Welcome to the Neurorehabilitation Research Laboratory!
About NRL
The Neurorehabilitation Research Laboratory (NRL) conducts research on assessments and interventions for individuals with neurological diseases and disorders, including Huntington's disease (HD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and stroke. The NRL also engages in research investigating motor control and motor learning processes in both healthy individuals and those with neurological diseases and disorders. Our broad aim is to develop effective interventions to improve functional abilities and quality of life for people with motor control impairments through physical therapy and exercise-based interventions.
To be a leading lab in exercise, movement science, and neurorehabilitation.
To develop meaningful assessments & effective movement-based interventions to improve functional abilities & quality of life for diverse neurological populations. We work to accomplish this by involving stakeholders from diverse backgrounds and promoting implementation in the real world & clinical settings.
Dr. Lori Quinn
Dr. Lori Quinn, PT, EdD, FAPTA, is Professor of Movement Sciences and Kinesiology in the Department of Biobehavioral Sciences at Teachers College, Columbia University. She holds joint appointments as a Adjunct Associate Professor in Rehabilitation & Regenerative Medicine at Columbia University Medical Center (Physical Therapy), as well as a Honorary Senior Research Fellow in the Cardiff University Centre for Trials Research in Cardiff, UK. Dr. Quinn’s research has focused on evaluating motor control impairments and developing evidence and clinical guidelines for physical activity and exercise in neurodegenerative diseases, in particular for people with Huntington's disease (HD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). This includes use of wearable devices for digital-based measurement and interventions. Dr. Quinn is also the co-author of the physical therapy textbook Documentation for Rehabilitation: A guide to clinical decision making in physical therapy, currently preparing for its 4th edition.
Neurorehabilitation Projects
Measuring Digital ENDpoints in Huntington’s disease (MEND-HD)
We are collaborating on a study evaluating digital measures in Huntington’s disease with colleagues from the University of Rochester, Tel Aviv University, and the University of Massachusetts. In the Fall of 2024, this project received a $2.2 million grant from the FDA. The MEND-HD study is a direct extension of the iWEAR project, validating wearable measures of gait and chorea, and physical activity measures, like heart rate variability and sleep, in people with Huntington’s disease.
The project will also be headed by a patient advisory board, allowing for community collaboration and development of meaningful outcomes that will impact people with HD, using symptom mapping and perceived relevance. The ultimate goal of this study will be to validate these measures for use as clinical trial endpoints.