Regenerative Rehabilitation seeks to optimize patient outcomes through an integration of two fields: regenerative medicine and rehabilitation science. The former focuses on tissue repair or replacement due to loss from injury, disease, or age. This is achieved primarily through the enhancement of endogenous stem cell function or the transplantation of exogenous stem cells. The latter focuses on the use of mechanical and other stimuli to promote functional recovery. This synergy between biological and bioengineering advances is critical to developing novel and impactful translational therapies. However, there currently are few opportunities for regenerative scientists to be exposed to the methodologies commonly employed in the clinic by rehabilitation professionals. Conversely, most rehabilitation scientists and clinicians are not exposed to the many advances of regenerative medicine. This disconnect has impeded the pace of progress in the field. To this end, the International Consortium for Regenerative Rehabilitation—comprised of 16 institutions—aims to increase interdisciplinary interaction. Thus, as technologies are developed and our understanding of regenerative biology progresses, advances may be efficiently translated to the clinic.
To address this need, the annual international symposium on Regenerative Rehabilitation is designed to propel the translation of regenerative technologies into functionally relevant treatment interventions that have the potential to transform rehabilitative healthcare. The Eighth Annual International Symposium on Regenerative Rehabilitation brought together basic scientists, engineers, and rehabilitation clinicians in order to create a fertile ground for discussion, interaction, and networking across disciplines. The symposium took place on 24–26 October 2019, in Charlottesville, Virginia, and was co-hosted by the University of Virginia and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. This symposium featured world-renowned researchers and clinicians, focusing on the emerging field of Regenerative Rehabilitation; it succeeded in creating a platform for bridging several areas of expertise in a setting that fosters discussion, interaction, cross-discipline pollination and networking. A meeting report entitled “Progressing the field of Regenerative Rehabilitation through novel interdisciplinary interaction” is now available in npj Regenerative Medicine.
Due to COVID-19, the AR3T Executive Leadership recently made the difficult decision to postpone the 2020 symposium. The Ninth Annual International Symposium on Regenerative Rehabilitation will be held November 4-6, 2021, in Austin, Texas.
Illustration: The Alliance for Regenerative Rehabilitation Research and Training.
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Abstract (Progressing the field of Regenerative Rehabilitation through novel interdisciplinary interaction. Victor Cheuy, Silvia Picciolini & Marzia Bedoni. npj Regenerative Medicine, 5, Article number: 16 (2020).)