Dr. V. Reggie Edgerton My lab is focused on the spinal control of posture and locomotion and the use-dependent plasticity of this
control. Use-dependent plasticity is being studied as it relates to spinal cord injury and the recovery potential
of spinal networks controlling posture and locomotion. These problems are being addressed at the in vivo level
using mice, rats, nonhuman primates and in humans. A primary focus is to elucidate the molecular, cellular and
system level mechanisms by which the spinal cord can learn specific motor tasks such as stepping and standing.
A second focus is to define the physiological-biochemical events in motor neurons and muscle fibers,
controlling expression of genes which define muscle fiber phenotypes.
Dr. Niranjala Tillakaratne Practicing a motor task modulates
specific sensorimotor pathways. Little is known, however, about how learning a motor task changes connectivity and efficacy
within specific spinal neuronal circuits or cellular signaling pathways in the neurons themselves. Presently, we are
investigating the use-dependent plasticity of inhibitory (GABAergic) signaling molecules as well as the expression of
immediate early genes associated with spinal neurons caudal to an injury site. Our research group has pioneered the
development and use of a robotic system that is utilized to impose selective, well-controlled, and repetitive motor
training in rats that are spinally transected in the mid-thoracic region at 5 days of age. We are using a combination
of pharmacological, anatomical and biochemical approaches to gain insight into the physiological and molecular mechanisms
of spinal learning.
Dr. John Hodgson General interests of Dr Hodgson are:
the neural control of movement, trophic control of muscle, biomechanics of movement and bioinstrumentation. Currently Dr. Hodgson is working on two
research projects, the first of which, Plasticity and regeneration in the primate spinal cord examines the role of descending pathways in motor
function and the use of nerve growth factors for promoting regeneration across spinal cord lesions. The second project is, In-vivo stress strain
dynamics in human muscle which is an investigation of the dynamics of contracting muscle using MRI
My lab is focused on the spinal control of posture and locomotion and the use-dependent plasticity of this
control. Use-dependent plasticity is being studied as it relates to spinal cord injury and the recovery potential
of spinal networks controlling posture and locomotion. These problems are being addressed at the in vivo level
using mice, rats, nonhuman primates and in humans. A primary focus is to elucidate the molecular, cellular and
system level mechanisms by which the spinal cord can learn specific motor tasks such as stepping and standing.
A second focus is to define the physiological-biochemical events in motor neurons and muscle fibers,
controlling expression of genes which define muscle fiber phenotypes. 
Practicing a motor task modulates
specific sensorimotor pathways. Little is known, however, about how learning a motor task changes connectivity and efficacy
within specific spinal neuronal circuits or cellular signaling pathways in the neurons themselves. Presently, we are
investigating the use-dependent plasticity of inhibitory (GABAergic) signaling molecules as well as the expression of
immediate early genes associated with spinal neurons caudal to an injury site. Our research group has pioneered the
development and use of a robotic system that is utilized to impose selective, well-controlled, and repetitive motor
training in rats that are spinally transected in the mid-thoracic region at 5 days of age. We are using a combination
of pharmacological, anatomical and biochemical approaches to gain insight into the physiological and molecular mechanisms
of spinal learning.
General interests of Dr Hodgson are:
the neural control of movement, trophic control of muscle, biomechanics of movement and bioinstrumentation. Currently Dr. Hodgson is working on two
research projects, the first of which, Plasticity and regeneration in the primate spinal cord examines the role of descending pathways in motor
function and the use of nerve growth factors for promoting regeneration across spinal cord lesions. The second project is, In-vivo stress strain
dynamics in human muscle which is an investigation of the dynamics of contracting muscle using MRI