Dr. Schultheis and Dr. Chute with graduate student Nicole Sestito

The objective for this Stein Family Fellowship is to establish a translational exchange between Drexel University of Philadelphia and Ben-Gurion University of Israel.  The Department of Psychology at Ben-Gurion has strengths in basic cognitive neuroscience, a core research domain central to Drexel’s applied initiatives in such areas as driving capacity, functional frontal lobe imaging, neurorehabilitation, and acceptance-based behavior therapies.  The Department of Psychology at Drexel University has a “Top 10” ranking nationally for its strengths in Clinical Psychology, (Chronicle of Higher Education, 2008).  Knowledge translation is a dynamic and iterative process that includes synthesis, dissemination, exchange, and the ethically sound application of knowledge to improve health (CIHR).  It normally takes many years of research to affect clinical practice in any field.  By establishing the collaboration between the basic cognitive neuroscience research of the Department of Psychology of Ben-Gurion University and the clinical and applied research of the Department of Psychology at Drexel University, we hope to both facilitate and shorten the time to effectively deploy some of our neurorehabilitation technologies and behavioral therapies.  In the initial stages of the Stein Fellowship, we have chosen to keep our focus on the domains of cognitive neuroscience, neuropsychological rehabilitation and behavior therapy.  This enables a concentrated effort well within the research programs and experience of key faculty that will initiate the exploration of this potential collaboration.  From the Drexel side, this would be Professor Douglas L. Chute, Co- Director with Associate Research Professor Maria Schultheis of the Applied Neuro-Technologies Laboratory (http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~sg94g745/index.html).  From the Ben-Gurion University side the collaboration will be coordinated by Professor Nachshon Meiran, Chairperson of the Department of Psychology.  Drexel’s Director of Clinical Training, Associate Professor Evan Forman has agreed to facilitate training especially in his area of expertise, acceptance-based behavior therapies.  This domain has not been widely tested in rehabilitation programs and offers a research opportunity for an intervention strategy ready for translation.  Professor Forman’s role is also anticipated to include mentorship in student exchanges and in follow-on funding. http://www.drexel.edu/coas/psychology/formanherbert/