Rehabilitation Medicine Summit: Building Research Capacity-executive summary

The general objective of the Rehabilitation Medicine Summit: Building Research Capacity was to advance and promote research in medical rehabilitation by making recommendations to expand research capacity. The 5 elements of research capacity that guided the discussions were: (1) researchers, (2) research environment, infrastructure, and culture, (3) funding, (4) partnerships, and (5) metrics. The [approximately] 100 participants included representatives of professional organizations, consumer groups, academic departments, researchers, governmental funding agencies, and the private sector. The small-group discussions and plenary sessions generated an array of problems, possible solutions, and recommended actions. A post-Summit, multi-organizational initiative is called to pursue the agendas outlined in this report. [Frontera WR, Fuhrer MJ, Jette AM, et al. Rehabilitation Medicine Summit: Building Research Capacity-Executive Summary. Phys Ther. 2006;86:285-298.]
The advancement of medical science depends on the production, availability, and utilization of new information generated by research. A successful research enterprise depends not only on a carefully designed agenda [...]