Sudarshan Dayanidhi, PT, PhD
Assistant Professor
My Lab
My Lab
Pediatric Muscle Physiology Lab
We study muscle stem cells in impaired musculoskeletal growth and muscle metabolism in children with cerebral palsy.
view labAbout Me
Developmental injuries such as those of either the central or peripheral nervous system have a significant impact on the function of the musculoskeletal system. They negatively affect childhood growth, quality of life, and the ability of these children to actively participate in their environment. Over the past 20 years I have worked both clinically as a pediatric physical therapist and as a researcher to understand musculoskeletal development and its dysfunction due to injuries to the nervous system at birth. To better enable me in this endeavor I have sought diverse training in pediatric physical therapy, mechanical engineering and biomechanics. My doctoral work in neuroscience, postdoctoral work in muscle physiology and metabolism are all related to childhood development. My current research focuses on:
- A) The role of muscle stem cells dysfunction in impaired musculoskeletal growth in children with cerebral palsy and
- B) The contribution of altered muscle metabolism to increased energy expenditure in children with cerebral palsy.
Location
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
355 East Erie
Chicago, IL 60611
Education & Training
Credential
Credential
Featured Research
Recent Publications
Honors & Awards
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Nominated for Gayle G. Arnold Award for Excellence (Co-Author)Chad Hanaoka (lead author) nominated for best paper in the 77th annual meeting of the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM), 2023
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NCMRR Early Career Research AwardNational Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research (NCMRR) Early Career Research Award (R03), 2018
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Nominated for Best Paper at EACDNominated for Best Paper at the 29th Annual Meeting of the European Academy of Childhood Disability, 2017
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GCMAS Best Paper Award (Co-author)Best paper in the 24th annual meeting of the Gait and Clinical Movement Analysis Society (GCMAS), 2014
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Gayle G. Arnold Award for ExcellenceBest paper in the 67th annual meeting of the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM), 2013
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Neuromuscular Plasticity ScholarInvited Poster at University of Florida Neuromuscular Plasticity Symposium, 2011
Grants
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Muscle stem cell metabolism in ambulatory and non-ambulatory children with cerebral palsyRole: PI
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab,
Catalyst Foundational Grant, 2022 - 2024 -
Role of muscle stem cells in sarcomere addition and contracturesRole: PI
National Institutes of Health,
R03 HD094602, 2018 - 2021 -
Muscle stem cell dysfunction in muscular contractures in children with cerebral palsyRole: PI
American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine
Research Grant, 2018 - 2020 -
BEET root juice to reverse functional impairment in PAD:The BEET PAD TrialRole: Co-I, McDermott (PI)
National Institutes of Health,
R01 AG073257, 2022 - 2027
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COCOA flavanols to improve walking performance in PAD: the COCOA-PAD II TrialRole: Co-I, McDermott (PI)
National Institutes of Health,
R01 AG068458, 2021 - 2026 -
Calf skeletal muscle pathology and disability in peripheral artery diseaseRole: Co-I, McDermott (PI)
American Heart Association,
18SFRN33900097, 2018 - 2022 -
Muscle Metabolism and Mechanical Efficiency in Cerebral PalsyRole: Co-I, Lieber (PI)
National Institutes of Health
R03 HD086585, 2015 - 2017
Research Interests
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Cerebral Palsy
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Satellite Cells (Muscle Stem Cells)
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Mitochondria
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Pediatric Physical Therapy
Professional Affiliations
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MemberAmerican Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, 2013
Work History
- 2015 - PresentResearch ScientistRehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
- 2012 - 2015Postdoctoral Research AssociateDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA
- 2007 - 2012Graduate AssistantDivision of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
- 2003 - 2007Physical TherapistMotion Analysis Lab, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Philadelphia, PA