New training program aims to develop future leaders in rehabilitation research
May 27, 2026

By Jill Pease/University of Florida

Millions of Americans rely on rehabilitation care to maintain health and independence, yet the pipeline of scientists driving advances in treatment remains limited. A new nationwide program led by the University of Florida and the University of Southern California will provide early career researchers with the training, mentoring and resources they need to become independent investigators and scientific leaders in rehabilitation.

The K12 Career Advancement and Development in Rehabilitation Research, or CADRRE, program is designed to build a national training network for early career faculty in occupational therapy and physical therapy. The program is funded by a grant from the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development with institutional support from UF and USC.

“The overall goal of the CADRRE program is to train leaders who will enable a sustainable and cutting-edge rehabilitation science infrastructure in the United States,” said CADRRE director Krista Vandenborne, Ph.D., P.T., distinguished professor and chair of the Department of Physical Therapy at the UF College of Public Health and Health Professions. “A highly trained workforce in rehabilitation science is fundamentally important to advance treatments and improve the lives of our citizens.”

CADRRE builds on a successful program the two institutions co-directed for 17 years that trained more than 40 scholars and helped launch their careers as leading investigators who have had an exceptional track record of securing research funding from federal agencies, foundations and industry sources.

“CADRRE will undoubtedly accelerate the quality, capacity and impact of research produced by our junior scientists,” said Grace Baranek, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA, CADRRE co-director and associate dean and chair of the USC Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy. “Investing in K12 trainees will yield long-term benefits for the OT and PT professions, our educational institutions and the general public throughout the nation.”

CADRRE expands the previous model to include 16 partner institutions across the U.S. from which excellent candidates will be recruited to broaden the program’s impact.

Each scholar will be matched with one of 50 lead mentors at UF or USC as well as a local mentor if they are at one of the partner institutions. The program will emphasize four major research themes that reflect UF and USC’s areas of excellence and represent national public health priorities. These include:

• Rehabilitation neuroscience
• Pediatrics and neuromuscular developmental disorders
• Musculoskeletal structure and function in health and disease
• Aging and chronic conditions, including health services and community participation

Scholars will begin by preparing an individualized career development plan under the guidance of their lead mentor. Program features also include comprehensive education in clinical and translational research; training in clinical trials and intervention research; access to cutting-edge research methods and infrastructure, including the use of artificial intelligence in rehabilitation research; intensive training and mentoring in grant writing; and networking and career development opportunities. Scholars will also be integrated into an interdisciplinary research team at one of the lead or partner institutions to provide further guidance on generating, analyzing, presenting and publishing research data, helping scholars gain the expertise and credentials needed to compete for external research funding.

In addition to Vandenborne and Baranek, members of the CADRRE executive committee include Mark Bishop, Ph.D., P.T., Sherrilene Classen, Ph.D., OTR/L, and David Fuller, Ph.D., of the University of Florida, and Christopher Powers, Ph.D., P.T., of the University of Southern California.

“The UF and USC PT and OT faculty are national leaders in rehabilitation science,” said Fuller, CADRRE’s career development officer. “The CADRRE program pairs these experts with clinicians seeking to advance their ability to do high level research, providing a powerful platform to grow a research career. By strengthening the rehabilitation science workforce, the program will lead to new discoveries that ultimately benefit the health of all Americans.”

Applications are open for the first cohort of CADRRE scholars. Applicants should have earned a doctoral degree in a relevant field and completed their postdoctoral training within the past three years. Visit the program website for more information and to apply.

⋯