The University of Delaware’s Gregory Hicks has been elected to become the chair of the National Advisory Board on Medical Rehabilitation Research (NABMRR).

Hicks, professor and chair of the top-ranked Department of Physical Therapy in UD’s College of Health Sciences, was initially appointed to the board in December 2015. Appointments to the NABMRR are for four years and Hicks’ term as chair will be for one year.

National Advisory Board on Medical Rehabilitation Research

The NABMRR was established as a mandate of the director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to advise the directors of NIH, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), as well as the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research (NCMRR) on policy matters regarding the programs of NCMRR.

The mission of NCMRR, which is housed within NICHD, is to nurture the advancement of scientific knowledge required to improve the health, productivity and quality of life for individuals with physical limitations and disabilities in society. NCMRR also plays the primary role in coordination of all rehabilitation research across the NIH.

Advice from the NABMRR is particularly sought in the areas of research priorities and opportunities, career development for rehabilitation scientists and program evaluation.

The NABMRR consists of 12 members who represent health and scientific disciplines related to rehabilitation, as well as six members who represent persons with physical disabilities. Board members are nominated based on recognized leadership in the rehabilitation field and then appointed by NIH staff after undergoing a thorough vetting process within NIH.

“It’s a huge honor to be appointed to the advisory board and then to be elected by my peers as the chair of the board for this coming year. We are in the enviable position of being able to influence the future of rehabilitation research,” Hicks said.

About the professor

Hicks, who joined the UD faculty in 2007 and was recently promoted to professor, is an alumnus with undergraduate degrees in biological sciences and English, as well as a graduate degree in physical therapy from UD.

Hicks’ research is focused on improving physical function and participation in older adults with chronic musculoskeletal conditions, particularly low back pain. His research has been regularly funded by NIH.