Interdisciplinary training

Michael J. Mueller, PhD, professor of physical therapy, is principal investigator of the Washington University-based multicenter grant, called the Comprehensive Opportunities for Rehabilitation Research Training (CORRT).

Supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), CORRT helps new physical and occupational therapists acquire the necessary skills to become independent researchers. Successful applicants train with at least two senior mentors: a physical or occupational therapist and another researcher from a different discipline. Twenty Washington University faculty from diverse areas are available to serve as mentors along with more than 40 other researchers from partner sites across the country.

The renewed grant helps new physical and occupational therapists acquire the necessary skills to become independent researchers.

“We’re very excited about the program’s progress,” says Mueller. “So far, six of the 17 scholars have earned individual NIH grants. We look forward to our scholars’ continued success with the ultimate goal of helping them launch research that will improve the lives of people with disabilities.”

The new funding allows the program to develop a communication network, headed by M. Carolyn Baum, PhD, director of the Program in Occupational Therapy, and add three new training sites: Boston University, Colorado State University and the University of Colorado, Denver. Current sites include Emory University, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, University of Delaware, University of Iowa and the University of Pittsburgh.

NIH K12 HD055931