Like no other time in our nation's history, the enthusiasm surrounding regenerative medicine is now being matched with clinical deliverables, and the number of clinical trials in the field is growing at an unprecedented rate. Over the next decades, stem cell and tissue engineering protocols hold the possibility of becoming the standard of care for several diseases and injuries. As we approach this exciting new era of technological advancements, rehabilitation specialists must work closely with regenerative medicine scientists in the development of clinical protocols designed to optimize functional recovery. Therefore, the time is right to initiate the fusion of the fields of regenerative medicin and rehabilitation such that, as these technologies are developed and translated, the transition to the clinic may be smooth and efficient. This application seeks funds to support students and young investigators to participate in the Third Annual Symposium on Regenerative Rehabilitation, to be held on April 10-11, 2014 in San Francisco, CA. The objectives of this event are: 1. to promote the clinical translation of regenerative medicine scientific discoveries b communicating and disseminating research findings that demonstrate the synergistic relationship between regenerative medicine and rehabilitation;2. to provide a forum by which scientists and rehabilitation clinicians may interact, exchange ideas, and identify novel research directions relating to the field of regenerative rehabilitation;and 3. to introduce the concept of regenerative rehabilitation to graduate students, medical students and medical residents in the rehabilitation field. To achieve these aims, we have designed a highly multidisciplinary and translational 11/2-day program that includes thematically linked presentations that highlight the importance of physical activity for functional tissue regeneration. Extensive time for interaction among attendees has been incorporated into the program through the inclusion of a poster session and a poster teaser session, in which selected abstracts will be chosen and the primary author will be invited to present a short overview of their work. New to this year's program, we have included a """"""""Meet the Mentor"""""""" session, in which students, fellows, clinicians and novice investigators will be given the opportunity to meet in a small group setting with senior investigators conducting research relevant to the fields of regenerative medicine and rehabilitation. The support derived from this R13 application will be an excellent opportunity to attract students and junior investigators to become engaged in the emerging field of regenerative rehabilitation.
The goal of the Regenerative Rehabilitation symposium is to highlight and provide evidence for the synergistic relationship between regenerative medicine and rehabilitation. To maximize the full potential of regenerative medicine therapies, there is an increasing need for rigorously trained investigators and clinicians who embrace the vision of a synergy between the fields of rehabilitation and regenerative medicine. Funds provided through the R13 grant mechanism will be used to offer discounted registration fees to students, rehabilitation clinicians and young investigators who often have limited funds available to participate in such events. This application is a request for funding to support students and early career investigators to participate in the upcoming 3rd Annual Symposium on Regenerative Rehabilitation, which will be held on April 10-11, 2014 in San Francisco, CA. There are few opportunities for interaction between the scientists that are developing clinically driven technologies in the field of regenerative medicine and the clinicians that will be responsible for follow-on care once the intervention has been administered to the patient. Rehabilitation specialists and regenerative medicine scientists would benefit from a shared vision of modern day clinical practice that integrates innovative technologies with a solid foundation of approaches and modalities designed to maximize functional outcomes. The overall objective of this symposium is to highlight and provide evidence for the synergistic relationship between regenerative medicine and rehabilitation, and to promote cross-fertilization between these two fields. To this end, the multidisciplinary team of directors and external advisory board members has designed an 11/2 -day program that includes rehabilitation specialists and regenerative medicine scientists whose presentations are linked thematically in the role of physical activity for tissue regeneration. The specific aims of the 2014 Symposium on Regenerative Rehabilitation are: 1). Scientific: To promote the clinical translation of regenerativ medicine scientific discoveries by communicating and disseminating research findings that demonstrate the synergistic relationship between regenerative medicine and rehabilitation. 2). Programmatic: To provide a forum by which scientists and rehabilitation clinicians may interact, exchange ideas, and identify novel research directions relating to the field of regenerative rehabilitation. 3). Training/Mentoring: To introduce the concept of regenerative rehabilitation to graduate students, physical therapy/ medical residents, clinical fellows, post-doctoral research fellows and other junior investigators and clinicians, with the goal of inspiring the next generation of clinicians and scientists to embrace innovative technologies and to incorporate those technologies in their nascent clinical practices and research programs. This symposium will also be an important opportunity to develop and nurture collaborative relationships among novice researchers, clinicians and faculty members. Holding the 2014 event on the West Coast will be an excellent opportunity to broaden the participation of engaged individuals from across the country who are committed to advancing the field of regenerative rehabilitation. Funds provided through the R13 grant mechanism will be used to offer discounted registration fees to students, rehabilitation clinicians and young investigators who often have limited funds available to participate in such events.
