Also known as rehabilitation engineering, this consortium develops and tests advanced non-invasive and implanted technologies to improve body and brain function and participation in everyday activities.

With millions of dollars in grant funding, this team has conducted cutting-edge epidural stimulation and exoskeleton research for spinal cord injury (SCI).

Future goals include obtaining national Rehabilitation Engineering and Research Center grants to advance neuromodulation, brain computer interface and haptics research.

Grants

Gorgey awarded $3.7 million to study robotic exoskeletons, spinal epidural stimulation .

Gorgey awarded $3.7 million to study robotic exoskeletons, spinal epidural stimulation

Ashraf Gorgey, Ph.D., P.T., has received $3.7 million from the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program to use spinal epidural stimulation treatment in conjunction with a robotic suit to improve life quality for those with spinal cord injuries.

Webster awarded $4.2M to develop a novel implant for direct skeletal attachment of prosthetics .

Webster awarded $4.2M to develop a novel implant for direct skeletal attachment of prosthetics

Co-led by Joseph Webster, M.D., a multi-site team developing a novel implant for the direct skeletal attachment of prosthetic limbs has received $27.8 million from the VA Cooperative Studies Program. The percutaneous osseointegrated prosthesis (POP) has the potential to overcome limitations associated with socket-based suspension systems.

Peterson awarded over $400K to address shoulder pain for wheelchair users .

Peterson awarded over $400K to address shoulder pain for wheelchair users

Carrie Peterson, Ph.D., is researching ways to improve health and quality of life for those with spinal cord injury who use manual wheelchairs. The four-year study is aimed at disease prevention through advanced biomechanical modeling and diagnostic imaging.

Pawluk awarded $1.1M to develop a programming environment for the visually impaired .

Pawluk awarded $1.1M to develop a programming environment for the visually impaired

Dianne Pawluk, Ph.D., has been awarded $1.1 million from the NSF for the Tangible Programming Environment Targeted for Students who are Visually Impaired. The aim is for a new interface, tSCRATCH, to enable visually impaired students to engage in computation and computational thinking.