 Mariana and McKenna demonstrating opal sensor placement and data |  The sensors and their spots on your body |  Denise and Swapna demonstrating a walking assessment in the lab |
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 Visualization of white matter fiber tracts |  |
The Mobility and Investigative Neuroimaging (MAIN) Laboratory aims to improve our understanding of the behavioral and neural correlates of walking in older adults and persons with neurologic diagnoses such as stroke. We are specifically interested in examining force production during overground walking, biomarkers of walking function after stroke, and neuromechanisms associated with response to therapy. Our research focuses on brain-behavior relationships by utilizing MRI (diffusion tensor imaging), quantitative measures of motor function (EMG, kinetics), and clinical measures of impairment and mobility. Additional areas of research include gait rehabilitation and outcome measure assessment. Such insight will help inform more individualized treatments to improve walking function and quality of life in both older adults and persons with neurologic injury.
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Research in the MAIN Lab has been supported by the Office of the Vice President for Research at the University of Vermont and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences at the NIH
TEAM MEMBERS
Denise Peters PT, DPT, PhD
Dr. Peters is an Assistant Professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Science at the University of Vermont. She is a licensed physical therapist and researcher interested in the neural correlates of motor impairment and recovery, with an emphasis on walking function, in older adults and persons with neurologic injury. Dr. Peters completed her DPT and PhD in Exercise Science at the University of South Carolina, and a postdoctoral research fellowship in Neurophysiology and Neurorehabilitation at Emory University. Prior to (and during) her PhD and postdoctoral studies, she practiced as a physical therapist primarily in inpatient rehabilitation settings treating older adults with various health conditions and patients with neurologic diagnoses.
Graduate Students
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Swapna Balakrishnan
PT, DPT, NCS
Interprofessional Health Sciences PhD Student
THIS IS A GREAT PLACE FOR YOUR TAGLINE.
About Swapna
Dr. Swapna Balakrishnan is a PhD candidate at the University of Vermont and a Licensed Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy. Her research focuses on using wearable technologies, such as physical activity monitors and geospatial data, to assess community mobility in stroke survivors. Her broader interests include mobile health technologies, neuroplasticity, and neurorehabilitation. She is an active member of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy (ANPT), serving on its Digital Communications Committee. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, traveling, swimming, and reading.
Undergraduate Students
Abigail Costello
Abigail is a senior studying Exercise Science with a minor in Chemistry. She is planning on attending medical school after she graduates. In her free time she loves to run and travel.
Isabella Chiulli
My name is Isabella Chiulli, and I am a senior biomedical engineering student. Next fall, I will begin to earn my Master of Science in Clinical Research at Boston University. My training in BME has piqued my interest in wearable technology, but I'm also interested in how patients can interact with that technology. I also enjoy completing crafting projects, like punch needling, in my free time, and am on the varsity swim team here at UVM!
Ryan Malkowski
Ryan is a senior studying biological sciences with a chemistry minor at UVM. He is currently on the path to apply to medical school in the coming years and is very interested in the medical field. He loves to work with people and patients. He loves to ski at Jay Peak and Sugarbush, play soccer, and hang out with his friends. When he is home he loves to hang out with his brother Andrew.
Kailey Russell
Kailey is a junior studying exercise science at UVM. She is currently working towards applying to graduate school this summer for PT. She is interested in adapted physical activity and neuroscience. She loves playing soccer, hiking, skiing, cooking, and her adorable dog, Sierra :)
Alumni
Mariana Wingood, PT DPT, GCS, CEEAA, PhD
Joan E. Deffeyes, PhD
![IMG-0192[2851].JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/637071_41a1fa7b508047bc9add1ac7c670de62~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_182,w_673,h_847/fill/w_194,h_244,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/IMG-0192%5B2851%5D_JPG.jpg)
Katherine Langseder
McKenna Perry, BS
Erin Kelly, BS
Collaborators
Sambit Mohapatra, University of Vermont
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Nancy Gell, University of Vermont
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Jill Stewart, University of South Carolina
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Stacy Fritz, University of South Carolina
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Randy Trumbower, Spaulding Rehabilitation
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Andrew Tan, University of Colorado-Boulder
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Ryan McGinnis, University of Vermont
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