Megan O'Brien, PhD

Dr. Megan O’Brien’s research uses wearable and mobile technologies to measure, monitor, and improve rehabilitation outcomes. She applies interdisciplinary methods in engineering, biomechanics, and machine learning to identify disease-specific biomarkers of health and behavior across the continuum of care, from the clinic to the home. She also evaluates practical, technology-based interventions, including assistive and therapeutic devices and digital health platforms, for their impact on patient outcomes. Dr. O'Brien's research spans diverse clinical populations, including stroke, spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy, and pediatrics.

Prior to joining the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Dr. O'Brien's work in motor control and neuroeconomics examined the influence of risk, reward, and effort on movement-based decision making. 

Dr. O'Brien is the associate director of the Technology & Innovation Hub and the scientific principal investigator on BACPACS, a NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC).