Research Foci

The integration and synthesis of knowledge from basic, social, and applied sciences to study human movement across the lifespan—from development through aging. This focus encompasses the prevention of movement-related impairments, and the maintenance, enhancement, and rehabilitation of motor functions in diverse contexts. Research spans physical activity and exercise, speech and other movement systems, and the principles of motor control, with the goal of supporting individuals whose movement capabilities are, or are perceived to be, challenged by disease, injury, or the aging process.

A basic science dedicated to the systematic study of human occupation. It examines the form, function, and meaning of occupation and its relationship to health and well-being. This science both informs and is informed by other disciplines, including psychology, anthropology, sociology, human movement science, medical science, and economics. 

A multidisciplinary field that examines how social factors, financing systems, organizational structures and processes, health technologies, and personal behaviors affect access to rehabilitation care. It studies the quality and cost of services, and ultimately their impact on health and well-being. Research domains include individuals, families, organizations, practitioners, institutions, communities, and populations.

The integration of multidisciplinary knowledge and expertise in the design, development, and evaluation of technologies relevant to rehabilitation. This research supports disease diagnosis and monitoring, enhances the function and well-being of people with disabilities and their caregivers, and enables participation in everyday life.

A multidisciplinary field concerned with the study of normal processes in speech, language, and swallowing, as well as the etiology, symptomatology, prognosis, and treatment of related disorders. Research addresses evaluation and intervention across the lifespan for populations affected by developmental language disorders, neurogenic speech and language conditions, fluency and voice disorders, articulation and phonological impairments, and swallowing difficulties. 

This interdisciplinary research focus examines processes of recovery and adaptation in the context of neurological conditions, mental health, or cognitive changes that occur across the life span. It explores the relationships between cognition, mental health, and participation in daily life and supports the development of lifestyle or non-pharmacological interventions that promote brain health and preserve functioning as individuals age.  

This research focus examines disability as socially and structurally produced, and critically analyzes how rehabilitation systems, practices, and policies shape access, participation, and lived experience. Grounded in Critical Disability Studies and situated within rehabilitation sciences, this area of research interrogates assumptions about normalcy, independence, function, and expertise, and examines how power operates within rehabilitation knowledge, institutions, and service delivery.

The social sciences examine human systems, with a focus on the interdependent relationships between individuals and their social contexts, including families, communities, and workplaces. This research area addresses the social dimensions of rehabilitation, health and recovery, including social determinants of health, psychological needs, and non-medical factors that shape functioning, participation, and well-being. It emphasizes how social, economic, cultural, and environmental conditions influence rehabilitation experiences and outcomes, and participation in society.

This research area examines processes and contexts that shape professional learning across the continuum, integrating educational theory, cognitive and social sciences alongside clinical practice. It focuses on advancing teaching, assessment, curriculum design, technology use, and professional identity formation to improve healthcare and healthcare education practices and outcomes. Research may include theory-driven studies or local educational innovations aimed at fostering competent, compassionate, and evidence-informed care.