Research

A close-up shot of a person using assistive technology: a breath-controlled device with a mouthpiece attached to a stand, connected to a mobile phone. A person wearing glasses is positioned to use the device, and a gloved hand adjusts the setup.

Advancing treatments and outcomes in neurorehabilitation

We are at the forefront of neurological and neuromuscular research, recognized globally for our commitment to improving patient care and rehabilitation outcomes. Our collaborative studies unite top experts from prestigious hospitals, research centers, medical schools, and universities worldwide, driving innovation and excellence in neurorehabilitation.

Our focus areas include spinal cord injury, brain injury, multiple sclerosis, and neurological disorders. Through rigorous research, we are dedicated to developing, refining, and evaluating cutting-edge treatments, drugs, surgical techniques, diagnostic tools, and therapeutic interventions that significantly enhance patient outcomes.

More about our research

We are not only passionate about advancing clinical practices but also about enhancing the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of our services. Our research aims to document the long-term benefits of rehabilitation, ensuring that every patient receives the highest standard of care while maximizing their recovery potential.

  • A man is walking across a gym floor with the aid of a walking cane, while a physical therapist closely supports him from behind. The gym has a blue railing on the upper level and various equipment visible in the background.

    Research Areas

    Our research covers diverse areas, deepening our understanding of the most complex conditions.
  • Smiling adolescent boy in a wheelchair and neck brace wearing Microsoft headphones and using the Xbox Adaptive Controller to play video games with a friend.

    Accessibility User Research Collective

    Insight into product accessibility, usability, and customer experience across various industries.
  • A research participant with a magnetic sensor attached to their tongue is testing tongue-controlled technology. In front of them, a laptop screen displays charts and a diagram of a mouth. A red prompt on the screen reads: Freeze your tongue! You have 5 seconds left.

    Clinical Trials

    FDA-regulated trials, testing new drugs and devices to advance patient care.
  • A young woman with a bright, joyful expression is assisted by two therapists as she participates in a physical therapy session. The woman is holding onto a white resistance band, and one therapist is supporting her back while the other is in front of her.

    System of Care

    We are an elite model system-designated hospital, advancing care for spinal cord and brain injuries.
  • A woman with shoulder-length hair stands in a library, smiling. She is wearing a white cardigan over a dark top and holds a book. Shelves filled with books are visible in the background.

    Shepherd Library

    Medical research support, providing access to vital information and resources.
  • A large group of people posing on the steps of a building with columns, some sitting and others standing. Most are wearing business-casual attire, and many are smiling at the camera. The building has a covered entrance made of brick and white columns.

    Training in Grantsmanship

    Mentorship program to help researchers secure NIH funding and succeed in rehabilitation research.

Inside our cutting-edge rehabilitation and research

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Experience the transformative journeys of our patients and the groundbreaking work taking place at Shepherd Center. From innovative treatments to real-life success stories, learn how we’re advancing care neurological injuries and conditions.

Active research projects

A randomized trial to compare effectiveness of two interventions for caregivers of patients with acquired brain injury

  • Principal investigator: Michael Jones
  • Sponsor: National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR)

Altered central multisensory processing in post-concussion vestibular dysfunction

  • Principal investigator: Russell Gore
  • Sponsor: National Institutes of Health (NIH)

BCVI screening practices of acute care hospitals in Shepherd Center’s catchment area

  • Principal investigator: Yevgeniya Sergeyenko
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

Characterization of post-concussive vestibular impairment brain structural and functional connectivity dysfunction and the impact of vestibular rehabilitation

  • Principal investigator: Russell Gore
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

Documenting the general effectiveness of recreational therapy services for individuals with acquired brain injury

  • Principal investigator: Brick Johnstone
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

Drive safe: Driving safety in adolescents and young adults after concussion

  • Principal investigator: Russell Gore
  • Sponsor: Andee’s Army Foundation

Evaluating the effectiveness of a least restrictive restraint training program for individuals with ABI

  • Principal investigator: Brick Johnstone
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

Evaluation of SHARE Military Initiative program outcomes: Understanding the relationship between patient characteristics and effectiveness of clinical care

