The grant portfolio of the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research: the first five years

To relate grant funding activities of the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research (NCMRR) with the Center's mission, priorities, and terminology for disability classification.

Retrospective review by the National Advisory Board on Medical Rehabilitation Research (NABMRR).

Abstracts of 153 research proposals and one contract funded by the NCMRR from 1992 through 1996.

A six-member research group participated in the development of a rating form and related instructions used to evaluate each abstract. The form was piloted and revised, and interrater agreement was monitored.

Funded proposals reflected each of the NCMRR priorities evaluated, with the highest proportion in the areas of assistive technology and whole body system, and the lowest in the area of behavioral adaptation. Although some proposals were funded in each of the domains of the disability classification system, proportionately fewer addressed the domains of disability and societal limitations. Findings also indicated that few funded proposals addressed more than one domain in the disability classification system and that most abstracts did not address consumers' perspectives on quality of life.

The NABMRR recommended that the NCMRR (1) encourage more research in the areas of disability and societal limitations and in behavioral adaptation, (2) examine funded proposals in light of a recent Institute of Medicine report, and (3) explore quality-of-life measurements. Further, members of the rehabilitation community are encouraged to e-mail their responses to this review to NCMRR staff at (1q2n@nih.govA) and to suggest areas of research emphasis.