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RehabCORE (Collaborative for Rehabilitation Expertise) provides clinical and translational researchers with expert support in integrating rehabilitation science into study design, implementation and outcome measurement. The RehabCORE team brings interdisciplinary expertise spanning the continuum of rehabilitation science, from basic and translational research to clinical and behavioral interventions. The team supports researchers in designing more comprehensive, patient-centered trials. By embedding these elements into study design, RehabCORE enhances clinical relevance, supports functional and psychosocial outcomes and strengthens the translational impact of health research.
Enhancing the integration of rehabilitation into clinical and translational research.
RehabCORE faculty provide consultations on rehab-related study design, outcome measure selection, intervention development and integration of rehabilitation science into project proposals.
RehabCORE provides one-on-one collaboration, offering rehabilitation expertise on funding proposals ranging from pilot/seed trials to large-scale federal programs.
RehabCORE faculty have expertise in the use of validated outcome measurements across diverse areas of rehabilitation. Selecting the right outcome measures (measurement tools) improves reliability, validity and clinical impact of your research.
Rehabilitation intervention strategies need to be carefully developed and dosed to optimize therapeutic effects. For example, if your research goal is to improve gait, should your subjects work on their balance, strength or motor control? What exercises should you use to address each of these areas? How would you prescribe these exercises?
Inspired by the BERD Core, RehabCORE provides “Research on a Napkin” meetings for researchers interested in developing or submitting seed funding proposals. These 30-minute meetings are informal and allow investigators to present and discuss proposal concepts or working drafts of individual submissions. Investigators receive immediate feedback from the RehabCORE faculty.
| Michael Seils, PT, DPT, EdD, MBA | Home health care, interprofessional care, geriatrics |
| Michael Brown, PhD, PT, DPT, OCS | Pain, chronic musculoskeletal conditions |
| Michael Policella, PT, DPT, OCS | Manual physical therapy, vestibular rehabilitation |
| Christine Linkie, PhD, OTR/L | Psychiatric rehabilitation and recovery (serious mental illness); Mental health concerns for people with physical health conditions; Mental health and sensory over-responsivity |
| Michael Cammarata, PhD, OTR/L, OT Reg. (Ont.) | stroke neurorehabilitation, technology usability and implementation, driving rehabilitation |
| Cristian Cuadra, PhD, PT | Spinal reflex motor control, stroke |
| Hang Jin Jo, PhD, PT | Non-invasive brain stimulation, spinal cord injury |
| Jill Mayer, PT, DPT, NCS | Spinal cord injury and stroke neurorehabilitation |
| Jacob McPherson, PT, DPT, PhD | Concussion, vestibular rehabilitation |
| Vijaya Muthaiah, PT, PhD, MPH | Auditory neurodegeneration, animal models |
| Ghazala Saleem, EdD, MS, OTR/L | Brain injury in vulnerable populations; Non-invasive brain stimulation (tDCS), neuroimaging (fMRI), and aging and neurodegenerative conditions |
| Sue Ann Sisto, PT, PhD, FACRM | Spinal cord injury |
| Chistopher Stavisky, PhD, OTR/L | Brain injury, cognitive rehabilitation |
| Kirkwood Personius, PhD, PT | Regenerative medicine, sarcopenia, animal models |
| Deanna Hostler, PT, DPT, PhD, CCS | Acute care PT, firefighter health & safety |
| Turquessa Francis, EdD, OTR/L | Visual motor integration for literacy |
| Melanie Merrill MS, OTD, OTR/L | Acute and school-based neuro-developmental therapy |
| Kristen Morgus, EdD, OTR/L | Developmental disabilities and school-based rehabilitation interventions |
| Janice Tona, PhD, OTR/L | Neuropsychiatric disorders, developmental disabilities |
| Christine Linkie, PhD, OTR/L | School-based practice and mental health; sensory processing and behavior |
Kirk Personius, PT, PhD (Co-Director) | kep7@buffalo.edu
Personius served as the program director of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program for multiple years. His translational research focuses on neuromuscular physiology and regenerative medicine for treatment of denervation, muscle-wasting disease or sarcopenia. He collaborates with multiple faculty within the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. He has extensive teaching experience in the areas of wound care, prosthetics and assessment of motor function.
Jacob McPherson, PT, DPT, PhD (Co-Director) | jim6@buffalo.edu
McPherson brings over 15 years of clinical experience as a board-certified neurologic PT clinical specialist in addition to his scholarly training. His work spans outpatient service delivery, interdisciplinary collaboration and rehabilitation considerations related to health care policy and economics. He teaches extensively in the areas of neuromuscular rehabilitation, vestibular/balance dysfunction and the critical analysis of patient care.
As co-director of RehabCORE, McPherson leads efforts to support clinical and translational researchers in embedding rehabilitation science into study design, implementation and outcome measurement. His interdisciplinary expertise and commitment to patient-centered research align with RehabCORE’s mission to enhance the relevance and impact of health research across diverse populations and conditions.