title: State of the Science in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation 2011: informing a new research agenda.
abstract: METHODS
  This manuscript summarizes recommendations from the State of the Science Conference in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation 2011.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To develop an agenda for spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation research in the next decade.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants scheduled planning meetings and then gathered at the 2011 joint meeting of the American Spinal Injury Association and International Spinal Cord Society in Washington DC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Recommendations were made by an international, multidisciplinary team that met in large plenary sessions and breakout groups during the meeting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recommendations are organized by conference track, including neurological and functional recovery; technology issues; aging with spinal cord injury; and employment, psychosocial and quality of life issues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A number of themes emerged across the conference tracks, including the need for improved measures of process and outcome constructs, application of qualitative and quantitative research designs, and use of contemporary statistical analytic approaches. Participants emphasized the value of collaborative research that uses the latest methods, techniques and information.
authors.affiliation: Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. a-heinemann@northwestern.edu
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Heinemann
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Steeves
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boninger
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Groah
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sherwood
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D004651:Employment; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000592:standards; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*