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Fact Sheet
Created in 1971, the Missouri Arthritis Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (MARRTC) at the University of Missouri-Columbia is funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), which part of the U.S. Department of Education. MARRTC is the only federally funded arthritis rehabilitation research and training center in the country. The current grant cycle runs from 2003 to 2008 with a budget of $4 million funding eight different projects.
MARRTC Priorities
- To address national goals of reducing pain and disability for persons with arthritis.
- To address national goal of improving physical fitness and quality of life for persons with arthritis.
- To address national goal of promoting independent living and community integration for persons with arthritis.
- To conduct research on the benefits of exercise and physical fitness for persons with arthritis.
- To conduct research on home and community-based self-management programs for persons with arthritis.
- To conduct research on technology available to persons with arthritis in environments in which they live, learn, work and play.
Research Projects
MARRTC is involved in multi-disciplinary research that spans across several fields of study such as medicine, psychology, agriculture, journalism, consumer behavior and biostatistics.
Ongoing research efforts at MARRTC include, but are not limited to:
- Exploring the newest assistive technologies.
- Evaluating the latest rehabilitation techniques and exercise methods.
- Designing self-management and group management programs.
- Improving understanding about arthritis and related problems from medical, legislative and socio-economic perspectives.
- Developing research and training programs that help consumers, policy makers and service providers to better understand the complexities of the disease and its far-reaching implications.
- Improving understanding and interpretation of available arthritis research among consumers and other stakeholders.
- Working on several public awareness projects designed to help improve understanding of the disease among local and national media, among people with disabilities, and among the general population.
For detailed description of each research project, go to the Project Summaries brochure in the Virtual Press Kit.
Budget
- $4 million for 2003-08 grant cycle
- $533,333 from NIDRR for 2003-04
Publications/Presentations for 2003-04
- More than 40 presentations at conference and workshops
- 44 peer-reviewed publications
- 29 non-peer-reviewed publications
- Publications (including journal articles, newsletters, video tapes, etc.) reached more than 100,000 people in 2003-04
Service and Recognitions
- More than 30 keynote speeches and invited presentations
- MARRTC-involved researchers sit on more than 80 national committees, review board and advisory boards, panels and councils
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