News Release

John DeLuca, Ph.D., of Kessler Foundation receives National MS Society Fellowship Award

5-year grant funds mentor-based, postdoctoral fellowships in rehabilitation research in multiple sclerosis

Grant and Award Announcement

Kessler Foundation

John DeLuca, Kessler Foundation

image: John DeLuca, PhD, Senior Vice President for Research and Training at Kessler Foundation, is an internationally renowned scientist and expert in cognitive MS rehabilitation. view more 

Credit: Kessler Foundation

EAST HANOVER, N.J. May 16, 2017 - John DeLuca, PhD, Senior Vice President for Research and Training at Kessler Foundation, has been awarded the Mentor-Based Postdoctoral Fellowship Award in Neuropsychological Rehabilitation from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. This prestigious grant recognizes leading clinician-scientists dedicated to investigating interventions designed to improve cognitive functioning and everyday life in individuals with MS. This five-year grant for $404,698 will provide enhanced and continued support for Kessler Foundations' current postdoctoral Fellowship training program.

"Cognitive difficulties adversely affect many people with MS, but much more needs to be done to study these deficits and develop effective treatments," explained Dr. DeLuca. "By funding these fellowships, the National MS Society is addressing the need for trained scientists who can conduct rigorous clinical studies using the latest in technology, including techniques for brain imaging. Kessler Foundation provides the ideal environment for learning the skills and methodology needed to conduct rehabilitation research that improves the everyday lives of people with MS."

Dr. DeLuca serves as primary mentor for the program's MS Fellows, as well as a role model for success in contributing to the field of MS rehabilitation through focused research projects. The interests of every fellow are nurtured so that each develops a novel line of research. Fellows are closely guided through each step of the research process, from idea curation, design, and proposal submission, to data collection and analysis, culminating in publication in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at national conferences.

The NMSS Mentor-Based Postdoctoral Fellowship Award has funded five previous Kessler Foundation fellows, four of whom have subsequently obtained external grant funding for their MS research. Fellows have published numerous peer-reviewed articles, are recognized globally for their distinguished work, and all are actively working in the field of MS.

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About Dr. John DeLuca:

John DeLuca, PhD, Senior Vice President for Research and Training, oversees Kessler Foundation's renowned rehabilitation research in MS, brain injury, stroke, spinal cord injury, and other disabling conditions. The author of more than 300 articles, books, and chapters, Dr. DeLuca has received numerous awards for his research, including early career awards from the American Psychological Association and the National Academy of Neuropsychology, and a mid-career award from the International Neuropsychological Society, where he now serves on the board. He is a professor in the Departments of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Neurology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, and neuropsychology consultant to the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League and the New York Red Bulls Major League Soccer team.

About Kessler Foundation:

Kessler Foundation, a major nonprofit organization in the field of disability, is a global leader in rehabilitation research that seeks to improve cognition, mobility, and long-term outcomes--including employment--for people with neurological disabilities caused by diseases and injuries of the brain and spinal cord. Kessler Foundation also leads the nation in funding innovative programs that expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

For more information on Kessler Foundation's research, visit KesslerFoundation.org.

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