Primary Investigators
Dr. Christopher J. Arellano
Christopher J. Arellano, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Houston
I have a broad interest in understanding the biomechanics, energetics, and balance of human and animal locomotion. Current projects focus on four main areas: 1. Locomotor Training: develop training interventions aimed at improving muscle-tendon function, economy, and balance. 2. Stability and Muscle-Tendon Mechanics: investigate how the intrinsic properties of muscle and tendon contribute to stability in response to perturbations. 3. Assistive Devices: engineer and test devices that reduce metabolic cost, with implications for rehabilitative gait training strategies in older adults and in individuals with balance disorders. 4. Human Performance: advance our understanding of locomotion biomechanics and apply these insights to improve performance in the context of athletics, space-flight, elderly, etc.
Dr. Stacey L Gorniak
Stacey L Gorniak, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Houston
My research interests are directed towards understanding healthy and pathological neuromuscular control. Specifically, I am interested in sensorimotor function and how neurological pathology changes how we use our hands. I am interested in investigating how neural changes due to aging, chronic health conditions and movement disorders affect functional hand use, particularly in actions of daily living.
Dr. Charles Layne
Charles Layne, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Houston
Interested in the development of human coordination primarily from a neuromuscular perspective. This interest is satisfied by investigating posture and locomotion processes. More recent interests include understanding the role of somatosensory input in producing coordinated movement, including investigating how the brain processes such information using fMRI.
Dr. Beom-Chan Lee
Beom-Chan Lee, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Houston
My research interests are 1) designing and developing a real-time biofeedback technology to prevent and reduce falls by leveraging fall recovery performance in individuals with a high risk of falling, 2) designing and developing a cell phone based platform for home-based balance rehabilitation and fall prevention applications, 3) designing and developing a wearable sensory augmentation system via vibrotactile biofeedback for conveying motion instructions based on motion error between an expert and a trainee (patient) for potential clinical and home-based balance rehabilitation training applications, and 4) characterizing non-volitional human motor behavior (postural responses) to torso-based vibrotactile stimulation.
Dr. Pranav Parikh
Pranav Parikh, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Houston
My research is primarily focused on understanding the sensorimotor mechanisms for motor control and learning in healthy young individuals, older adults, and patients with neurological diseases and injury. I am also interested in developing therapeutic strategies to improve sensorimotor function in older adults and patient populations. My current research uses the human hand as a model to accomplish these goals. We use a wide range of approaches including motion tracking, kinetic measurements, surface electromyography (muscle activity), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).
Dr. Seoung Hoon Park
Seoung Hoon Park, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Houston
Dr. Park's research focuses on 1) underlying neurophysiological mechanisms for deficient motor control and learning in elder adults and individuals with neurological diseases such as stroke, spinal cord injury, and cerebral palsy, 2) developing novel rehabilitation tools and protocols for improving their functional motor control with emphasis on walking and balance, and 3) behavioral and neural changes in response to rehabilitative interventions.
Dr. Adam Thrasher
Adam Thrasher, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Associate Department Chair, Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Houston
Research focuses on the development of new knowledge and techniques to improve function after spinal cord injury and stroke. My current projects are concerned with improving the walking function, cardiovascular function and reducing the risk of pressure sores.
Affiliated Faculty
Mark Clarke, Ph.D.
Mark Clarke, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Houston
Muscle physiology, muscle adaptation to mechanical loading, cellular basis of muscle function in health and disease.
Daniel O'Connor, Ph.D.
Daniel O'Connor, Ph.D.
Professor and Interim Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, University of Houston
My research involves application of biostatistical models to investigate the effectiveness of clinical interventions and to evaluate subject-level changes in health measures and health-related quality of life. I have participated in studies supported by funding from the Joe W. King Orthopedic Institute, NASA, and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Richard Simpson, Ph.D.
Richard Simpson, Ph.D.
Research Associate Professor, Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Houston
Dr Simpson's main research interests are concerned with the effects that exercise, age and disease has on immune function.
