Award Winning Scientists: Our scientists have been awarded numerous federal, state and private grants to conduct cutting edge research.
Ivy League Affiliation: All Burke faculty have appointments at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City.
Training the Next Generation of Leaders in Brain Repair: BMRI fosters and cultivates young scientists, clinicians, and clinician-scientists who will lead the next generation in studies on repair and rehabilitation of the nervous system.
Focus on Basic, Translational, and Clinical Research Related to the Brain: Burke is currently the only major basic Research Institute in the United States that functions in synergy with a rehabilitation hospital.
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Hope through Rehabilitation & Research

Message From Our Director

Rajiv R. Ratan M.D., Ph.D., Burke Professor of Neurology and Neuroscience, Associate Dean, Weill Medical College,Executive Director, Burke Medical Research Institute

The Burke Rehabilitation Hospital is a recognized leader in delivering  state-of-the art care for the injured and disabled. 

An important engine for Burke’s quest to deliver the best rehabilitation strategies not only for today but also for tomorrow is the Burke Medical Research Institute.

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Faculty Spotlight

Kathleen M. Friel, Ph.D.

Director, Clinical Laboratory for Early Brain Injury Recovery
Research Focus

“Dr. Friel’s work at the Burke-Cornell Medical Research Institute aims to improve hand function in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Her research focuses on the importance of motor activity in...”

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News & Events

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Have difficulty moving your legs due to MS? Consider enrolling in Burke's clinical research study for patients with spasticity due to Multiple Sclerosis.

The Early Brain Injury Recovery Program is recruiting children with hemiplegia for clinical trials. Visit the program page for details. 

Did You Know?

The loss of the ability to detect and identify odors is an early symptom associated with several neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Diseases. >

Glucose and vitamins are important in age related neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's Disease. >

People who are paralyzed after spinal cord injury, may have residual connections to muscles that are not fully utilized? >

Painless brain stimulation with electromagnetic fields can improve movement in people suffering from a stroke? >

You see with your brain, not with your eyes. >

The retina is the only part of the brain that can be directly viewed from outside of the body. >

More genetic mutations cause retinal degeneration than any other neurodegenerative disease. >

One in ten persons over the age of 65 has Alzheimer's disease and half of the people over the age of 85. >

Head trauma causes many characteristics similar to those in Alzheimer's disease. >