J. Andrew Taylor, PhD
The Cardiovascular Research Laboratory has as one focus the study of changes in cardiovascular function associated with healthy aging and age related diseases. Current studies are investigating the mechanisms of these changes as well as interventions such as exercise to prevent or overcome cardiovascular declines associated with coronary artery disease, heart failure, and sleep apnea.

J. Andrew Taylor, PhD
Almost 1 in 5 older Americans use alternative mind-body therapies (e.g., meditation, yoga, and tai-chi) that emphasize slow, deep breathing. Underlying this high prevalence is a belief that mind-body interventions prevent and/or treat the cardiovascular diseases of human aging by shifting autonomic balance toward greater parasympathetic outflow and lesser sympathetic outflow. If true and sustainable, it would herald an inexpensive, readily accessible treatment for diseases linked to age-related cardiovascular autonomic changes (e.g., hypertension, congestive heart failure). However, mechanisms underlying potential benefits of mind-body practices have not been well described; the scientific literature is sparse, research methods often flawed, and proven physiologic effects are few. The Cardiovascular Research Laboratory is exploring potential effects and mechanisms of a fundamental, widely used mind-body technique - slow meditative breathing - to prevent cardiovascular autonomic declines with aging.

Leigh Hochberg, MD, PhD
Brain-Computer Interfaces
Dr. Hochberg is working on the BrainGate Neural Interface System to determine whether individuals with quadriplegia might be able to control a computer cursor by thought alone. The studies are recruiting people with spinal cord injury, brainstem stroke, muscular dystrophy, and ALS. For complete details on Dr. Hochberg's work, please visit: BrainGate2 clinical trials

Mel Glenn, MD
Southey Saul
Christina Supelana
Ross Zafonte, DO
Effect of Zolpidem on Restoration of Consciousness Following TBI
Spaulding is currently conducting a research study on the drug zolpidem, an FDA approved medication to treat sleep related issues. The purpose of the study is to investigate whether zolpidem can help to restore consciousness in individuals who have sustained a traumatic brain injury. The study consists of three phases. Phase I lasts two days and takes place in the home. The caregiver will administer one day of placebo and one day of active drug, and monitor and record any changes observed. Those patients who are responsive to zolpidem will be invited to participate in Phase II of the study, which takes place at Spaulding and will also last two days. Patients who are deemed responsive to zolpidem in this phase will then proceed to Phase III, which involves a three day visit to Moss Rehabilitation Hospital in Philadelphia. All transportation will be arranged. Qualified candidates must be 18 years of age or older, sustained a TBI at least 4 months prior to enrollment and are currently in a vegetative or minimally conscious state.

Ross Zafonte, DO
Effects of light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) on Memory for TBI Patients
LED is a form of light therapy that has been used safely and effectively since the mid 1960s. Applications include wound healing, reduction of edema and inflammation, and prevention of tissue loss. Recent studies indicate the possibility of a beneficial effect of LED when used to treat TBI. The purpose of this 4 month long research study is to investigate whether Transcranial, high-intensity LED applied outside the skull can improve working memory in TBI patients. Qualified candidates must be 18 to 65 years of age, sustained a mild TBI at least 6 months prior to enrollment and continue to have memory and thinking issues.

Ross Zafonte, DO
Effects of Amantidine on the Treatment of Chronic TBI Irritability and Aggression
Irritability and aggression are common, yet difficult to treat, symptoms of TBI. Amantadine is an FDA approved drug that is used to treat Influenza A, Parkinson's disease and other similar conditions. A recent, single site study has indicated the possibility of a beneficial effect of Amantidine on the treatment of irritability and aggression in TBI patients. The purpose of this 3-month research study is to investigate whether Amantadine is effective in treating irritability and aggression in patients with TBI. Qualified candidates must be 18 - 65 years of age, sustained a TBI at least 6 months prior to enrollment and continue to experience irritability and aggression.

Jeffery Schneider, MD
Dr. Schneider is conducting a study examining the effects of a large-scale fire on the survivor population. He is looking particularly at the medicinal, psychological, social, occupational, functional and legal impacts of the fire on its survivors.

Dr. Schneider is also taking part in a study on "The Development and Feasibility of a Novel Gaming System for Children with Upper Extremity Burn Contractures," which is supported by a Harvard Catalyst Pilot Grant, in collaboration with Spaulding's Motion Analysis Laboratory and Shriner's Burns Hospital - Boston. The purpose of this project is to develop and assess the feasibility of a robotic virtual reality gaming system for use in children with upper extremity burn contractures.

