About us

Members of the Brain Plasticity Lab attended the 13th World Congress for Neurorehabilitation in Vancouver, CA. Dr. Sangeetha Madhavan led a symposium titled, “Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) – is there potential for moving the field forward?” where the current evidence for the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), as well as potential new routes of investigation in the field, were assessed. She also led a round table conversation about “Mentoring matters: importance of female mentorship in neurorehabilitation”. Dr. Brice Cleland presented a poster titled, “The association of interlimb coordination and temporal symmetry with walking function and motor impairment after stroke”. Shravni Deshmukh presented a poster titled, “Exploring the link between post-stroke depression and walking speed in adults with chronic stroke”. Mark Cummings presented a poster titled, “Motor and neurophysiological changes after ischemic conditioning in individuals with chronic stroke: a pilot trial”. Aditi Doshi presented a poster titled, “Exploring the feasibility of speed as an intensity measure in post-stroke high-intensity treadmill training”.

Dr. Madhavan was invited to speak at the Combined Sections Meetings 2024 (Boston, MA) in a pivotal session aimed at demystifying the complex grant review process for physical therapy scientists seeking research funding. She was a part of an expert panel from across the US. The session, focused on the NIH’s Center for Scientific Review procedures, offered insights into choosing the right grant mechanism and study section, addressed common applicant queries, and featured a mock study session with seasoned reviewers, enhancing understanding of early and mature grant opportunities.

Aditi Doshi, B.S., won the UIC Graduate College Three Minute Thesis 3MT Competition. The 3MT challenges students to present their research in just three minutes in a manner understandable to those outside their field. Utilizing only one static slide for her presentation, Aditi spoke about her original research elucidating the role of upper limb movements for lower limb neural pathways in stroke.

Mark Cummings, B.S., receives the American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship. This fellowship funds his project looking at the motor and neurophysiological changes after ischemic conditioning in individuals with chronic stroke.

Aditi Doshi, B.S., receives the American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship. This fellowship funds her project looking at the effects upper limb movements on lower limb neuroplasticity and motor behaviors in individuals who have had a stroke.

Mariah Balinski, PT, DPT won the Illinois Physical Therapy Foundation Research Grant for her project that studies the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation in conjunction with individualized physical therapy for individuals with chronic knee pain.

Dr. Brice Cleland received the UIC College of Applied Health Sciences Interdisciplinary Pilot Grant funding his project looking at the effects of high-intensity gait training on fatigue, gait, and neuroplasticity in people with multiple sclerosis!

Members from the Brain Plasticity Lab presented their work at the Society for Neuroscience Annual Conference 2023. Aditi Doshi, B.S., and Anahita Chandhok presented their poster on the effects of high-intensity speed-based treadmill training and transcranial direct current stimulation on ankle motor control in individuals who have had a stroke.

Aditi Doshi, B.S won the Provost’s Graduate Research Award 2023. The annual Provost’s Graduate Research Award (PGRA) provides “seed funding” to allow students to develop new research directions for their doctoral dissertation or terminal degree project early in their studies. Aditi’s award funds a part of her dissertation project looking at how upper limb movements influence lower limb neuroplasticity and motor strength in individuals who have had a stroke.

Each semester, the Honors College supports high-quality research by Honors College undergraduates with Research Grants to support excellent undergraduate research. The project this grant supports understands how upper limb movements affect spinal excitability in individuals with a stroke.

The W.C. and May Preble Deiss Fund for Biomedical Research Award for Graduate Research recognizes exceptional contributions to clinical or fundamental medical science research made by graduate students. This award enabled Aditi to work with Dr. Trisha Kesar, an accomplished expert in spinal and cortical neuroplasticity linked to post-stroke walking rehabilitation at Emory University.

Anahita Chandhok won the Honors Council of the Illinois Region Margaret Messer Student Research Grant (Spring 2023) This award is given to select Honors College students in Illinois with promising research projects for funding and expectation of future research sent directly to the Executive Secretary of the Honors Council of the Illinois Region.

She also won the Spring 2023 Honors College Undergraduate Research Grant.
This award is given to select Honors College students with promising research projects for funding and expectation of future research. She won both awards for a project relating Upper-Limb Priming Movements to Lower Limb Motor Function.

Aditi Doshi, BS, PhD candidate in the Graduate Program for Neuroscience, received the Eugertha Bates Memorial Award which is given in recognition of the student(s) whose volunteer activities, whether on campus and/or in a community setting, demonstrate an outstanding level of caring, dedication, and selfless commitment to others. Nominees must have exhibited an exceptional contribution to a humanitarian need.

