Research

The CCID advances evidence-based clinical and programmatic research in the field of human disability, with the goal of improving the health and function of persons with chronic illness such as cancer or arthritis, or disabling conditions such as stroke, spinal cord injury or cerebral palsy.  CCID initiates research to better understand the causes, prevention, and amelioration of primary and secondary disabling conditions, as well as restoration of function and independent living. Our studies inform physicians and local, state, national and international policy makers on all aspects of rehabilitation and health for persons with long-term disabilities.

Our interdisciplinary faculty holds advanced degrees in rehabilitation medicine, health services research, social work, biostatistics, epidemiology, neuroscience and related fields.

Areas of Emphasis

Disability and Function

• Develop, test and disseminate instruments to evaluate function
• Develop, test and disseminate results of treatment trials designed to ameliorate or prevent disabilities and restore function
• Explore the scientific basis for understanding the relationships between chronic illness and disability
• Develop, test, disseminate techniques for tele-rehabilitation

Disability and Health

• Evaluate disability competent care coordination organizations (DCCOs)
• Study the role of exercise in preventing secondary disabilities
• Inform consumer choice
• Develop, test, disseminate population-based measures of quality of care

We Investigate Questions Such As:

• How can external review agencies measure the quality of care for people with disabilities?
• How can telemedicine be used to improve access to rehabilitation services?
• How can we train health plans and clinics to become "disability competent” providers?
• How can physiatrists and other physicians measure clinical improvements in physical function?
• What are the relationships between chronic illness and disability?  Are persons with disability at risk for developing chronic illness?
• What are our best measurement tools to evaluate frequently seen symptoms associated with disability (e.g., fatigue) in order to determine how they impact function and well being?

Examples of Our Current Research Portfolio:

• Micro analytic techniques to determine biochemical milieu in tissue in musculoskeletal pain syndromes (NIH intramural collaboration)
• Assessment of fatigue in persons with chronic liver disease (collaboration with INOVA-Fairfax)
• Medicaid quality indicators for people with disabilities (National Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research/ US Department of Education)
• Consumer Assessment of Health care Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) for People with Mobility Impairments (AHRQ)
• Tele-haptics in rehabilitation and special education (GMU intramural funding)

Skill Sets and Services

• Instrument development  for subjective and objective measures of human performance and function
• Clinical evaluation and management of persons with disabilities
• Quantitative analysis of very large datasets and survey data using SPSS, SAS, SUDAAN, and spreadsheet modeling
• Qualitative analysis of individual and focus group interviews of people with disabilities, payers, providers, and other stakeholders, using state-of-the-art analytical tools and facilitation methods
• Comprehensive program evaluation and development of interventions targeted to people with disabilities
• Policy analysis
• Survey and interview development and administration to people with disabilities