed center is innovative, not only to the region but nationally as well, in that the STAR facility is uniquely comprised of gait & balance, assistive robotics for rehabilitation, virtual reality rehabilitation, and biomechanics foci. This facility will be equipped to serve as a national hub, beacon, and gold-standard “STAR” facility for rehabilitation-related research focused on aging and impaired populations. This project will have an impact on the University, regional universities & institutes, and MSIs/non-MSIs nationwide.
