Rachel Byrne is a research manager for Kessler Foundation’s Center for Spinal Cord Injury Research and Center for Outcomes and Assessment Research. She closely monitors progress of enrollment and data collection and works with the research team to increase follow-up rates. She has managed a range of study topics, including the longitudinal data collection efforts of the Northern New Jersey Spinal Cord Injury System, measurement development to assess quality of life in emotional, social and physical/medical domains, the influence of environment on quality of life, and item development for new cognitive assessments for children and adults.

She is experienced in data management, codebook development, qualitative analysis, cognitive interviews, and focus group procedures. In her role as senior research coordinator, Rachel serves as a liaison between research staff and Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation clinicians and coordinates data collection activities with other collaborating sites. She is responsible for overseeing Institutional Review Board submissions, correspondence, and compliance for a diverse group of researchers and affiliated institutions. In addition, Rachel provides support for the scientists’ research activities, helping to coordinate resources needed for grant submissions and presentations.