Mark Cummings, BS, PhD candidate in the Rehabilitation Sciences program received the Lillian B. Torrance Scholarship that provides tuition and fee assistance to graduate students who have expressed an interest in rehabilitative activities or studies and who have exhibited excellent academic achievement throughout their time as a graduate student.

Members from the Brain Plasticity Lab presented their work at the American Society of Neurorehabilitation: 2023 Annual Meeting. Dr. Sangeetha Madhavan presented her poster on “Tele-tDCS for ALS: A case series examining safety, feasibility and preliminary effectiveness”. Dr. Madhavan also led a professional development session titled: “Research Study Management: Manageable Bites or More than You Can Chew?”. Dr. Brice Cleland presented his poster on “Cortical transcranial direct current stimulation influences lower limb cutaneous reflexes in individuals with stroke”. Mark Cummings presented his poster on “Ischemic conditioning to improve motor and neurophysiological outcomes post-stroke: a scoping review”.
Aditi Doshi presented her poster on “Speed-based high intensity interval treadmill training as a measure of intensity post stroke”. Shravni Deshmukh presented her poster on “Spinal motor neuron characteristics & disease progression in ALS: a lower limb focused descriptive study”.

Members from the Brain Plasticity Lab presented their work at the American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meetings 2023. Shravni Deshmukh presented her poster on “Feasibility and reliability of teleassessments for gait and balance assessments in stroke survivors”. Mariah Balinski presented her poster on “Predictors of adherence to physical therapy treatment and dropout in individuals with chronic pain”.

Members from the Brain Plasticity Lab presented their work at the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine Annual Conference 2022. Shravni Deshmukh presented her poster on “Can Post Stroke Walking Improve With Telerehabilitation? A Systematic Review in Adults With Stroke”. Rehab Aljuhni presented her poster on “Validity of the wearable inertial sensors for walking speed assessment in adults post stroke”.

Dr. Sangeetha Madhavan recently established the Women in Neurorehabilitation Special Interest group (SIG) in the World Federation for Neurorehabilitation (WFNR). Women working in the rehabilitation sciences have demonstrated outstanding clinical acumen, communication skills, compassionate support, and overall ability to provide more equitable care to meet the needs of all patients and participants. However, less than 30% of researchers worldwide are women. Gender stereotypes and long-standing biases often discourage girls and women away from science-related fields, especially STEM-based research. Women in Science often concurrently balance a myriad of family responsibilities, career expectations, and personal interests. This new SIG promotes and supports women clinicians, scientists, and academics in neurorehabilitation so they can achieve excellence and equity in their personal and professional lives. Everyone is encouraged to join by emailing Dr. Madhavan.

Want to know more about telerehabilitation? Listen to Dr. Sangeetha Madhavan in a conversation with Jimmy McKay on PT Pintcast. This podcast puts forth an exciting and fascinating perspective on the field of physical therapy by engaging in conversation by some of the brightest minds in the field. Find it here: Dr. Sangeetha Madhavan’s Podcast

Hear what Ariana Perez-Ortiz, our undergraduate alum, has to say about the science of physical therapy on Welcome to Sciencing from Home, a podcast from the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Latin@s Gaining Access to Networks for Advancement in Science program.

Shravni Deshmukh, MS, (Middle) received the Lillian B. Torrance Scholarship award that provides tuition and fee assistance for students who have expressed an interest in rehabilitative activities or studies. She was also awarded with the Graduate Student Council (GSC) Leadership Award in Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 for her service. Mark Cummings, BS, (Right) and Aditi Doshi, BS, (Left) received a conference award each, from the GSC to present their work at the Chicago Society for Neuroscience meeting. They also received the Student Presenter’s Award to present their work at the American Society for Neurorehabilitation Annual Meeting in St. Louis. Additionally, Shravni, Mark and Aditi won the Chancellor’s Student Service Award (CSSA) which honors students who have made an outstanding contribution to the University through campus and community service.

Members from the Brain Plasticity Lab presented their work at the American Society of Neurorehabilitation: 2022 Annual Meeting. Dr. Brice Cleland presented his poster on “Motor overflow in the leg after stroke: minimal role for corticomotor pathways”. Hyosok Lim presented his poster on “Understanding the effects of cross-priming using non-paretic leg movement in severe stroke”. Mark Cummings and Aditi Doshi presented their poster on “Interaction of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) & visual feedback in an ankle motor control task”.

Sangeetha Madhavan has received a two-year National Institute of Health (NIH) R21 grant for the project “Remotely supervised transcranial direct current stimulation for slowing disease progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).”

This study will address the feasibility and effectiveness of a novel non-invasive brain stimulation paradigm, that can be administered at home with remote supervision, to slow progression of disease and preserve motor function in individuals with ALS.

