Research Emphases
MECHANICS
Closing-the-loop between Wearable Technology and Biology to optimize tissue/organ function.
CONTROL & LEARNING
Merging human intelligence and artificial intelligence to achieve environment adaptation, optimal task performance, and safety
USER PERCEPTION
Integrate human perception and cognition into human-machine system and control
CLEAR Research Community
 Josh Alexander, MDChair, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation |  John Baratta, MD, MBAClinical Assistant Professor Medical Director, Stroke Rehabilitation |  Troy Blackburn, Ph.D.Neuromuscular Research Laboratory |  Alper Bozkurt, Ph.D.iBionics - Integrated Bionic Microsystems Lab |
|---|---|---|---|
 Jessica Cassidy, PT, DPT, PhDAssistant Professor, Department of Physical Therapy |  Jacque Cole Ph.D.Orthopaedic Mechanobiology Laboratory |  Scott Ferguson, Ph.D.System Design Optimization (SDO) Laboratory |  William Filer, MDClinical Assistant Professor Director, Residency Program |
 Matt Fisher, Ph.D.Translational Orthopaedic Research Laboratory |  Jason Franz, Ph.D.Applied Biomechanics Laboratory |  Andrea Giovannucci, Ph.D.Neural Engineering Laboratory |  Debby Givens, PT, DPT, PhDDirector and Professor Division of Physical Therapy Department of Allied Health Sciences UNC-CH |
 Xiaogang Hu, Ph.D.Neuromechanics Laboratory |  Helen Huang, Ph.D.Neuromuscular Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory |  Derek Kamper, Ph.D.Hand Rehabilitation Laboratory |  Michael Y. Lee, M.D., M.H.A., C.P.E.Senior Faculty Physical Medicine & Rehab Baylor College of Medicine |
 Mike Lewek, Ph.D.Neurogait Research laboratory |  Edgar Lobaton, Ph.D.Active Robotic Sensing (ARoS) Laboratory |  Karen McCulloch, PT, PhD, NCSProfessor Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy Division of Physical Therapy Department of Allied Health Sciences |  Vicki Mercer, PT, Ph.D.Associate Professor Director, Human Movement Science PhD Program Division of Physical Therapy Department of Allied Health Sciences UNC-CH |
 Blaise Morrison, PhD, CRC, PCAssistant Professor |  Zeljko Pantic, Ph.D.Associate Professor Electrical and Computer Engineering |  Brian Pietrosimone, PhD, ATCNeuromuscular Research Laboratory |  Kate Saul, Ph.D.Movement Biomechanics Laboratory |
 Nitin Sharma, Ph.D.Associate Professor, Neuromuscular Control & Robotics |  Louise Thoma, PT, DPT, PhD |  Paul Weinhold, Ph.D.UNC Orthopaedics |  Erik Wikstrom, PhD, ATC, LATAssistant Professor, Athletic Training Katherine Smith Gunter Fellow Co-Director, Sport Medicine Research Laboratory Department of Exercise and Sport Science UNC-CH |
Latest News & Research Videos
Upcoming Seminars
Vivian Mushahwar, PhD
Professor
Division of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
University of Alberta
February 12, 2021
Zoom Presentation
Maryam Shanechi, PhD
April 23, 2021
Zoom Presentation
Assistant Professor
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
University of Southern California
Additional Rehab Related Seminars, Talks & Meetings
Rehab Labs Research Meetings
When: 1st Friday of the Month from 9:30am — 10:30am
Dates: See calendar
Locations: Engineering Building III, Room 4142 & Mary Ellen Jones, Room 3104
About: The seminar series serves as an opportunity for students to present research progress and obtain feedback from faculty and their peers. For faculty/ postdocs, the meetings serve as a platform to share grant submission ideas and solicit feedback.
Recent Presenters
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Past Presenters
Oct 02, 2020
Joint Rehab/Regen Monthly Meeting
Dr. Blaise Morrison, Assistant Professor, Department of Allied Health Sciences, Division of Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling
Dr. Morrison's presentation highlighted the need for family-system interventions that target psychosocial adjustment and community participation after brain injury. Dr. Morrison also provided an overview of his research program and intervention development plan.
Sep 04, 2020
Joint Rehab/Regen Monthly Meeting
Dr. Quentin Sanders (ARRT Postdoc Fellow, Mentor: Derek Kamper)
Dr. Sanders discussed how to optimize the usage of wearable robotic technologies for hand rehabilitation after stroke and demonstrated the progress being made by considering three key areas: usership patterns of wearable hand sensing technology in real-world settings, sensory and motor control of the hand after stroke, and the mechanical design and intuitive control of wearable soft robotic technologies for the hand.
Sep 04, 2020
Joint Rehab/Regen Monthly Meeting
Emily McCain (Graduate Student, Adviser: Kate Saul)
Emily McCain discussed her ASB presentation: Using a custom 3d printed ankle stay and a lockable DonJoy knee brace this research imposed unilateral, joint-specific restrictions in range of motion (ROM) to provide insight into what gait adaptations are solely the result of isolated joint deficits and which are the result of simultaneous multi-joint impairments. This framework allowed us to separate the relative impact of ankle versus knee restriction and understand their interaction on mechanical compensations and the resultant energetic penalties during walking. We hope our results can help optimize future designs of rehabilitative techniques and technology by providing insight into trade-offs of intervening at one lower-limb joint versus another.