  • Principal investigator: Tracey Wallace
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

Evaluation of vitamin D goal level achievement in brain injury patients at an inpatient rehabilitation center

  • Principal investigator: Elisabeth Webb
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

GAMBIS site-specific study: Improving employment outcomes of persons with moderate/severe TBI

  • Principal investigator: Brick Johnstone
  • Sponsor: National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR)

GAMBIS: A longitudinal study of individuals with moderate/severe TBI

  • Principal investigator: Brick Johnstone
  • Sponsor: National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR)

Improving access to comprehensive TBI treatment for military veterans and service members with co-occurring substance use

  • Principal investigator: Russell Gore
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy applications in disorders of consciousness (MRS for DoC)

  • Principal investigator: Candace Fleischer
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

Rehabilitation pathways after concussion: A retrospective chart review of referral for cognitive-communication services

  • Principal investigator: Tracey Wallace
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

Rehabilitation pathways after concussion: Understanding management of cognitive communication complaints

  • Principal investigator: Tracey Wallace
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

Shepherd Center – Foundation to advance brain rehabilitation post-acute rehabilitation outcome study

  • Principal investigator: Brick Johnstone
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

SUCCESS: Success in college after concussion with effective student supports

  • Principal investigator: Tracey Wallace
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

The application of BCVI screening criteria to post-acute patients with traumatic brain injury

  • Principal investigator: Yevgeniya Sergeyenko
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

Transcranial direct current stimulation paired with exercise and attention training compared with exercise alone with attention training for mild traumatic brain injury

  • Principal investigator: April Hodge
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

Veteran goal directed comprehensive care outcomes in chronic mild traumatic brain injury

  • Principal investigator: Tracey Wallace
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

Autocoach evaluation

  • Principal investigator: Emma Harrington
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

Disability and rehabilitation research project (DRRP): App factory

  • Principal investigator: Mike Jones
  • Sponsor: National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR)

Internal consistency of the functional impact tool for mobility devices

  • Principal investigator: Mandy McDonald
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

LiveWell RERC: Tech factory

  • Principal investigator: John Morris
  • Sponsor: National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR)

Pilot study to validate assessment of fatigue using wearable inertial measurement unit sensors

  • Principal investigator: Brad Willingham
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

RERC on mobile rehabilitation: Clinician perceptions on use of information and communication technologies to support home-based therapy and exercise

  • Principal investigator: John Morris
  • Sponsor: National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR)

Usability lab: Technology access feedback for Intel

  • Principal investigator: John Morris
  • Sponsor: Intel

User testing of MagTrack motion tracking inertial measurement electronics controller

  • Principal investigator: John Morris
  • Sponsor: Georgia Research Alliance

UXLab- McDonalds-206-kiosk reach mode

  • Principal investigator: John Morris
  • Sponsor: McDonalds

UXLab-Microsoft-9025-flash feedback PWD

  • Principal investigator: John Morris
  • Sponsor: Microsoft

Green spaces and park survey

  • Principal investigator: Raeda Anderson
  • Sponsor: Accessibility User Research Collective (AURC)

A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial of the efficacy and safety of nabiximols oromucosal spray as add-on therapy in patients with spasticity due to multiple sclerosis

  • Principal investigator: Ben Thrower
  • Sponsor: GW Pharmaceuticals

A phase 1, dose-escalating, open-label study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and exploratory efficacy of single dose of IV IMS001 in subjects with multiple sclerosis and treatment failure to prior disease modifying treatments (DMTs)

  • Principal investigator: Ben Thrower
  • Sponsor: ImStem Biotechnology

A therapeutic experience program (TEP) study assessing adherence to on-label PoNS® therapy for improvement of gait in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) in a real-world clinical setting

  • Principal investigator: Deborah Backus
  • Sponsor: Helius Medical Technologies

AGNOS: An 18-month, open-label, multi-center phase IV study to assess the effect of ofatumumab 20mg SC monthly in treatment naïve, very early relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis patients benchmarked against healthy controls on select outcomes

