Kessler Foundation’s Silvana Lopes Costa, PhD, Honored with Women in Neurodegenerative Disease Rehabilitation Science Award from ACRM

Prestigious award celebrates women’s leadership in rehabilitation science

Image of Silvana Lopes Costa, PhD
Silvana Lopes Costa, PhD, of Kessler Foundation has been awarded the prestigious Women in Neurodegenerative Disease Rehabilitation Science Award at the 2024 Annual American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) in Dallas.

East Hanover, NJ – November 4, 2024Silvana Lopes Costa, PhD, of Kessler Foundation was awarded the prestigious Women in Neurodegenerative Disease Rehabilitation Science Award this past weekend at the 2024 Annual American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) in Dallas, TX.

Dr. Costa, a research scientist in the Center for Multiple Sclerosis Research, housed within the Center for Neuropsychology and Neuroscience Research at Kessler Foundation, has been recognized for her groundbreaking research and leadership in the area of multiple sclerosis (MS), with a focus on cognitive assessment and cognitive training in MS and spinal cord injury (SCI).

The Women in Neurodegenerative Disease Rehabilitation Science Award was established in 2018 to acknowledge world-class rehabilitation research conducted by a female scientist in the rehabilitation research field of MS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson’s, dementia, Alzheimer’s or related neurodegenerative disease.

“I am truly honored to receive this award and grateful for the recognition from ACRM,” said Dr. Costa. “My work in the field of multiple sclerosis has been driven by a passion for understanding and improving cognitive function in individuals affected by neurological diseases to enhance their quality of life. I'm proud to be one of the many women in rehabilitation research for neurogenerative diseases.”

Dr. Costa is also the director of the Neuropsychology of Eye Movements Laboratory at the Foundation. In this lab, Dr. Costa utilizes eye-tracking methodologies to research cognitive impairments of individuals with MS, SCI, and traumatic brain injury. The goal of her research is to contribute to the treatment and early intervention of cognitive declines, promoting quality of life among individuals with neurological conditions. 

About the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM)
ACRM is an organization of rehabilitation professionals from around the world dedicated to serving people with disabling conditions by supporting research that promotes health, independence, productivity, and quality of life. For more information, visit ACRM


About Kessler Foundation
Kessler Foundation, a major nonprofit organization in the field of disability, is a global leader in rehabilitation research. Our scientists seek to improve cognition, mobility, and long-term outcomes, including employment, for adults and children with neurological and developmental disabilities of the brain and spinal cord including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and autism. Kessler Foundation also leads the nation in funding innovative programs that expand opportunities for employment for people with disabilities. KesslerFoundation.org.

For more information, contact:
Deb Hauss, [email protected]

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