Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory

Dr. Julio C. Furlan - In the Age of Aging, what is actually the impact of older age on outcomes after traumatic spinal cord injury?
2017-03-09 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Lyndhurst Center – Lecture Rooms A & B, 520 Sutherland Drive, Toronto, Ontario, M4G3V9, Canada
Abstract
Despite an increasing incidence of traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI) in the elderly worldwide, relatively little has been reported to date regarding the role of age on outcomes after tSCI.
This series of studies examined the potential effects of older age on: (1) survival, degree of impairment and disability within the first year after tSCI; (2) neuroinflammatory response to, oligodentrocyte apoptosis and axonal survival within the spinal cord white matter after tSCI using immunohistopathological examination of post-mortem spinal cord tissue; and (c) economic burden of the initial management of individuals with acute tSCI.
Overall, the results of those studies support the notion that older people can potentially have similar benefits of the ongoing translational studies focused on neuroprotective and rehabilitative strategies. Also, improved protocols for management of older people with tSCI could have a significant impact on their recovery, which in the long term, could potentially offset the increased healthcare costs during the initial management of the elderly with tSCI.
About the Speaker
Dr. Furlan is a staff neurologist and a Clinician Investigator in the Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the SCI Rehabilitation Program at the Lyndhurst Centre, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Toronto. He recently completed five years of residency training in Adult Neurology at University of Toronto in June 2014. Most recently he completed a two-year clinical fellowship in Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair at Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Sunnybrook Hospital and the University of Toronto (2014 to June 2016).
Dr Furlan has extensive training and research expertise. He is a trained head and neck surgeon from Brazil, who holds a MBA degree in Health Administration, an MSc degree in Clinical Epidemiology, and a PhD degree in Neuroanatomy. In the past, Dr. Furlan has worked as an Associate Research Scientist in the Department of Genetics and Development, Toronto Western Research Institute, University Health Network from 2007 to 2012. Dr. Furlan has also been an Adjunct Scientist at Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network from 2009-2016, inclusive.
Dr Furlan´s research has been focused on outcome measures (including clinical assessments, neuroimaging analysis, and neurophysiological assessments) and predictors of outcome (including sex and age) after traumatic and non-traumatic spinal cord injury. In addition he has interest and expertise in autonomic dysfunction after spinal cord injury and economic analyses. Dr. Furlan has published 75 peer-reviewed papers and 14 book chapters, and received 43 awards over the past 15 years.

Dr. Milos R. Popovic - Electrical Stimulation: Improving walking, treating depression and controlling stem cell mobility.
2017-02-09 12:00 - 13:00
Abstract
In this lecture three different applications of electrical stimulation will be discussed. In one embodiment, the electrical stimulation is used as a tool to improve voluntary locomotion. In second embodiment, the electrical stimulation is used to change mood. And in third embodiment, the electrical stimulation is used to navigate stem cells and direct their movement. All three interventions have one thing in common. They use identical electrical stimulation pulses and identical software-hardware systems to deliver very different clinical interventions. These interventions belong to a broader spectrum of neuromodulation interventions. Hence, this entire lecture will be focused on presenting unique and unusual neuromodulation interventions of great relevance to the spinal cord injury population.
About the Speaker
Milos R. Popovic received his Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Toronto, Canada in 1996, and the Dipl. Electrical Engineer degree from the University of Belgrade, Serbia in 1990.
Dr. Popovic is the Associate Scientific Director at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute – University Health Network and the Toronto Rehab Chair in Spinal Cord Injury Research. He is also a Professor (Tenured) in the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto, as well as Senior Scientist and the Neural Engineering and Therapeutics Team Leader at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. Dr. Popovic is also the founder and co-director of the CenteR for Advancing Neurotechnological Innovation to Application (CRANIA) at the University of Toronto and University Health Network.
Dr. Popovic’s fields of expertise are functional electrical stimulation, neuroprostheses, neuro-rehabilitation, neuromodulation, brain machine interfaces, physiological control systems, assistive technology, modeling and control of linear and non-linear dynamic systems, robotics, and signal processing.
In 1997, together with Dr. Keller, he received the Swiss National Science Foundation Technology Transfer Award – 1st place. In 2008, Dr. Popovic was awarded the Engineering Medal for Research and Development from the Professional Engineers of Ontario, and Ontario Society of Professional Engineers. In 2011, he was elected to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering. In 2012, company MyndTec Inc., which Dr. Popovic co-founded in 2008, won the 1st Prize and the Best Intellectual Property Award at the annual TiEQuest Business Venture Competition. In 2013, he received the Morris (Mickey) Milner Award for outstanding contributions in the area of Assistive Technologies from the Health Technology Exchange. Also, in 2013, together with Drs. Prodic, Lehn, and Huerta-Olivares, and Mr. Tarulli, Dr. Popovic received the University of Toronto Inventor of the Year Award. In 2015, Dr. Popovic received the 2014 University Health Network’s Inventor of the Year Award.
Dr. Popovic is the co-founder and co-chair of the Canadian National Spinal Cord Injury Conference established in 2004.