  • Principal investigator: Jacqueline Rosenthal
  • Sponsor: Novartis

An observational study of ocrelizumab treated patients with multiple sclerosis to determine the incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer and all malignancies

  • Principal investigator: Ben Thrower
  • Sponsor: ROCHE

An open-label, multicenter study to assess disease activity and biomarkers of neuronal damage in minority patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis receiving treatment with ocrelizumab

  • Principal investigator: Ben Thrower
  • Sponsor: Genentech, Inc

An open-label, single-arm study to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ocrelizumab in patients with early stage relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (protocol # MA30143)

  • Principal investigator: Ben Thrower
  • Sponsor: F. Hoffman-La Roche LTD

Comparative effectiveness of an exercise intervention delivered via telerehabilitation and conventional mode of delivery

  • Principal investigator: Deborah Backus
  • Sponsor: PCORI

CorEvitas SPHERES (synergy of prospective health & experimental research for emerging solutions) registry for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD)

  • Principal investigator: Jacqueline Rosenthal
  • Sponsor: CorEvitas

Developing an integrated remote monitoring system to inform the calibration of rehabilitation and exercise interventions for people with multiple sclerosis

  • Principal investigator: Brad Willingham
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

Exploring barriers to multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis and treatment for Black or African Americans with MS compared to white Americans with MS

  • Principal investigator: Louise Palmer
  • Sponsor: Consortium of MS Centers

Multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate efficacy, safety, and tolerability of IMU-838 in patients with progressive multiple sclerosis- CALLIPER study

  • Principal investigator: Jacqueline Rosenthal
  • Sponsor: Immunic AG

Pilot study evaluating functional and wellness outcomes of the Shepherd Can Do MS program

  • Principal investigator: Deborah Backus
  • Sponsor: Genzyme Corporation

Pilot study to validate assessment of fatigue using wearable inertial measurement unit sensors

  • Principal investigator: Brad Willingham
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

Qualitative evaluation of the STEP for MS trial

  • Principal investigator: Deborah Backus
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

Safety, feasibility, and usability of tele-exercise with BurnAlong in persons with multiple sclerosis; a pilot study

  • Principal investigator: Deborah Backus
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

Shepherd Center MS outcomes data registry

  • Principal investigator: Deborah Backus
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

A longitudinal fMRI study of theistic relational processing in individuals with neurologic dysfunction

  • Principal investigator: Brick Johnstone
  • Sponsor: Shirley Ryan Ability Lab (through the John Templeton Foundation)

Documenting relationships between satisfaction with telehealth services and rural/urban status for individuals with chronic disabilities

  • Principal investigator: Brick Johnstone
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

Evaluating the effectiveness of brain health training for individuals with SCI/TBI and their family members

  • Principal investigator: Brick Johnstone
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

Evaluation of oscillation and lung expansion (OLE) using the Volara® system for treatment of respiratory complications in patients with neuromuscular disease in the home setting

  • Principal investigator: Philip Wexler
  • Sponsor: Hill-Rom (Science 37)

Experience and perceptions of the talent development environment questionnaire for athletes with physical disabilities

  • Principal investigator: Andrew Corbett
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

Scale up trial of Project WOWii to increase exercise among people with spinal cord injury (SCI)

  • Principal investigator: Michael Jones
  • Sponsor: National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR)

Sociocultural determinants of recovery, health, and community participation in Asian Americans with disabilities

  • Principal investigator: Jessica Conklin
  • Sponsor: National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) Switzer Fellowship Program (pending)

Validation of a neuropsychological model of disorders of the self

  • Principal investigator: Brick Johnstone
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

Shepherd Center neuropsychology data registry research protocol

  • Principal investigator: Kristian Nitsch
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

Pain outcomes in patients with chronic pain after the implantation of the Nalu™ peripheral nerve stimulator Erik Shaw, DO – Derick Carmicheal Davis, M.D.