Dr. Schneider is also focused on "Burn Rehabilitation Outcomes," an analysis of data from the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation. The goal is to determine the impact of inpatient rehabilitation in burn patients and predictors of outcome, including an evaluation of comorbidity status, institution volume, ethnicity and social support. Furthermore, he is analyzing "Young Adult Burn Outcomes" is a separate study. Here, the goal of this pilot study is to examine a novel instrument designed to assess young adult burn survivor outcomes, including mobility, community integration, sexuality, socialization, and religiosity. Dr. Schneider is working in collaboration with Shriner's Burns Hospital -- Boston and Massachusetts General Hospital.

In Dr. Schneider's fourth study, "Functional Outcome of Burn Patients During and After Inpatient Rehabilitation," the goals are to evaluate the efficacy of inpatient rehabilitation for burn survivors and determine predictors of outcomes.

Paolo Bonato, PhD
Spaulding's Motion Analysis Laboratory combines laboratory and field assessments to enhance mobility in individuals with mobility-limiting conditions caused by age, illness, or trauma. The lab's focus is on the use biomechanics, wearable sensors and robotics in the treatment and rehabilitation of patients limited by such conditions as stroke, brain injury, cerebral palsy and Parkinson's Disease. Currently, among many other initiatives, the lab is studying the effects of transcranial stimulation on motor recovery in people who have suffered traumatic brain injury or a stroke. The lab is also in the process of developing wearable sensors to monitor motor patterns of patients who have epileptic seizures; it is creating a rehabilitative interactive game for children with upper-limb disabilities due to Cerebral Palsy; it is studying the effect of Tai Chi on musculoskeletal loading and balance control of women with low bone density; and it is assessing the use of the Nintendo Wii in the rehabilitation of stroke patients.

Jeffrey Widrick
Dr. Lisa S. Krivickas Muscle Cell Lab
Dr. Jeffrey Widrick is investigating mechanisms underlying contractile dysfunction during muscle atrophy, injury, and disease. Current projects use single fiber and whole muscle preparations to understand contraction-induced muscle damage, improve functional recovery from prolonged physical inactivity, and develop treatments for muscular dystrophies.

Leslie Morse, DO
Dr. Morse is currently working on two projects. As the Principal Investigator of "FES-Rowing versus Zoledronic Acid to Improve Bone Health in SCI: A Comparative Clinical Trial," which is funded by the Department of Defense, Dr. Morse's goals are to (1) compare the effect of FES-row training alone versus FES-rowing plus Zoledronic Acid on bone density of the paralyzed lower extremity (2) and to compare the effect of FES-row training alone versus FES-rowing plus Zoledronic Acid on bone micro architecture of the paralyzed lower extremity.

In the second study, funded by the NIH/MIAMS (1R01AR059270-01), Dr. Morse is again the Principal Investigator, researching "Adiposity and Bone Loss in Spinal Cord Injury." The goals of this project are to (1) determine the degree of bone formation, bone resorption, and rate of bone loss longitudinally at the distal femur and proximal tibia in 300 subjects with chronic SCI with varying degrees of neurologic impairment and in 50 able-bodied subjects, (2) determine the relationship between regional fat distribution assessed directly from DXA scan data and longitudinal change in BMD at the distal femur and proximal tibia, and (3) assess the relationship between circulating levels of adipose derived hormones (leptin and adiponectin) with bone loss at the distal femur and proximal tibia.

J. Andrew Taylor, PhD
Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) have greater cardiovascular morbidity than the able-bodied and tend to demonstrate cardiovascular disease at a younger age. This is likely due, at least in part, to greater cardiovascular decline, beginning at the time of injury and resulting in marked cardiovascular compromise by ten years post injury. It is a given that progressive declines in regular physical activity in Americans leads to profound cardiovascular compromise, but in the SCI population, marked physical inactivity has been extrinsically imposed by sudden injury, and usually at an early age. However, although a majority of SCI patients regard exercise as an important aspect of functional recovery, more than half do not have access to appropriate exercise programs. The Cardiovascular Research Laboratory is exploring the potential cardiovascular health benefits of a unique form of exercise - 'hybrid' functional electrical stimulation (FES) exercise that involves exercise of both innervated upper body and electrically stimulated lower body muscles. This form of exercise distributes the work across a large muscle mass and therefore produces high levels of sustained aerobic consumption and hence may result in significant cardiovascular benefits.

Shanker Nesathurai, MD
Dr. Nesathurai received a research gift from The Lynch Foundation. With this gift Dr. Neasthurai has been involved in primate research with the New England Primate Research Center.

Pradeep Suri, MD
Dr. Suri is conducting research on the epidemiology of degenerative lumbar spinal disorders, which is funded by NIH. His work involves the identification of traditional and novel risk factors associated with pathoanatomic spinal degeneration and functional limitations in the Framingham Heart Study Offspring and Gen 3 cohorts.