Prakash Jayabalan, MD, PhD
Physician-Scientist Director of the Nancy W. Knowles Strength + Endurance Lab
Telephone Number
1-844-355-ABLEMy Lab
Translational Musculoskeletal Research (TMSKR) Laboratory
Our research is mainly 4 main categories: knee osteoarthritis, adaptive sports, physical activity related studies and outcomes of musculoskeletal treatments.
view labAbout Me
About Me
As Physician-Scientist Director of the Nancy W. Knowles Strength + Endurance Lab, Dr. Jayabalan directs clinical care and research for inpatients, outpatients and research participants working on building stamina and resilience following illness or injury. In this capacity, he collaborates with Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Clinical and Scientific Chairs to ensure scientific discoveries are translated into clinical practice quickly, for the best outcomes.
In addition to his leadership role within the Strength + Endurance Lab, he also serves as an Attending Physician and Director of Clinical Musculoskeletal Research at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, as well as Associate Professor in Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R).
Dr. Jayabalan’s research is both clinically relevant and scientifically rigorous. Since joining Shirley Ryan AbilityLab as a Sports Medicine Fellow in 2015, he has developed a sophisticated musculoskeletal research program that focuses primarily on the diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis, the most common chronic joint condition. His novel approach includes joint fluid analysis for “biomarkers” of the condition. One of his most widely cited papers demonstrates that a specific collagen breakdown product, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), is modified when a patient’s walking pattern is changed during rehabilitation.
In addition to numerous publications, Dr. Jayabalan has multiple ongoing research projects focused on optimizing the performance, function and recovery of patients with musculoskeletal disease. He has received foundation grants from organizations such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Foundation for PM&R, the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine and the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation.
In 2016, he received an Institutional Clinical Scientist Award (K12) from the Rehabilitation Medicine Scientist Training Program, which is sponsored by the NIH’s National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research. Subsequently, in 2019, he received an extremely competitive and prestigious Mentored Career Development Award (KL2) from the Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute. In 2022, the Association of Academic Physiatrists (AAP) honored Dr. Jayabalan with an Early Career Academician Award, recognizing his excellence in research, teaching and mentorship. In 2023, he received the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) Early PM&R Career Award, which recognizes Academy members who have made an impact on the future of PM&R through distinction in innovation, advocacy, leadership, service or clinical practice within 10 or fewer years in practice.
Dr. Jayabalan earned his Doctor of Medicine, with distinction, from King’s College London. He then earned a PhD in Pathobiology from the University of Missouri and completed his residency in PM&R at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, culminating in his appointment as Chief Resident.
Location
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
355 East Erie
Chicago, IL 60611
Education & Training
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Education
2000 – 2001
King's College London School of Medicine, London, UK, Bachelor of Science (BSc) Physiology
1998 – 2004
King's College London School of Medicine, London, UK, Doctor of Medicine (MD)
2007 – 2011
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Pathobiology
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Residency
2011 – 2012
SSM St Mary's Hospital, St. Louis, MO, Internal Medicine Internship
2012 – 2015
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
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Fellowship
2015 – 2016
Northwestern University McGaw Medical Center/Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, Sports Medicine
Honors & Awards
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Alliance for Research in Chicagoland Communities (ARCC) Community Engagement Award2019
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Foundation Award, AMSSM2019
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Justus Lehmann Award, Foundation for PM&R2019
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Training in Grantsmanship for Rehabilitation Research (TIGRR) accepted participant2018
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Resident Mentor of the Year, Department of PM&R, Northwestern University2018 - 2020
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Best Paper Award, Association of Academic Physiatrists (AAP)The outcome of concussions in students enrolled at a collegiate institution, 2017
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Young Investigator's Award, American Medical Society of Sports Medicine (AMSSM)Comparing the acute effects of walking an 18-Hole golf course versus using a motorized golf cart in subjects with knee osteoarthritis, 2017
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National Institute of Health(NIH)/K12 AwardNIH funded research grant to Investigate the effects of walking exercise on knee osteoarthritis, 2016 - 2019
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Richard F. Materson New Investigator Award, Foundation for PM&RComparing the acute effects of walking an 18-Hole golf course versus using a motorized golf cart in subjects with knee osteoarthritis, 2016
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USBJI Grant, American Medical Society of Sports Medicine (AMSSM)Grant for training in research in knee osteoarthritis, 2016
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Mclean National Outstanding Resident Award, Association of Academic Physiatrists (AAP)Award given to one resident nationally who demonstrates outstanding performance in academic leadership, teaching, education, and research, 2015
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Best Paper Award, Association of Academic PhysiatristsThe effect of walking exercise regimens on gait parameters and cartilage turnover in patients with knee osteoarthritis, 2015
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Best Musculoskeletal Research Poster Presentation, AAPM&R Annual MeetingInfluence of continuous versus interval walking exercise on joint loading and serum biomarker profile in patients with knee osteoarthritis
, 2015 -
Outstanding Resident Mentor Award, University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPhysical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2015
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Excellence in Residency Award, University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPhysical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2015
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Justus Lehmann Award, Foundation for PM&RAward for research in biophysics, 2014
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Best Neurorehabilitation Research Podium Presentation, AAPM&RVideo recording the gait of stroke patients to improve patient satisfaction and outcome, 2014
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Best Paper Award, Association of Academic Physiatrists (AAP)The Development of a Biomarker Panel for Knee Osteoarthritis, 2013
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Rising Star Award, University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPhysical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2013
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Beckwith Institute Award for Quality ImprovementSystem-wide award, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 2012
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40 under 40 Chicago Area Scientist, Halo Awards2019
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KL2 Mentored Career Development Award, Northwestern University2019
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Scott F. Nadler Musculoskeletal Research Award, Foundation for PM&R2019
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Best Paper Award, Association of Academic Physiatrists2020
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Resident Mentor of the Year Award, Northwestern University2019
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Resident Mentor of the Year Award, Northwestern University2020
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Resident Mentor of the Year Award, Northwestern University2021
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Resident Mentor of the Year Award, Northwestern University2022
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Resident Mentor of the Year Award, Northwestern University2023
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Early Career Academician Award, Association of Academic physiatrists (AAP)2022
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Early PM&R Career Award, AAPM&R2023
Certificates + Licenses
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Board Certified, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
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Board Certified, Sports Medicine
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Licensed Physician and Surgeon, Illinois
Research Interests
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Development of physical activity regimens for knee osteoarthritis
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Biomarkers of joint disease
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Biology of knee osteoarthritis
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Factors effecting the outcome of concussions
Grants
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The Acute Impact Of Lower Body Positive Pressure Treadmill Walking On2019 - 2021
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Building Capacity for a Community Based Research Partnership to Optimize Physical Activity in Lung Cancer Survivors.2017 - 2019
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‘Effect of compound PF-01322574 on cartilage degeneration in the2007 - 2008
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"A Comparison of the Acute Effects of Walking an 18-hole Golf Course vs Using a Motorized Gold Cart in Subjects with Knee Osteoarthritis"Foundation for PM&R
, 2016 - 2018
Affiliations
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Alliance for Research in Chicagoland Communities (ARCC), Northwestern University2016
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Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI)2015
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American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)2013
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American Medical Society of Sports Medicine (AMSSM)2013
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American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation2012
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Association of Academic Physiatrists (AAP)2012
Patents
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Biomarkers of Osteoarthritis PCT/US2011/027242
Local and National Committees
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Steering Committee, Alliance for Research in Chicagoland Communities (ARCC)
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Health Care Policy & Legislative Committee, AAPM&R
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Technology Committee, AAPM&R
