Disability community-engaged medical rehabilitation research center
Official title: ENGAGED: Disability Community Engaged Medical Rehabilitation Research Center
Funded at University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-11413602 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A nationwide collaboration to advance disability-focused rehabilitation research by working directly with the disability community to develop and share evidence-based interventions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 9, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,309,742 |
| NIH project number | 5P50HD118631-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11413602 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with disabilities or chronic conditions seeking disability-informed rehabilitation interventions and researchers/practitioners interested in community-engaged methods.
✕Less likely to help
People not involved in or affected by disability-related rehabilitation research may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This grant funds a bi-institutional effort between the University of Illinois Chicago and UT Health Houston/TIRR to build a national infrastructure for community-engaged rehabilitation research. It emphasizes partnerships with the disability community and rehabilitation researchers to co-create and disseminate research that addresses social determinants of health. The program includes shared resources, cross-disciplinary teams, and advisory boards to ensure research aligns with real-world needs and priorities. Through three synergistic cores and multi-phase community-based projects, the center will develop practices that make rehabilitation research more inclusive, impactful, and scalable.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could see more relevant, community-informed rehabilitation options and faster translation of research into practices that improve daily living and health outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Community-engaged rehabilitation research has shown promise in aligning interventions with patient needs, though large-scale national infrastructure is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Magasi, Susan — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Magasi, Susan
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.