Dr. B Catharine Craven - Bone Health Services for SLOP: Myths, FAQ, & Program Self Evaluation
2017-01-12 12:00 - 13:00
Abstract
Objectives:
1) To discuss common myths and frequently asked questions regarding sublesional osteoporosis
2) Identify patients with spinal cord injury/disease & sublesional osteoporosis who require therapy
3) Select appropriate osteoporosis therapy based on the clinical scenario, patient’s fracture risk, and therapy side effect profile
4) Review the principles of post-fracture care
5) Complete a program Bone Health Self evaluation
About the Speaker
Dr. Craven is a Clinician Scientist appointed as an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Toronto. She is a Senior Scientist within the Neural Engineering and Therapeutics Team at Toronto Rehabilitation Institute and the Medical Lead of the Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Program at Toronto Rehab’s Lyndhurst Centre within University Health Network.
Dr. Craven’s clinical and research expertise is in the prevention and treatment of secondary health conditions among individuals living with spinal cord injury and their related health service needs. Her recent work has focused on the associations between changes in body composition and multimorbidity among individuals with chronic spinal cord injury (PubMed).
Dr Craven led publication of the E-scan Atlas “Capturing Capacity in Canadian SCI Rehabilitation”. Dr. Craven, together with Dr. Bayley, co-leads the SCI-HIGH project aimed at developing structure, process and outcome indicators to advance SCI rehabilitation in Canada by 2020. She is also the project lead and driving force behind Toronto Rehab’s innovative Central Recruitment implementation, uniting clinicians and researchers around best-practice patient recruitment. Dr. Craven is the current Chair of the Rick Hansen Institute Care Committee; a recent recipient of a Craig H Neilsen Foundation senior scientist award; and the scientific co-chair of the 1-7th National SCI conference.

Dr. Cesar Marquez-Chin - Brain-Machine Interfaces at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute.
2016-12-08 12:00 - 13:00
Abstract
Did you know that the Lyndhurst Centre has an active research program connecting brains and machines directly? In this talk I will introduce brain-computer interfaces, devices that can translate brain signals into control commands for electronic devices, share with you some of the work conducted in this field at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute over the last decade, and discuss potential applications of this technology for rehabilitation after stroke and spinal cord injury.
About the Speaker
Dr. Márquez Chin is a scientist with the Neural Engineering and Therapeutics Team at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute – University Health Network. A biomedical engineer by training, his professional activities have included clinical, research, and development settings. His primary research interests include the development and understanding of rehabilitation technologies and the interaction between these devices and their users, including consumers and care providers. Central to his work is the creation of systems that use brain signals to control electronic devices. His current areas of work include neurophysiological research, brain-machine interfacing, and rehabilitation robotics. Dr. Márquez Chin holds a PhD in biomedical engineering from the University of Toronto.

Dr. Kristin Musselman & Dr. Alison Oates
2016-11-10 12:00 - 13:00
Falls After Spinal Cord Injury: Causes, Consequences And Creative Solutions.
Abstract
Each year about 75% of community-dwelling individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) will fall; this is a higher fall incidence than that seen in other neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease. Falling can have many adverse consequences, such as injury, hospital admission, reduced mobility and participation in daily activities, to name a few. Despite the high risk of falling, little is known about the causes and consequences of falls, or how fall risk can be reduced, in the SCI population. Drs. Oates and Musselman will discuss their joint work that aims to address these gaps in our knowledge and result in more effective fall prevention strategies for the SCI population.
Speaker Information
Dr. Kristin Musselman
Kristin Musselman, PT PhD, is a Scientist with the Neural Engineering and Therapeutics Team at TRI-UHN, an Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Physical Therapy at the University of Toronto, and an Adjunct Professor in the School of Physical Therapy at the University of Saskatchewan. Her research is focused on the rehabilitation for adults and children with neurological conditions, including methods of training gait, balance and upper limb function.
Dr. Alison Oates
Alison Oates PhD is an Assistant Professor in the College of Kinesiology at the University of Saskatchewan. Her research focuses on sensorimotor integration during walking and walking balance in populations with instability. Alison will discuss collaborative research with Dr. Musselman investigating reactive and proactive balance during walking in individuals with incomplete SCI. She will also highlight the Biomechanics of Balance And Movement (BBAM) Lab of which she is a co-director.

Dr. Angelo All - A novel biomedical approach for rehab post-SCI.
2016-11-02 12:00 - 13:00
Abstract
We have investigated the properties of a novel UpConverting Nanoparticles (UCNPs) that are able to emit visible light by stimulating them with LED based Near Infra-Red (NIR) system. These UCNPs could upconvert within the biological window of 740nm, which reduces heat and toxicity to cells, and activate the light-sensitive ion channels known as Channelrhodopsin (ChRs) in transfected neuropathways deep in the CNS. These semi-invasive techniques can be used for Rehabilitation post-Spinal Cord Injury and for Deep Brain Stimulation.
Speaker Information
Angelo ALL, M.D., MBA, is an Assistant Professor at the Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He also holds a position as an Assistant Professor at the Departments of Orthopedic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore. Dr. All is the Research Director of the Spinal Cord Injury, Repair and Regeneration Research Laboratory.

