Leadership of the ultimate interdisciplinary team: Rehabilitation science at NIH

BACKGROUND: Support for rehabilitation research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is robust and evolving. Since the time of its Blue Ribbon Panel on Rehabilitation Research, NIH has participated in several initiatives to coordinate the science and advance the field. DISCUSSION: Collaborative teams must continue to address key limitations in the field, including the desire for broad application of rehabilitation interventions, the need for basic science and translational research, the support of clinical trials and standard approaches, and the integration of technology. CONCLUSION: Rehabilitation medicine is poised for critical advancements if interdisciplinary teams continue to work collaboratively to understand and address the needs of people with temporary or permanent functional limitations.