Eric Perreault, PhD

Eric Perreault, PhD

Research Scientist
Northwestern, Professor and Chair, Biomedical Engineering; Professor, PMR
Contact

About Me

My research focuses on understanding the neural and biomechanical factors involved in the normal control of multi-joint movement and posture and how these factors are modified following neuromotor pathologies such as stroke and spinal cord injury. The goal of this research is to provide a scientific basis for understanding normal and pathological motor control that can be used to guide rehabilitative strategies and user interface development for restoring function to individuals with motor deficits. A combination of experimentation, system identification and computer simulations is being used to achieve this goal.

Location

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

355 East Erie

Chicago, IL 60611

Education & Training

    Education
    2000
    Ph.D. , Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
    1992
    Master of Engineering, Electrical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, PQ
    1989
    Bachelor of Engineering, Electrical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, PQ
    Fellowship
    2000 - 2002
    Postdoctoral Fellow, Dept. of Physiology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
    2010
    Guest Professor, Sensory Motor Systems Laboratory, ETH Zurich

Featured Research

The number and choice of muscles impact the results of muscle synergy analyses.
Frontiers in computational neuroscience
doi: 10.3389/fncom.2013.00105

Steele KM,
Tresch MC,
Perreault EJ

Recent Publications

Shear wave velocity is sensitive to changes in muscle stiffness that occur independently from changes in force.
Bernabei M, Lee SSM, Perreault EJ, Sandercock TG
Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)
doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00112.2019
Leveraging Joint Mechanics Simplifies the Neural Control of Movement.
Ludvig D, Whitmore MW, Perreault EJ
Frontiers in integrative neuroscience
doi: 10.3389/fnint.2022.802608
Estimating the dimensionality of the manifold underlying multi-electrode neural recordings.
Altan E, Solla SA, Miller LE, Perreault EJ
PLoS computational biology
doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008591

Honors & Awards

  • Chair, National Advisory Board for Medical Rehabilitation Research
    2021
  • President, International Society for Electrophysiology and Kinesiology
    2020
  • Chair, Biomedical Engineering Council of Chairs
    2019
  • Big Ten Academic Leadership Program
    2018
  • Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE)
    2015
  • Northwestern University Associated Student Government Faculty Honor Roll (2013-14 AY)
    2014
  • Program Chair for the Int. Soc. Electrophysiology and Kinesiology (ISEK) 2016 Conference
    2013

Grants

  • Noninvasive Tools for Assessing Muscle Structure and Function
    Principal Investigator: Eric J. Perreault
    National Institutes of Health R01, 2016 - 2027
  • Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation of Neural Dysfunction
    Principal Investigator: Eric J Perreault (since 2009)
    National Institutes of Health T32 Institutional Training Grant, 1992 - 2027
  • NURTURE: Northwestern University Recruitment to Transform Under-Representation and achieve Equity
    Principal Investigators: Melissa Simon (PD/PI), Clyde Yancy (MPI), Eric Perreault (MPI)
    National Institutes of Health U54, 2022 - 2027
  • A Primate Model of an Intra-Cortically Controlled FES Prosthesis for Grasp
    Principal Investigators: Lee E. Miller (PD/PI), Sandro Mussa-Ivaldi (MPI), Eric Perreault (MPI), Sara Solla (MPI)
    National Institutes of Health R01, 2006 - 2022
  • Engineering Career Development Center in Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences
    Principal Investigator: Jules Dewald
    Co-Investigator: Eric J Perreault
    NIH K12 Multi-Institutional Center Grant, 2012 - 2022
  • Co-Robots controllers for human-like physical interaction and improved motor learning
    Principal Investigator: Jose Pons
    Co-Investigator: Eric J Perreault
    National Science Foundation/ECCS NRI: INT: COLLAB, 2020 - 2024
  • Center for Smart Use of Technology to Assess Rehabilitation
    Principal Investigators: Richard Lieber and W. Zev Rymer
    Co-Investigator: Eric J Perreault, 2020 - 2025
  • Development of Ultrasound Imaging Phantoms Appropriate for Quantification of Muscle Fascicle Architecture and Mechanical Properties
    Principal Investigator: Wendy Murray
    Co-Investigator: Eric J Perreault
    VA RR&D SPIRE, 2021 - 2023

Neuromuscular Control Lab

Our lab is focused on the mechanisms underlying the multijoint control of movement and posture in able-bodied individuals and in individuals with neuromotor pathologies. Specifically, we are interested in understanding the relative contributions of intrinsic muscle properties, limb geometry and neural activation in the control of whole limb function.

view lab

Work History

  • 2021 - present
    Associate Dean for Research Administration and Oversight, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
  • 2015 - 2021
    Chair, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
  • 2013 - present
    Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering & Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
  • 2008 - 2013
    Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering & Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
  • 2002 - 2008
    Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering & Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL

Professional Colleagues

Jose Pons
José L. Pons, PhD
Scientific Chair, Legs + Walking Lab
Professor to Dept. of PM&R, Feinberg School of Medicine and to Dept. of Biomedical Engineering and Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University
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