Dr. Kara K Patterson - I’ve got rhythm, I’ve got music, who could ask for anything more?
2016-09-13 12:00 - 13:00
Abstract
Walking, balance and mobility are almost invariably affected by neurological conditions. Gait and balance impairments have a profound impact on an individual’s ability to perform activities of daily living and consequently, quality of life and improvement of gait function is a commonly stated goal by individuals undergoing neurologic rehabilitation. Improvements in gait, mobility and balance are made with neurological rehabilitation. However, despite these gains, balance and gait remain significantly impaired compared to healthy or neurotypical adults. New therapeutic approaches and interventions for balance, mobility and gait are needed. The use of rhythmic cues during gait training and dance instruction are emerging interventions that may address this need. In this talk I will discuss 1) the potential link between rhythmic abilities (e.g. perception and production) and the rhythmicity of gait and 2) the use of dance for the rehabilitation of gait in neurological populations. Although the primary focus of my research is stroke, I will discuss potential applications in other patient populations such as spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis.
About the SPeaker
Dr. Patterson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Toronto and a Scientist with Toronto Rehab. She received her physiotherapy training from Queen’s University and practiced clinically in Canada and the United States before returning to Canada to pursue graduate studies. She received her MSc and PhD in Rehabilitation Science from UofT and completed postdoctoral training at McGill. The overall goal of Dr. Patterson’s research program (which takes place in the RELEARN lab) is to advance neurorehabilitation practice to improve balance and mobility outcomes for people living with neurological conditions. She is currently investigating the process of motor re-learning after stroke, the link between rhythm perception and gait and the use of dance to improve walking and balance post-stroke. Her work is funded by CIHR, the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Physiotherapy Foundation of Canada.

Dr. Michael Willand - Using electrical stimulation to enhance functional recovery following peripheral nerve injury
2016-09-08 12:00 - 13:00
Abstract
Recovery following peripheral nerve injuries is often incomplete. Injured nerves regenerate at a rate of approximately 1mm/day, but the longer they are without a functional connection the more diminished their capacity to regenerate becomes. In traumatic injuries, the gold standard treatment is surgical nerve repair performed immediately or shortly after injury. To date, there are no additional treatments that are used to enhance functional recovery. In this talk I will outline ongoing experiments investigating a clinically translatable daily electrical muscle stimulation paradigm in rats following nerve injury. I will also discuss a treatment of brief electrical nerve stimulation performed at the time of nerve repair that is used to accelerate nerve outgrowth across the injury site. Taken together, these two therapies may form a synergistic front used to enhance recovery following peripheral nerve injuries.
About the Speaker
Dr. Michael Willand is currently a post-doctoral research fellow in the Department of Plastic Surgery at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Mike previously completed MASc and PhD degrees in biomedical engineering at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. He specialized in the design and development of novel electrical stimulators and investigated combining surgical modalities with electrical muscle stimulation to enhance functional recovery following peripheral nerve injury. His current work focuses on examining how different paradigms of electrical muscle stimulation affect reinnervation following nerve injury and repair. He is also investigating the role that electrical stimulation has in synkinetic reinnervation and the molecular basis for enhancement of reinnervation following chronic muscle stimulation.

Trunk impairment and how to improve sitting balance after spinal cord injury
2016-09-01 08:00 - 17:00
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) could result in paralysis of the trunk and lower limb muscles which can significantly impair trunk stability and sitting balance. However, very little is known about the complex neuromuscular coordination of the trunk muscles and the effects of SCI. Currently, chest straps and trunk braces are used to stabilize the trunk and correct sitting after SCI. In addition to these passive devices, functional electrical stimulation (FES) could be used to artificially contract trunk muscles and regulate sitting balance. In this talk, I will present: (1) what we know about trunk muscle coordination; (2) how SCI affects trunk muscle coordination during sitting; and (3) how we can use FES to improve sitting balance. Understanding trunk muscle impairment in combination with the use of FES can provide important implications for optimizing sitting balance rehabilitation.
Biography
Matija Milosevic is an NSERC Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Tokyo in Japan. Prior to moving to Tokyo, Matija completed his PhD in biomedical engineering at the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto and the Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-UHN. His main research was related to postural control and neuromuscular modelling of sitting and standing balance, and use of functional electrical stimulation. Matija’s current research is focused on exploring neurophysiology and neuroplasticity during motor control tasks as a way to enhance the function of individuals with neurological and physical impairments as well as to maximize the performance of athletes. Matija’s research expertise includes biomechanics, biomedical instrumentation, neurophysiology, neuroprostheses, modeling, signal processing and rehabilitation.
