Colleen D Peyton

Colleen D Peyton is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences and Pediatrics at the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University. Her research integrates pediatric physical therapy with neuroscience to improve early detection of neurodevelopmental disorders in infants.

Her educational qualifications include:

• BS from Pennsylvania State University (2001)
• DPT from MGH Institute of Health Professions (2004)
• MS from Northwestern University (2024)
• Board Certified Physical Therapy Clinical Specialist in Pediatrics (ABPTS)

Dr. Peyton's work focuses on infant movement-behavior biomarkers for predicting neurodevelopmental outcomes, with emphasis on cerebral palsy and premature infants. She employs advanced techniques in neuroimaging and movement analysis to develop early intervention protocols for perinatal brain injuries and prenatal exposures. Her research bridges clinical practice with translational neuroscience to create objective assessment tools for infant development.

Her 2025 publications demonstrate concentrated expertise in neonatal neurology and rehabilitation science, particularly examining white-matter connectivity in brain-injured infants, ambulation predictors in disorders of consciousness, Zika virus neurodevelopmental impacts, and precision movement characterization in cerebral palsy.

Key recognitions include:

• Outstanding Pediatric Clinician Award, American Physical Therapy Association (2015)
• Expert Clinician Award, University of Chicago Therapy Services (2012)
• Merit Scholarship Award, MGH Institute of Health Professions (2001)

Dr. Peyton mentors graduate students in physical therapy research while maintaining active leadership roles in professional societies. She serves on editorial boards for Pediatric Neurology and Frontiers in Pediatrics, Neonatology, and holds governance positions in the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine.

Her research is supported by the Institute for Innovations in Developmental Sciences and Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (NUCATS), facilitating collaborations across pediatrics, neuroscience, and rehabilitation engineering.