Center for Rehabilitation Research in Neurological Conditions 43
Kautz), and those who focus on Outcomes and Prevention (led by Dr. Krause). • First, researchers in the Locomotor Rehabilitation Laboratory (LRL) have partnered with Dr. Krause and his research team to help identify individuals within the state of South Carolina for participation in studies examining the biomechanics of walking following SCI. These studies are designed to collect pilot data to support future collaborative grant proposals for labs in the CRRNC and MUSC Center for Advanced Imaging Research (CAIR). • Second, locomotor rehabilitation researchers and Dr. Krause recently developed and submitted a grant proposal to the Rehabilitation Research and Development Service of the Veterans Health Administration. This application was in response to a specific request for applications to study the effects of activity-based interventions on functional behavior in persons with chronic SCI, with special emphasis placed on whether co-morbid psychological conditions impact recovery of function. With Dr. Gregory as principal investigator, the combined expertise of the two groups uniquely positioned the CRRNC to respond to this funding opportunity. The specific goals of the proposal are to determine the relationship between the presence of various secondary health conditions (e.g. depression, fatigue and pain) and walking function in persons with chronic incomplete SCI, as well as the impact of rehabilitation training to improve walking on health, depression and quality of life.
New Faculty Two new faculty members with research interests aligned with the Center were added during the past year. In addition to Dr. Matthew Malcolm (see Department of Health Sciences and Research section), Dr.
Drs. Kautz and Bowden received the prestigious rehabilitation grant awarded by the American Heart Association Innovative Research.
Yue Cao was appointed research associate to work with the assessment and prevention team (Longevity after Injury Project). His outstanding credentials include a PhD in Medical Sociology and an MPH in Epidemiology. He joined the team after completing his training at the University of Alabama Birmingham, having worked for the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center. He is currently funded by a recruitment and seed grant from the South Carolina Spinal Cord Injury Research Fund.
New Infrastructure Following the recruitment of Dr. Malcolm, the CRRNC is establishing a state-of-the-art neurostimulation research laboratory. This lab will house the Magstim line of transcranial magnetic stimulators and will support the study of brain function and activity, as well as the ability to develop, test, and apply neuro-rehabilitative applications of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Importantly, the neurostimulation research lab is located in close proximity to the department’s rehabilitation and assessment labs, offering greater ease for collaborative human performance, rehabilitation, and neurostimulation studies. This laboratory is of great strategic value for building our university-wide collaborations as it will strengthen the emerging alliance with the Brain Stimulation Laboratory and group led by Dr. George.
Students As a critical component of its mission, the CRRNC continues to train students through a number of mechanisms. This training provides a key connection between the academic and research programs and provides education that would not be possible without having an established center for research. The students include: • One graduate assistant currently enrolled within the College’s PhD program • Several summer interns supported through the aforementioned RRTC and DRRP grant projects • Two MUSC medical students • Two graduate students from South Carolina State University • Four undergraduate students, with two from Spelman College in Atlanta, GA College of Health Professions MUSC