{"684036":{"#nid":"684036","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech, Shepherd Center Award Inaugural Seed Grants","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech and Shepherd Center recently awarded four seed grants totaling nearly $200,000 to researchers focusing on projects that will advance discoveries in neurorehabilitation, including acquired brain injury, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, and other neurological conditions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Tech-Shepherd Center Seed Grant Program is part of an ongoing partnership between the two institutions that \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.shepherd.org\/georgia-tech-partners-with-shepherd-center-to-advance-rehabilitative-patient-care-and-research\/\u0022\u003Estarted in 2023\u003C\/a\u003E with the goal of advancing rehabilitative patient care and research.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe seed grant program is intended to stimulate new interdisciplinary research collaborations by providing seed funding to obtain preliminary data or prototypes necessary for the submission of an external grant or industry opportunities,\u201d says \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/shepherd.org\/staff-directory\/deborah-backus\/\u0022\u003EDeborah Backus\u003C\/a\u003E, vice president of Research and Innovation\u0026nbsp;at Shepherd Center. \u201cAs two leading research institutions, we know the potential for advancing rehabilitation therapies is even greater when we work together. We look forward to the solutions, treatments, and therapies that emerge from these initial seed grants.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EExperts from both institutions evaluated and scored seed grant applications based on the research\u2019s innovation, approach, and potential for training opportunities, as well as its anticipated impact, prospects for commercial translation, and strategy for securing continued funding.\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003EThis year, each awardee team received close to $50,000.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe are very excited to launch this new seed grant program, which will spur ideas and propel research forward,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/michelle-laplaca\u0022\u003EMichelle LaPlaca\u003C\/a\u003E, professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/\u0022\u003ECoulter Department of Biomedical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E and the Georgia Tech lead of the Collaborative. \u201cThe complementary expertise of Georgia Tech and Shepherd Center researchers, combined with the motivation to find solutions for individuals with neurological injury and disability, is a winning formula for innovation.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Offering new hope for neurorehabilitation patients requires bringing together interdisciplinary researchers to explore new and creative ideas,\u201d adds \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/3728\u0022\u003EChris Rozell\u003C\/a\u003E, Julian T. Hightower Chaired professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ece.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Electrical and Computer Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E and the inaugural executive director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/neuro.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EInstitute of Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and Society\u003C\/a\u003E (INNS) at Georgia Tech. \u201cI\u0027m excited to see the talent at these world class institutions coming together to develop new solutions for these complex problems.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis year\u2019s seed grants were awarded to the following projects:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EProof of Concept Development of the Recovery Cushion\u003C\/strong\u003E \u2013 Stephen Sprigle,\u0026nbsp;professor, School of Industrial Design and School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Tech; Jennifer Cowhig, research physical therapist, Shepherd Center.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPaving a Smooth Path from Hospital to Home: A Feasibility Study of an Integrated Smart Transitional Home Lab to Support Stroke Rehabilitation Patients\u2019 Transition to Home\u003C\/strong\u003E \u2013 John Morris, senior clinical research scientist, Shepherd Center; Hui Cai, professor in the School of Architecture, executive director of the SimTigrate Design Center, Georgia Tech.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Comparative Analysis of Lower-Limb Exoskeleton Technology for Non-Ambulatory Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury \u003C\/strong\u003E\u2013\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003EMaegan Tucker, assistant professor, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering and School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Tech; Nicholas Evans (AP 2023), clinical research scientist, Shepherd Center.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EImproving Accessibility and Precision in Neurorehabilitation at the Point of Care with AI-Driven Remote Therapeutic Monitoring Solutions \u003C\/strong\u003E\u2013\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003EBrad Willingham, clinical research scientist, director of Multiple Sclerosis Research, Shepherd Center; May Dongmei Wang, professor,\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003EWallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGrants include projects on improving seating surfaces for wheelchair users, easing the transition home after stroke rehabilitation, evaluating lower limb exoskeletons, and using AI in remote rehabilitation.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Grants include projects on improving seating surfaces for wheelchair users, easing the transition home after stroke rehabilitation, evaluating lower limb exoskeletons, and using AI in remote rehabilitation."}],"uid":"35575","created_gmt":"2025-08-21 13:14:54","changed_gmt":"2025-08-26 20:14:39","author":"adavidson38","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-08-21T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-08-21T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677761":{"id":"677761","type":"image","title":"Shepherd-Center-Beyond-Therapy-Main-Image-jpg.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe seed grants will fund projects focused on enhancing wheelchair seating surfaces, supporting stroke patients as they transition home from rehabilitation, assessing lower limb exoskeleton technologies, and exploring the use of AI in remote rehab settings. \u003Cem\u003EPhoto: Shepherd Center.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1755784271","gmt_created":"2025-08-21 13:51:11","changed":"1755784271","gmt_changed":"2025-08-21 13:51:11","alt":"The seed grants will fund projects focused on enhancing wheelchair seating surfaces, supporting stroke patients as they transition home from rehabilitation, assessing lower limb exoskeleton technologies, and exploring the use of AI in remote rehab settings. Photo: Shepherd Center.","file":{"fid":"261696","name":"Shepherd-Center-Beyond-Therapy-Main-Image-jpg.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/21\/Shepherd-Center-Beyond-Therapy-Main-Image-jpg.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/21\/Shepherd-Center-Beyond-Therapy-Main-Image-jpg.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":378411,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/08\/21\/Shepherd-Center-Beyond-Therapy-Main-Image-jpg.jpeg?itok=NxoGoFal"}}},"media_ids":["677761"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/news.shepherd.org\/georgia-tech-partners-with-shepherd-center-to-advance-rehabilitative-patient-care-and-research\/","title":"Georgia Tech Partners with Shepherd Center to Advance Rehabilitative Patient Care and Research"}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"66220","name":"Neuro"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"1275","name":"School of Biological Sciences"}],"categories":[{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"},{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"145","name":"Engineering"},{"id":"179356","name":"Industrial Design"},{"id":"146","name":"Life Sciences and Biology"},{"id":"150","name":"Physics and Physical Sciences"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"172970","name":"go-neuro"},{"id":"188084","name":"go-ipat"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"193656","name":"Neuro Next Initiative"},{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:kerry.ludlam@shepherd.org\u0022\u003EKerry Ludlam\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EDirector of Communications\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EShepherd Center\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:audra.davidson@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EAudra Davidson\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EResearch Communications Program Manager\u003Cbr\u003EInstitute for Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and Society\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["kerry.ludlam@shepherd.org"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}