Angela Colantonio from the University of Toronto is this year’s winner of the Robert L. Moody Prize for Distinguished Initiatives in Brain Injury Research and Rehabilitation.
The Moody Prize is presented annually by the Division of Rehabilitation Sciences in the School of Health Professions at The University of Texas Medical Branch and The Transitional Learning Center of Galveston.
The award recognizes significant contributions in acquired brain injury rehabilitation and research.
Colantonio leads a broad, internationally recognized program of research on acquired brain injury, focusing on how ABI impacts the lives of people most vulnerable to health service inequities, such as the homeless, those in prison and older adults.
Colantonio's research also examines work-related traumatic brain injury, long-term outcomes among women with ABI, the impact of sex/gender on outcomes and innovative approaches to intervention, such as the use of theater. She conducted the first comprehensive study on long-term outcomes after TBI among women, which primarily focused on reproductive health.
"We are thrilled to be able to recognize Dr. Colantonio with the Moody Prize. Her research is significant and she is the first occupational therapist to receive the prize,” said Elizabeth Protas, vice president and dean of the School of Health Professions at UTMB.
Dr. Brent Masel, president and medical director of The Transitional Learning Center in Galveston, said that Colantonio “has a long history of excellence in research and leadership in the TBI community. We are delighted that the Board of Governors is recognizing her for her greatness in this field.”
The objective of the award is to increase national and international awareness of the need to expand and improve treatment for persons who have experienced traumatic brain injury, stroke and related nervous system injuries, and to provide incentives in clinical research, rehabilitation and support.
The award also honors the contributions of Robert L. Moody in the field of brain injury rehabilitation and research. The Moody Prize is administered by a board of governors and awards are considered by a panel of experts. Criteria to be considered include the total impact of a candidate’s work, achievements and unique contributions, as well as recognition by peers within the scientific or rehabilitation communities.
The annual award consists of a $10,000 honorarium from UTMB, a citation, and an inscribed statue to be presented Thursday, May 7, at the Moody Gardens Hotel.