Center for Stroke Rehabilitation Research

Research scientist with a participant wearing special goggles for stroke treatment

Center for Stroke Rehabilitation Research

Making Hidden Disabilities Visible

From discovery to practice, the Center strives to improve stroke rehabilitative care and transition back into the community by finding ways to detect and treat spatial neglect, expanding our knowledge of reading deficits, improving medication adherence, and implementing new interventions during in-patient rehabilitation.

Center Leadership

Robert Vroeginday overcame his spatial neglect caused by stroke thanks to Kessler Foundation's research.

Do You Know a Stroke Survivor?

In honor of World Stroke Day we are sharing this video about spatial neglect

Watch Robert's Story

2019 public service announcement about spatial neglect caused by stroke.

Guide to Spatial Neglect

Spatial neglect is a common complication that often escapes detection, with serious consequences for stroke survivors. Stroke survivors with spatial neglect have difficulty interacting with their surroundings.

Guide to Spatial Neglect

Atlas world map with red pings locations

Spotlighting Hidden Disabilities

The Center is a leader in rehabilitation research of spatial neglect, an under recognized disability that contributes to poor outcomes in stroke survivors. Spatial neglect causes difficulties with daily activities such as self-care, driving, reading, and navigating one’s surroundings. Individuals with spatial neglect are more likely to recover more slowly, experience falls and are less likely to return home. The tools developed by researchers to detect and treat spatial neglect are being implemented at a growing number of rehabilitation facilities in the U.S. and abroad.

Access Spatial Neglect Courses       View Video

Female researcher scientist wearing a white lab coat

Exploring Reading Difficulties

Despite the disabling potential of reading deficits, few studies have focused on the cognitive components of reading.  To improve rehabilitative care after stroke, researchers are using neuroimaging techniques, neurological examinations, and neuropsychological testing to determine the cognitive mechanisms that underlie our ability to read. To improve function and maximize independence of stroke survivors, new interventions are under development to help restore the ability to read in stroke survivors and others with acquired reading deficits.

Kessler Foundation K step and repeat background image

Exploring Implications of Delirium

Stroke survivors with spatial neglect are more likely to develop delirium, an acute disorder of attention and cognition, increasing their risk for prolonged stays and rehospitalization. Researchers are investigating a common brain mechanism for these conditions, toward the goal of identifying individuals at risk and developing an effective protocol for minimizing their associated mortality and morbidity.

Monitoring Self-administration of Medication group photo with orange section for text overlay

Monitoring Self-administration of Medication

Taking medication is especially challenging for individuals with cognitive deficits, who often are unaware that they are not following instructions for self-administration. This raises the risk for medication errors, and increases the need for assistance at home. Our researchers are working with clinicians at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation to determine the optimal approach to ensuring that individuals take their medications as prescribed. 

Man with special goggles for scientific stroke research

Kevin Accelerates His Recovery, Thanks to You

After his stroke, Kevin Mullins was unaware that he had spatial neglect—a hidden disability experienced by many stroke survivors that often goes undiagnosed.

He participated in Kessler Foundation’s prism adaptation therapy. This research, made possible by donors like you, helped Kevin regain awareness of his environment, improving his participation in rehabilitation and the pace of his recovery.

Woman with a exoskeleton mechanism that enables her to walk.

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Volunteers are the heart of our research. Provide your information below to join our secure participant database. You will hear from our recruitment team about research study opportunities.

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