New URI lab developing adaptive technology, secures National Science Foundation Grant
Dr. Reza Abiri’s (Senior Associate Professor in the College of Engineering, PI, former RI-INBRE investigator, and SURF mentor), Dr. Yalda Shahriari (Associate Professor in the College of Engineering, CO-PI, and former RI-INBRE investigator), and Dr.
Mariusz Furmanek (Assistant Professor in the Physical Therapy Department and Co-PI) received the National Science Foundation (NSF) grant totaling $460,000 to study “An Adaptive Closed-Loop Robotic Exoskeleton for Upper Extremity Motor Rehabilitation.” The project is jointly funded by the Disabilities and Rehabilitation Engineering Program (DARE) and the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).
Dr. Abiri and Dr. Shahriari are building a new robotic platform that can help post-stroke patients perform needed rehabilitation and regain motor skills in the wake of a stroke, including to reach for, grasp and hold on to that all-important cup to start the day. The new device they are building includes an adaptive closed loop that will incorporate user feedback, to engage and motivate patients to further their motor training on the way to recovery.
“The most valuable aspect of having been a RI-INBRE Investigator is that it helped me build a network of research collaborators. RI-INBRE funding also helped me setup my research lab and allowed me to collect crucial research data that then allowed me to apply for more substantial grants. RI-INBRE was also instrumental in teaching me the administrative side of a grant: grant writing and budgeting for a grant. The pilot studies along with the knowledge learned from RI-INBRE grant process helped with securing external grant funding such as the NSF grant.”
Participating in the SURF mentor program allowed Dr. Abiri to hire undergraduate research students who worked with him in his lab and assisted with the collection of his research data. “RI-INBRE also helped me bridge my transition from neuroscience research to neurorobotics research. I look forward to applying for more RI-INBRE funding to continue my research on neurobotics.” Read more