The University of Washington Department of Rehabilitation Medicine is a national leader in brain injury research, committed to improving outcomes for individuals with traumatic and acquired brain injuries. Our work is anchored by the UW Traumatic Brain Injury Model System (UW TBI-MS)—one of only a few federally designated TBI Model Systems funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
Our interdisciplinary research teams investigate a wide range of topics, including cognitive rehabilitation, mental health and emotional regulation, aging with TBI, return to work and community reintegration, caregiver support, and disparities in access to care. We also conduct long-term follow-up studies to better understand the chronic impacts of brain injury and inform best practices in rehabilitation across the lifespan.
Collaborating closely with local healthcare systems, national research networks, and patient communities, we are deeply committed to translating scientific discoveries into real-world clinical interventions. In addition to the TBI Model System, our faculty lead and participate in studies funded by the NIH, Department of Defense, and VA, among others.
