Research Programs
The Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation has a strong research focus. Our investigators are involved in dozens of studies covering a wide range of research topics including traumatic brain injury, burn rehabilitation, and wound care.
Areas of Research
Traumatic Brain Injury and Stroke
Surendra Barshikar, M.D., Traumatic Brain Injury Research
Dr. Barshikar's research interests include agitation in TBI, telemedicine, and antibiotic stewardship.
Nneka L. Ifejika, M.D., Stroke Rehabilitation Research
Dr. Ifejika's research interests include optimization of stroke outcomes during acute hospitalization, using machine learning to predict post-acute rehabilitation process flow, and prevention of acute care readmissions using structured educational protocols.
Shanti Pinto, M.D., Traumatic Brain Injury Research
Dr. Pinto specializes in specializes in concussion and traumatic brain injury, stroke, and spasticity. Her research focuses on autonomic nervous system dysfunction after traumatic brain injury.
Mobility and Musculoskeletal
Yasin Dhaher, Ph.D., Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Research
Dr. Dhaher's research interest lies at the intersection of three disciplines: biomechanics, neurophysiology, and endocrinology.
Yanlong Song, Ph.D., Neurorehabilitation and Musculoskeletal Research
Dr. Song's research is focused on fostering an understanding of brain information processing and brain development in healthy children and children with movement disorders and provide insights to the development of neurorehabilitation interventions for children with motor functioning deficits such as cerebral palsy.
Yen-Sheng Lin, Ph.D., Musculoskeletal Research
Dr. Lin's research interests include functional shoulder instability across lifespan, upper limb exoskeleton therapeutic intervention, musculoskeletal injury prognostic imaging biomarkers, and more.
Spinal Cord Injury and Spine
Thiru M. Annaswamy, M.D., Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Research
Dr. Annaswamy's research includes studying optimal evaluation & therapeutic strategies for patients with chronic pain, spine, and musculoskeletal disorders; better understand and manage human movement and gait disorders; and studying novel applications of technology.
Burns/Wounds
Karen Kowalske, M.D., Burn Research
Dr. Kowalske's research includes burn model system, heterotopic ossification post burn injury, and tetraparesis following high voltage electrical injury.
Yi-Ting Tzen, Ph.D., Wound Research
Dr. Tzen's research theme revolves around pressure injury and diabetic foot ulcer risk identification and prevention.
Pediatric
Robert Rinaldi, M.D., Pediatric Rehabilitation Research
Dr. Rinaldi's primary areas of clinical focus and interest are in rehabilitation of children with peripheral nerve injuries and neuromuscular disorders and development of telemedicine delivery models.