معرفی
Dr. Erin Vasudevan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at Stony Brook University's Renaissance School of Medicine. She specializes in understanding how the brain and spinal cord control walking, with a focus on motor learning, gait rehabilitation, and neuroplasticity following neurological injuries like stroke and traumatic brain injury.
Educational Background:
- BSc (Hon), Physiology - University of Alberta, Canada
- PhD, Neuroscience - University of Alberta, Canada
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Neuroscience - The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
Research Focus: Dr. Vasudevan's work explores the complex neural and biomechanical processes underlying human locomotion. Her investigations span from understanding how healthy individuals adapt to real-world walking challenges (like terrain changes or obstacles) to developing innovative rehabilitation strategies for those with neurological damage. She collaborates extensively with engineers to create mechanical devices that enhance gait retraining outcomes.
Research Trends: Her publications reveal a consistent focus on three major themes: (1) understanding locomotor adaptation mechanisms across the lifespan, from infancy to aging, (2) developing and testing novel rehabilitation devices for stroke survivors, including mechanical gait trainers and home-based mirror therapy systems, and (3) investigating sensory-motor integration in both healthy and clinical populations, particularly examining how visual dependence affects gait control.
Scientific Recognition:
- American Heart Association Scientist Development Grant (2012-2017)
- Principal Investigator on multiple NIH-funded studies
- Co-Principal Investigator on Stony Brook Online Learning Development Award (2019-2020)
Grant Portfolio & Collaborations: Dr. Vasudevan has secured significant funding from prestigious organizations including the American Heart Association and Pennsylvania Department of Health. Her current projects include developing low-cost gait rehabilitation devices for stroke survivors and investigating home-based mirror therapy for lower limb hemiparesis. She maintains active collaborations with clinical partners and engineering teams to translate research findings into practical rehabilitation solutions.
Research Environment: Based in the Life Sciences Building at Stony Brook University, Dr. Vasudevan's lab integrates behavioral experiments, biomechanical assessments, and engineering prototyping. Her work bridges fundamental neuroscience with clinical applications, aiming to improve mobility outcomes for individuals with neurological injuries.
