Chicago Association for Research and Education in Science (CARES)

See schedule oneuroplasticity in neurorehabilitation laboratory (nnr): the nnr at edward hines jr. va hospital was established in 2001 and it is a nationally and internationally recognized facility for Research in neural plasticity in neurorehabilitation of neurologic conditions emphasizing traumatic brain injury (tbi). The mission of the nnr lab is to promote the overall well-being of veterans and active duty military personnel incurring tbi so they can live long and meaningful lives. Toward this end, the Research focuses on advancing Science that will allow practitioners to provide precision neurorehabilitation where treatments are selected according to each person's unique brain injuries and according to the likelihood of treatment responsiveness. To build this body of scientific knowledge, the Research produces robust neurorehabilitation interventions that effectively induce, promote, and/or shape neural plasticity of the injured brain as well as evidence that moves the field closer to the ultimate goal of precision neurorehabilitation. The ...

See schedule ofacilitating functional independence in patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation: after recovery from critical illness, many patients commonly experience debilitating muscle wasting and weakness, which adversely impacts their functional recovery. These consequences are particularly common in patients who require prolonged mechanical ventilation -- a subgroup of chronically critically ill patients for whom recovery is especially challenging. The purpose of this Research is to determine the effect of combining standard physical therapy with an innovative technique of electrical stimulation of the leg muscles to improve functional activities in patients who require prolonged mechanical ventilation. If effective, it is expected that this combined rehabilitation approach could become the cornerstone strategy aimed at improving the health outcomes for these patients by speeding functional recovery after prolonged use of a ventilator.

See schedule omusculoskeletal biomechanics laboratory: the musculoskeletal biomechanics laboratory established in 1980 is a nationally and internationally recognized facility for Research and Education in orthopaedic biomechanics. The laboratory occupies more than 1,000 sq. Ft. of space in the edward hines, jr. va hospital rehabilitation Research and development center, with an additional 1,000 sq. Ft of office space for the use of investigators. The laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for conducting biomechanical investigations on bone and soft tissues. The staff experience in electromechanical instrumentation, designing test fixtures and working with cadaveric specimens is a valuable asset in designing and executing Research projects in the laboratory. Over the last several years Research projects in the biomechanics laboratory have focused on biomechanical evaluations of implants and instrumentation for degenerative joint disease and fractures, nonoperative treatment of fractures and deformities of the spine, and have made significant contributions to the understanding of the ...