Disability and Rehabilitation Engineering (DARE)

The Disability and Rehabilitation Engineering program supports fundamental engineering research that will improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities through the development of new theories, methodologies, technologies, or devices. The program encourages high-risk/high-reward proposals that surpass incremental technological improvements and supports research in areas such as neuroengineering, rehabilitation robotics, and brain-inspired assistive or rehabilitative systems. • The program is part of the Engineering Biology and Health cluster. • Proposed projects must advance knowledge regarding a specific human disability or pathological motion or understanding of injury mechanisms. • Emphasis is placed on significant advancement of fundamental engineering knowledge that facilitates transformative outcomes. • The program encourages participatory design and the inclusion of trainees with disabilities as part of the proposed research or broader impacts.