Joan A. O’Keefe

Joan A. O’Keefe, PhD, PT is an Associate Professor at Rush University with primary appointments in the Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology (Rush Medical College) and joint affiliations in Neurological Sciences and Occupational Therapy. Her research focuses on detecting and characterizing gait and balance impairments in neurodegenerative disorders like FXTAS, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease, integrating clinical, neuroimaging, and biomechanical analyses.

• BS in Physical Therapy, University of Illinois-Chicago
• PhD in Anatomy and Neurobiology, Loyola University Chicago
• Postdoctoral Training, University of Kentucky

Her research program develops quantitative biomarkers for early FXTAS detection, examines cognitive-motor interactions, and establishes normative gait databases using inertial sensors. Collaborative work includes clinical trials for Niemann-Pick C1 with Hydroxypropyl Beta Cyclodextrin and dual-task treadmill interventions in Parkinson’s disease.

Recent publications emphasize digital gait markers, tremorography, and neurogenetic mechanisms in movement disorders. She utilizes advanced technologies like fNIRS, MRI image analysis, and transcranial magnetic stimulation.

• DOD Grant HT9425-24-1-0099: Neural Underpinnings of Cognitive-Gait Dysfunction in FXTAS
• Rush Imaging Research Core Pilot Grant: Structural/Functional Brain Imaging in FXTAS
• Huntington’s Disease Society of America Award: Cortical Activity Analysis
• NIH/NICHD K01HD088762: Cognition-Balance Interactions in FXTAS

Dr. O’Keefe mentors graduate students in Huntington’s disease and neurodegenerative gait research while collaborating with Rush laboratories including the Motion Analysis Lab, Spine Biomechanics Lab, and Joan and Paul Rubschlager Tribology Laboratory. Her work aligns with NIH priorities for Fragile X-associated disorders and provides foundational data for future clinical trials.