Use the list below in alphabetical order by researcher's last name and click researcher's name for more information.
Dr. Billinger's research interests are aimed at examining the cardiovascular and pulmonary changes that occur in people with chronic disease specifically after stroke. She is interested in understanding the cellular mechanisms that influence vascular function after stroke and how exercise, as a therapeutic intervention may affect vascular health.
Dr. Cirstea’s interests are to understand the mechanisms underlying brain plasticity following human brain injury and its functional relevance. This understanding should lead to the development of interventional approaches that are designed to enhance adaptive neuroplasticity mechanisms and suppress maladaptative ones.
Dr. Colgrove's research impacts a broad spectrum; by working in clinical, educational and scientific settings, she’s working to broaden the horizons of physical therapy and rehabilitation. In the field of research, Dr. Colgrove is examining how yoga affects physical function, physiology and quality of life in those who suffer from Parkinson’s disease and effectiveness of intensive cognitive training in brain function in people with Alzheimer's disease.
In addition to rotary instability of the knee, specifically anterior cruciate ligament injury and prevention, Linda's research interests include rehabilitation after a total knee replacement. Her work involves a collaboration with the
Experimental Joint Biomechanics Research Lab of the KU Department of Mechanical Engineering in Lawrence, Kan.
Dr. Gagnon's clinical research focuses on early identification of movement dysfunction in preterm infants. Her research interests also include innovations in teaching, including use of Web 2.0 technologies to increase student engagement and collaboration in and out of the classroom.
Currently, Dr. Jernigan is a part of the
Clinical Orthopedic Rehabilitation and Research Laboratory because of his interest in clinical orthopedic research. He is also interested in educational research.
Dr. Kluding’s current projects are focused on health promotion interventions for people with diabetes, and she collaborates with researchers in the Departments of Neurology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Endocrinology, and Clinical Pharmacology. Dr. Kluding is also an Assistant Director of the General Clinical Research Center (GCRC), and directs the GCRC Exercise Physiology lab.
Dr. Liu is currently conducting research in the area of motor learning, postural control, and gait disorders in individuals with age-related diseases such as stroke, and Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Liu is also working on research projects to quantitatively assess the effect and mechanism of complementary medicine approaches including acupuncture and qigong exercise in cancer patients and patients with neurological diseases. In addition, he and his students are involved in research of functional instability of ankle joint after sprain injuries.
A member of the
Georgia Holland Health Exercise and Aging Laboratory, Mr. Rucker's current research focuses on the impact of diabetes on cognitive and physical functioning. In particular, he is interested in examining the effect of diabetes on higher level cognitive processes, such as those involved in the ability to multi-task, and discovering how these processes may influence to functional ability, walking, fall risk, and disability.
Dr. Sabus’ research pursuits are in innovative teaching practices, bridging academic and clinical education, inclusion of evidence-based practice in DPT education and physical therapist practice, and the diffusion of innovation in the context of physical therapy practice.
Currently conducting research in postural and grip force control, Dr. Santos' principal goal is to better understand the potential deficits in motor control experienced by orthopedic and neurologic patients and the effect of physical therapy interventions in restoring the motor control system in these patients.
Dr. Sharma's research interests are to understand biochemical and neural mechanisms contributing to chronic pain syndromes and the efficacy of various physical therapy interventions in modulating pain. She is interested in examining central sensitization and effects of exercise training on the central nervous system. Through this research, it is hoped that the mechanisms by which exercise training modulates pain can be better understood.
Dr. Siengsukon is currently examing the role of sleep in motor skill learning in individuals with stroke. Dr. Siengsukon aims to understand the sleep characteristics of individuals with stroke and how these sleep characteristics influence overnight skill enhancement.
Dr. Smirnova is working on cellular and molecular adaptations of the heart to conditions of diabetes. Projects include the analysis of the benefits of physical exercise and pharmacological treatments for diabetic heart disease, and proteomics approaches to identifying molecular mechanisms and pathways affected in the diabetic heart.
Dr. Stehno-Bittel’s commitment to curing diabetes is a two-fold venture: In the laboratory, Dr. Stehno-Bittel is exploring the restoration of normal glycemic conditions through pancreatic islet transplantation, and the creation of bio-artificial pancreatic islets. Dr. Stehno-Bittel is also conducting community-based research aimed at preventing type 2 diabetes and improving the lives of those individuals already dealing with the affliction.
Dr. VanHoose is currently engaged in research focused on the effects of exercise on diabetic heart disease with an emphasis on the lymphatic system.
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