Research Support

Remote Ischemic Conditioning to Enhance Motor Learning and Corticospinal Excitability in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy

This innovative research aims to determine the effects of a novel priming agent, remote ischemic conditioning (RIC), when paired with bimanual skill training to enhance bimanual skill learning and to augment skill dependent plasticity in children with unilateral cerebral palsy.

Grant: National Center Medical Rehabilitation Research (NCMRR) Early Career R03

Funding Source: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development

Principal Investigator: Swati Surkar, PT, PhD

Co-Investigators: Drs. John Willson, Jessica Cassidy, Shailesh Kantak, Charity Patterson

Remote Ischemic Conditioning to Enhance Bimanual Skill Learning, Bimanual Coordination, and Brian Plasticity in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy

The goal of the pilot clinical trial is to assess the effects of remote ischemic conditioning when combined with intensive bimanual training on bimanual performance and motor cortex plasticity in children with unilateral cerebral palsy.

Grant: Research 1 grant

Funding Source: APTA’s Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy

Principle Investigator: Swati Surkar, PT, PhD

Co-Investigators: Drs. John Willson, Jessica Cassidy

Remote Ischemic Conditioning as a Neurorecovery Agent in Children with Cerebral Palsy

The goal of this project is to assess the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) in children with cerebral palsy. The secondary goal is to assess the effects of RIC when combined with 4-weeks of lower extremity power, gait, and balance training on leg muscle power, neuromuscular adaptation, and walking performance of children with cerebral palsy.

Grant: Junior Investigator Research Grant

Funding Source: American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine

Principle Investigator: Swati Surkar, PT, PhD

Co-Investigators: Drs. John Willson, Chia-Cheng Lin, Kristie Bjornson, Ling Chen

EEG in Children with Hemiplegia for Biomarker Development: The EMBARK Study

The goal of this research is to acquire corticomuscular coherence measurements in children with unilateral cerebral palsy through simultaneous acquisition of electroencephalography and electromyography to determine optimal experimental parameters.

Funding Source: American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine Research Grant, NIH National Pediatric Rehabilitation Resource Center (C-PROGRESS)

Principle Investigator: Jessica Cassidy

Co-Investigators: Drs. Swati Surkar, Holly Holland, Deborah Thorpe