Background: In coming years, the need for clinical 
research in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 
(PMR) will increase. In face of an aging population 
and greater emphasis on evidence-based medicine, 
the field must be prepared to examine treatments and 
disseminate findings effectively. However, clinical 
research in PMR needs improvement.  
Objectives: The “Rehabilitation Medicine Summit: 
Building Research Capacity” met to address this 
issue in 2005. Five years later, a meeting of 
Brazilian, American and Canadian PMR clinician 
researchers examined 11 questions regarding the 
same problem and compared results to past findings. 
Major Findings: Responses were discussed during 
a meeting in São Paulo, Brazil. After, summaries and 
a synthesis of group and literature findings were 
completed. Major issues identified in these three 
countries are: lack of funding, time, training, and 
institutional support, and issues with patients and 
methodology. Positive changes seen include: greater 
interest in PMR and investment in training. 
Conclusions: Despite increasing concern for the 
situation, it is clear changes in PMR clinical research 
are still needed.