2024 MR3 Network Scientific Retreat

September 19 and 20, 2024—Save the Date!

Catalyzing Transdisciplinary Research to Develop Innovative Rehabilitation Approaches with Lasting Impacts

 

MR3 Network's fourth annual scientific retreat will be presented via Zoom on September 19 and 20, 2024. Building on discussions from last year’s retreat, the 2024 Retreat aims to change the rehabilitation research landscape by developing novel transdisciplinary strategies to sustain and improve function once individuals return to their lived environments. The tentative times for the event are 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern, and while further details and a complete agenda are under preparation, you can register now!

Keynote Speakers

Diana W. Bianchi, M.D.

Director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Diana W. Bianchi oversees the institute's research on pediatric health and development, maternal and reproductive health, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and rehabilitation medicine, among other areas. These efforts include managing a staff of approximately 1,400 people and an annual budget of approximately $1.75 billion. Dr. Bianchi has had a busy tenure since joining NICHD in 2016. She spearheaded efforts on the NICHD Strategic Plan, released in September 2019, which outlined goals and aspirations to guide institute research. It is currently undergoing a refresh for the years 2025 through 2030. She also oversaw the crafting and vetting of the institute’s new vision statement—Healthy Pregnancies. Healthy Children. Healthy and Optimal Lives—as well as its new mission statement. The latter, generated alongside the strategic plan, underscores NICHD’s directive since its founding—to lead research and training to understand human development—and incorporates goals for all facets of NICHD—to improve reproductive health, enhance the lives of children and adolescents, and optimize abilities for all.

Michael L. Boninger, M.D.

Dr. Michael Boninger is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine. He has joint appointments in the Departments of Bioengineering, Rehabilitation Science and Technology, and the Clinical and Translational Science Institute as well as the McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine. He is also the Associate Dean for Sustainability in the School of Medicine and responsible for running the school’s Office of Sustainability in Medicine. Finally, he is the Chief Medical Sustainability Officer for UPMC. In these sustainability roles, Dr. Boninger is working to reduce the carbon footprint of UPMC and the School of Medicine and increase education and engagement in climate health. Dr. Boninger has an extensive publication record of well over 300 peer-reviewed papers and has receive substantial funding from numerous agencies including the Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, and National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. His central research focus is on enabling increased function and participation for individuals with disabilities through development and application of assistive, rehabilitative, and regenerative technologies. Dr. Boninger’s students have won over 50 national awards. Dr. Boninger holds 4 United States patents and has received numerous honors, including being inducted into the National Academy of Medicine (formerly Institute of Medicine) of the National Academy of Science.