Hyosok Lim, MS, PhD candidate in the Rehabilitation Sciences program, has received an American Heart Predoctoral Fellowship to support his doctoral thesis. The goal of this project is to determine whether mvoements of the less affected lower limbt can influence brain plasticity and functional recovery in persons with severe stroke impairments.

Dr. Brice Cleland received a 3-year postdoctoral fellowship (5F32HD102214-02) from the National Institutes of Health entitled, “Contribution of the non-lesioned hemisphere to lower limb movement and walking function after stroke.” The goal of this project is to determine the contribution of non-damaged side of the brain to recovery of walking after stroke. The project will also evaluate how interactions between both sides of the brain influence walking recovery. More information about this project can be found here: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10169240.

Aditi Doshi, BS, PhD student in the Graduate Program for Neuroscience, won the Chancellor’s Student Service Award (CSSA) which honors students who have made an outstanding contribution to the University through campus and community service. She was awarded with the Graduate Student Council Leadership Award as well for service through the executive committee. Additionally, she won a conference award from the Graduate Student Council (GSC) to attend the Society for Neuroscience Global Connectome 2021.

Our heartiest congratulations to Sonia Pradhan and Rehab Aljuhni for graduating with an MS in the Rehabilitation Sciences Program during the global pandemic in 2020!

We would also like to extend a warm welcome to our newest lab members: Mausam Sheth (Masters Student), Mark Cummings (PhD Student), Aditi Doshi (PhD Student), and Rehab Aljuhni (PhD Student)!

And lastly, we would like to welcome two new additions to the Brain Plasticity Lab Family: Brice’s daughter, Bridie, and Rehab’s son, Hamdan.

Brain Plasticity Lab members presented at the virtual American Society of Neurorehabilitation 2021 Annual Meeting. Sangeetha Madhavan hosted and presented the symposium, “Virtual rehabilitation: exergames and tele-rehabilitation: untangling terminology, evidence, and efficacy and application to practice.” She was joined by multidisciplinary experts who presented on novel game-based technologies for clincal practice. Brice Cleland presented his poster, “Ipsilateral and paretic motor evoked potentials have delayed onset latency in individuals with chronic stroke.” Hyosok Lim presented his poster, “Feasibility and utility of remotely supervised game-based movement priming in chronic stroke: a case series.” The team had some great interactions with leaders in the field!

Drs. Madhavan and Cleland organized and presented a symposium at the virtual American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine 2020 Annual Conference. The symposium entitled, “Transcranial direct current stimulation for stroke: from research studies to clinical implementation,” was presented with Brain Plasticity Lab collaborators from the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab.

Brain Plasticity Lab members presented at the American Society of Neurorehabilitation 2019 Annual Meeting. Anjali Sivaramakrishnan presented her poster, “Measuring transcallosal inhibition for the lower extremity: methodology and reliability in stroke.” Brice Cleland presented his poster, “Ipsilateral corticomotor control of the paretic limb during bilateral ankle movement after stroke.” Dr. Madhavan was also a co-author on a poster entitled, “Decreased excitability of contralesional cortex in individuals with moderate to severe upper limb impairment.” It was great interacting with our colleagues right at home in Chicago.

The American Women in Science (AWIS) Chicago “Scientist of the Month” features a scientist who promotes the advancement of women in the fields of science, technology and engineering. Read more about the award.

Brain Plasticity Lab members presented at the American Society of Neurorehabilitation 2018 Annual Meeting. Dr. Madhavan was invited to present her work on ‘Biomarkers in ALS’ in the controversies in neurorehabilitation session. Anjali Sivaramakrishnan presented her poster on “Gait speed recovery is not associated with lower limb MEP’S.” Pooja Iyer presented her poster on “Responders and non-responders to anodal tDCS have different neurovascular characteristics.” Hyosok Lim presented his poster on “High Intensity Speed-based Treadmill Training (HISTT) Enables Walking Capacity But Not Neural Plasticity in Chronic Stroke Survivors.”

BPL student Pooja Iyer was awarded a 2018 UIC Provosts and Deiss Award. The Deiss Fund is a competitive award for graduate students engaged in research in clinical or basic medical sciences.

BPL student Anjali Sivaramakrishnan was awarded a highly prestigious two-year, pre-doctoral fellowship from the American Heart Association (AHA) beginning July 1, 2018. The award is given to promising students who intend careers as scientist to improve global cardiovascular health. In this project, Anjali will be examining the effects of non-invasive brain stimulation and exercise on stroke survivors.

BPL participates in the WCNR 2016: 9th Word Congress for Neurorehabilitation in Philadelphia.