Our laboratory uses neural prosthetics to improve both our understanding of brain function as well as restoring movement and communication.

We are working to understand the nature of the somatosensory and motor signals within the brain that control our movements.

We record electrical activity from single motor units as well as muscle during voluntary and reflex contractions in patients with neurological disorders.

We study the underlying neuralplasticity mechanisms of improved walking function after robotic-assisted locomotor training for patients with neurological injury.

We focus on executive function and social cognition, their representations in the brain, and ways to improve these functions in patients with brain damage.

We incorporate robotics autonomy and intelligence into assistive machines to support people with motor impairments.

We work toward a future where robotics for rehabilitation are used from applications in therapy to assistance in improvement of managing life after neural injury.

Explore what biomedical research is about within Shirley Ryan AbilityLab.

The primary goal our research is to develop new techniques and devices to facilitate functional use of the hand after stroke. Toward this end we are investigating the underlying sensorimotor control of the hand, the changes that occur after stroke, and the factors that influence rehabilitation.

Studying the relationship between adult stem/progenitor cell dysfunction and age-related degeneration.

Our research group specializes in utilizing techniques from molecular and cell biology, genetics, and various experimental models. Our focus is on identifying new biomarkers and potential molecules to support rehabilitation in patients with neurological and neuromuscular conditions.

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.