CU Anschutz Faculty Member Receives Pediatric Rehabilitation Pilot Research Grant
Pilot study will begin to examine biomarkers associated with recovery following pediatric disorders of consciousness
Zachary Noriega, MPA | Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation/CU School of Medicine Sep 14, 2026
AURORA, Colo. (September 11, 2026) – Jordan Wyrwa, DO, assistant professor in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, has been awarded the Gabriella E. Molnar-Swafford Pediatric PM&R Research Grant, a competitive $10,000 research award from the Foundation for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Foundation for PM&R).
The grant supports research focused on pediatric rehabilitation medicine for individuals under age 21 with disabilities, with particular emphasis on outcomes-based investigations that can improve care and quality of life for children and adolescents.
Dr. Wyrwa's funded pilot study will begin to investigate the relationship between blood-based biomarkers, specifically glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neurofilament light chain (NfL), and outcomes following disorders of consciousness in pediatric patients. The research will begin to evaluate if these biomarkers are associated with recovery of consciousness and overall functional outcomes one month after hospital discharge.
"Aside from the age of the child and what caused the disorder of consciousness, we don’t have any other validated prognostic factors to help clinicians better predict outcomes and guide care for children with disorders of consciousness," said Dr. Wyrwa. "This pilot project is an important step toward improving our ability to support our patients and families and enhancing future research to rigorously identify effective treatments."
The Gabriella E. Molnar-Swafford Pediatric PM&R Research Grant is designed to support early-stage investigations that generate data for larger, externally funded studies. Through programs like this, the Foundation for PM&R invests in innovative rehabilitation research and the development of future leaders in physiatric science.
"This award reflects the importance of advancing evidence-based approaches to pediatric rehabilitation," said Jordan Wyrwa, DO. "By exploring new, potential predictors of recovery, we hope to contribute knowledge that ultimately improves outcomes for children facing serious neurologic injuries."
This pilot study aligns with CU Anschutz's commitment to advancing innovative research that improves patient care and strengthens the future of rehabilitation medicine.
About the University of Colorado Anschutz
The University of Colorado Anschutz is a world-class academic medical campus leading transformative advances in science, medicine, education and patient care. The campus includes the University of Colorado's health professional schools, more than 60 centers and institutes, and two nationally ranked independent hospitals, UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital and Children's Hospital Colorado, which see nearly three million adult and pediatric patient visits each year. Innovative, interconnected and highly collaborative, CU Anschutz delivers life-changing treatments, exceptional patient care and top-tier professional training. The campus conducts world-renowned research supported by $890 million in funding, including $762 million in sponsored awards and $128 million in philanthropic gifts for research.