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

The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab & Northwestern Memorial (known as the Midwest Regional Spinal Cord Injury Care System) has been chosen by NIDILRR as one of 14 SCI Model System Centers.

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.

We study the strategies underlying the neural control of movement, examining how neural control interacts with the mechanical properties of the body.

We investigate muscle fiber and tendon properties in neurological impairments and sports-related injuries.

We study muscle stem cells in impaired musculoskeletal growth and muscle metabolism in children with cerebral palsy.

This lab uses a combination of molecular, biochemical, and electrophysiological assays to study axon regeneration and motor neuron disease with a priority on human preclinical models such as iPSC-neurons.

This lab is for the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Employment for People with Physical Disabilities.

We research implementation science methodology to study best ways to translate findings of exercise research studies into the real-world clinical & community.

Over the last several years, we have been developing protocols to enhance the activity of residual sensorimotor pathways in individuals who suffered from spinal cord injury (SCI). We are happy to communicate that we are starting Phase IV of our protocol and we are actively enrolling participants. Led by P.I. Monica Perez

Our lab interests lie in early detection, intervention, and prevention, including non-pharmacological strategies such as physical and cognitive exercise, for both non-motor and motor symptoms and across all disease stages of Parkinson's Disease.