April 14, 2026
“We are living longer now than ever before — now is really the time to think about how we can live healthier than ever before,” says Spaulding Rehabilitation researcher Fabrisia Ambrosio, PhD, MPT.
In this video, Dr. Ambrosio, the Atlantic Charter Director of the Discovery Center for Musculoskeletal Recovery at Spaulding’s Schoen Adams Research Institute, reflects on her pursuits in and out of the lab. From the joy of running — when she often thinks of new ideas — to lessons learned from her father’s medical experience, she shares how her team is inspired to develop approaches that aid healing and recovery.
Learn how:
- Dr. Ambrosio’s research team is exploring the body’s response to injury and the features that allow us to preserve health and quality of life as we age.
- Aging bodies don’t heal as well as in youth, and a prolonged recovery can result in a shift from independence to needing assistance with mobility.
- Her goal is to understand why these processes become compromised as we get older to develop interventions, therapeutics, and even exercise mimetics (treatments that mimic the benefits of physical activity) to help maximize recovery.
- Exercise and physical activity have benefits beyond musculoskeletal recovery, including promoting brain health, meaning Dr. Ambrosio’s work may have broader applications in areas like stroke rehabilitation.
- Philanthropy allows Dr. Ambrosio and her team to be innovative in pursuing some of their boldest ideas.
For information on supporting Spaulding Rehabilitation research, contact us.
