Open house celebrates $4.5 million VA research award

Researchers at the National Veterans Affairs Brain Rehabilitation Research Center of Excellence in Gainesville have received $4.5 million to study the brain’s ability to recover from neural injury or disease.

The center, a consortium that includes the Malcom Randall Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Gainesville, the University of Florida, UF Health Shands, UF Health Shands Rehab Hospital and the Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital, will receive the award over the next five years. The award will help researchers study mechanisms of brain plasticity. Their discoveries can help them develop and test interventions for the recovery of cognitive, motor and emotional function for those who have had a traumatic brain injury, stroke, spinal cord injury or who suffer from Parkinson’s disease.

In recognition of the award, the Brain Rehabilitation Research Center will host an open house. The open house will showcase the work of 28 Veterans Affairs-funded investigators and 16 affiliate investigators. These scientists will give presentations and display posters describing their ongoing research. Visitors can also tour the research center’s laboratories.

The event will take place from 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16, on the first floor of the Community Living Center building on the campus of the Gainesville Veterans Affairs medical center. Janis Daly, Ph.D., director of the Brain Rehabilitation Research Center, will provide opening remarks regarding the future of research at the center at 4:45 p.m. The public is welcome to attend.