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Ongoing Studies

Translational and Clinical Neuroscience Laboratory

While numerous rehabilitative techniques are used to treat serious and potentially chronic cognitive and physical deficits, there remains a lack of available tools for effectively characterizing the temporal dynamics and individual variability of the brain’s response to therapeutic intervention. One area of focus in our research department is to identify useful biomarkers (molecular, imaging, and physiological) for recovery and treatment efficacy. In additional we want to begin to elucidate the mechanisms of activity, pathogenesis, and recovery for a stroke, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury. Below is a list of current research studies in this area.

Active Projects

  • Analysis of brain dynamics during BI rehab
  • TBI biomarker study: neuroendocrine dysfunction and inflammatory / neural markers
  • Cognitive Neural prosthetics for SCI
  • Role of Genetic factors in Hemorrhagic Stroke
  • Presence of Micro-bleeds in neurological injury

Completed Projects

  • Longitudinal analysis of neural and inflammatory markers in individuals with TBI
  • Women with the Alzheimer’s risk marker ApoE4 lose Abeta specific CD4+ T cells 10-20 years before men
  • Hypothalamic Pituitary Dysfunction Following Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction following traumatic brain injury affects functional improvement during acute impatient rehabilitation.
  • The potential use of Hormone-based therapeutics for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease
  • The effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on functional impairments caused by ischemic stroke

Clinical Informatics Laboratory

The majority of our research studies at Casa Colina are aimed to evaluate the efficacy of both current and novel treatments and programs at Casa Colina. We focus on the major diagnoses at Casa Colina to investigate new interventions, support evidence-based clinical practices, and develop predictive /assessment tools for the treatment of disabilities caused by a stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and other neurologic conditions and movement disorders. Below is a list of current research studies in this area.

Active Projects

  • High Risk Navigation
  • Cognitive decline post joint replacement surgery
  • Predicting Rehabilitation and Discharge Success machine learning
  • A new scale to assess receptive language: validation in patients with aphasia
  • Fall risk assessment
  • Rehab outcomes and prediction analysis
  • Textured thin liquids on improved swallow outcomes
  • PD Deep Brain Stimulation rehab study
  • Predicting driving readiness
  • Estim for Dysphagia
  • Nerve and Tendon transfer for SCI patients

Completed Projects

  • Swim safety and social interaction for children with Autism
  • Patient Navigation for Spinal Cord Injury
  • Patient Navigation for Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Senior Evaluation Program outcomes
  • Effects of aquatic therapy on functional mobility and strength, Fall Risk and Self-reported disability in individuals with low back pain
  • The Effect of Amplification on Speech and Language Abilities In Children with Artesia
  • Predicting discharge destination with admission outcome scores in stroke patients
  • Pinch Strength and its Relationship to Penmanship and ADLs
  • Use of an Algorithm for Assessment and treatment of upper extremity post stroke
  • Predicting and Assessing Fall Risk in an Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility
  • Multidimensional health risk appraisal among adults aging with acquired disabilities
  • Comparison of Fallers and Non-fallers at an Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility
  • The “Village”: A Seven-year Case study on Sustaining Healthy Choices Among Adults with Intellectual Disabilities
  • Dalcroze Eurhythmics in Transitional Care Brain Injury Patients
  • The Effect of Liquid Modifications on Dehydration and Quality of Life
  • Validation of the Casa Colina Falls Assessment Scale in predicting falls in Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities

Technology Laboratory

Through collaborations with academic institutions and companies, we have recently embarked on a new area of research focused on physiological monitoring and technology. These studies investigate novel therapeutic interventions and the use of technology for monitoring patients and augment clinical care. Below is a list of current research studies in this area.

Active Projects

  • Home monitoring of gait in PD
  • Visual scene app for aphasia
  • Development of clinical tracking app
  • Completed Projects
  • Evaluation of Wearable “Smart Socks” Gait Monitoring System for Improving Rehabilitation through Remote Gait Monitoring
  • LEGO interventions for Social and Language Development
  • Sound and Visual cues to improve gait in individuals with PD
  • Effects of aquatic therapy on functional mobility and strength, Fall Risk and Self-reported disability in individuals with low back pain

For more information on current health outcomes research at Casa Colina, please contact:
Emily R. Rosario, Ph.D.
Director of Casa Colina Research Institute
909/596-7733, ext.3036
erosario@casacolina.org

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