  • Principal investigator: Erik Shaw
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

Patient retrospective outcomes (PRO) clinical investigation plan

  • Principal investigator: Erik Shaw
  • Sponsor: Boston Scientific

Radiofrequency (RF) ablation prospective outcomes study (RAPID)

  • Principal investigator: Erik Shaw
  • Sponsor: Boston Scientific

Days of intravenous vancomycin therapy in patients with pneumonia after negative MRSA nasal screens

  • Principal investigator: Lauren Wilcox
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

A long-term follow-up study of subjects with cervical spinal cord injuries who received AST-OPC1 in protocol AST-OPC1-01 Asterias AST-OPC1-02

  • Principal investigator: Donald Peck Leslie
  • Sponsor: Lineage Cell Therapeutics

A phase 2a, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to assess the efficacy and safety of MT-3921 in subjects with acute traumatic cervical spinal cord injury protocol number: MT-3921-A01

  • Principal investigator: Donald Peck Leslie
  • Sponsor: Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Development America Inc.

A prospective multicenter, longitudinal, cohort study to assess the measurement properties of clinical outcomes assessments in patients with traumatic low cervical spinal cord injury / protocol MT-3921-A-00

  • Principal investigator: Casey Kandilakis
  • Sponsor: Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Development America Inc. (MTDA)

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled proof of concept study to assess the safety and efficacy of elezanumab in acute traumatic cervical spinal cord injury

  • Principal investigator: Michael Yochelson
  • Sponsor: Abbvie

Antecedents, consequences, and interventions for travel participation after SCI

  • Principal investigator: Edelle Field-Fote
  • Sponsor: University of Indiana (Craig H Neilsen Foundation)

Comparing bihemispheric excitatory non-invasive brain stimulation modalities for improvement of bimanual function in persons with tetraplegia

  • Principal investigator: Jennifer Iddings
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

Discovery of biomarker signatures prognostic for neuropathic pain after acute spinal cord injury (BSCIP). Protocol number: HSC-MS-19-0258 Principal investigators: UT: Georgene W. Hergenroeder, PhD Grady/Emory: Faiz Ahmad, M.D.

  • Principal investigator: Faiz Ahmad (Yochelson)
  • Sponsor: University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston; NINDS

Evaluating technologies for monitoring skin changes across skin tones

  • Principal investigator: Sharon E. Sonenblum
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

Improving quality of personal care assistance services for people with SCI through online education

  • Principal investigator: John Morris
  • Sponsor: National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR)

Neuromodulation of spinal circuits: Effects on spasticity, nociception, and motor activation

  • Principal investigator: Edelle Field-Fote
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

Protocols # CP35A007 and CP35A008 protocols # CP35A007 a phase 1 safety study of GRNOPC1 in patients with neurologically complete, subacute spinal cord injury protocol #CP35A008 long term follow up of subjects who received GRNOPC1

  • Principal investigator: Wesley Chay
  • Sponsor: Lineage Cell Therapeutics (formerly Asterias and Geron) # CP35A007 & #CP35A008

SCI model systems of care data collection and transmission

  • Principal investigator: Edelle Field-Fote
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

SCIMS site specific project: Activating spinal circuits to improve walking, balance, strength, and reduce spasticity

  • Principal investigator: Edelle Field-Fote
  • Sponsor: National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR)

Single-group pretest-postest study of Shepherd’s Get Your Verve Back virtual wellness and leisure program

  • Principal investigator: Jenny DiLaura
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

Systemic hypothermia in acute cervical spinal cord injury a prospective, multi-center case controlled study

  • Principal investigator: David Gimbel (Yochelson)
  • Sponsor: DOD – Shepherd not funded

Unintentional injuries

  • Principal investigator: James Krause
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

Spinal cord neuromodulator by SpineX and SCONE to treat Neurogenic bladder (SCONE “CONTINENCE” clinical study)

  • Principal investigator: Rita Jen
  • Sponsor: SpineX

Documenting the general effectiveness of chaplaincy services for individuals with chronic disabilities

  • Principal investigator: Brick Johnstone
  • Sponsor: Unfunded

Financial conflicts of interest

Understanding financial conflicts of interest in research is essential for transparency and trust. Learn about how we manage these conflicts at Shepherd Center and request information if needed.