Leveraging Technology to Activate Movement

Evaluating Wearable Robotics to Help Kids with Cerebral Palsy

Researchers like Karen Nolan, PhD, and Ghaith J. Androwis, PhD, are assessing the safety and effectiveness of the Bambini robotic exoskeleton as a walking training tool for children with cerebral palsy.

 

Engineering Innovative, Adaptable Solutions with VR

Senior research scientist Kiran Karunakaran, PhD, is testing a virtual reality-based treadmill called the C-Mill, which simulates conditions encountered in daily life. The team also incorporates other mobile technologies to study brain signals that control movement and develop treatments to improve balance and gait after neurological injury.

Driving Rehabilitation Forward

Our scientists have pioneered the use of robotic exoskeletons to restore mobility in individuals affected by spinal cord injury, stroke, traumatic brain injury, and multiple sclerosis. Through clinical trials and advanced technologies like motion capture, neuromodulation, and virtual reality, researchers study how these wearable devices improve gait, upper-limb function, balance, and independence.

Your Support Drives Change

By supporting Kessler Foundation, you enhance quality of life for people facing mobility challenges.

Peter Hersh speaking in front of a group at the Reynolds Center grand opening

Peter Hersh: Life With SCI, Made Easier

Dr. Peter Hersh, who lives with a spinal cord injury, was among the first to experience transcutaneous spinal stimulation...

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Individual seated at a table pouring water from a plastic bottle into a paper cup during a rehabilitation or therapy activity, wearing a light gray shirt with wires attached for monitoring.

Small Movements. Big Wins.

After sustaining a spinal cord injury in 2004, Jimmy approaches his post-injury rehabilitation with the same athletic drive he put into baseball...

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A woman stands assisted during a rehab setting

Alexa Is Making Moves After SCI

At age 21, Alexa Alvarez was diagnosed with acute transverse myelitis, a rare nontraumatic cause of spinal cord injury...

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Bill Pastras and his wife sitting on the edge of an inground pool with their feet in the water

Bill Pastras, Why Research Matters to Me After My Stroke and TBI

In 2017, my life changed in an instant. While driving on the New Jersey Turnpike, I suddenly felt weak and lost control of my car...

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Suzanne cliff (first row, right) with her "chosen" family, Dr. Karen J. Nolan (back row, center) and the robotic exoskeleton research team.

Suzanne Cliff's Journey After Stroke

Suzanne had always been a take-charge kind of person. That all changed after her stroke...

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Man using a wheelchair sits in a long hallway

Rafael Torres, Finding Hope After SCI

Almost 20 years ago, Rafael's life changed in an instant. He woke up in the hospital and learned he was paralyzed from the waist down.

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Pastora Goldner holding a baby in front of a christmas tree

Pastora Goldner, A Mother’s Day Reflection

Over thirty years ago, Pastora was involved in a devastating car accident in the middle of the desert. She has lived with a spinal cord injury ever since.

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A wheelchair user sits on grass near a lake, posing beside upright  outdoor gear, with calm water, boats, and a green shoreline in the background.

Victor Pena Keeps Life Sporty After SCI

“I’m passionate about sports,” says Victor Pena, who lives with SCI. “Staying active improves my physical and mental health.”

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Our Specialized Centers Studying Mobility Research
Karen Nolan, PhD walking with a participant using robotics to aid him in walking
Center for Mobility and Rehabilitation Engineering Research

Using state-of-the-art technology and equipment, scientists in our Center for Mobility and Rehabilitation Engineering Research strive to enhance mobility, motor function, and overall quality of life for individuals affected by spinal cord injury, stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, and cerebral palsy.

male participant with electrodes on his back
Tim and Caroline Reynolds Center for Spinal Stimulation

The Tim and Caroline Reynolds Center for Spinal Stimulation is a pioneering research hub dedicated to restoring function and improving quality of life for individuals with spinal cord injury. The Center focuses on neuromodulation therapies to help individuals with paralysis regain motor and autonomic functions.

Thumbnail Nathan Hogaboom
Derfner-Lieberman Laboratory for Regenerative Rehabilitation Research

The Derfner-Lieberman Laboratory for Regenerative Rehabilitation Research aims to revolutionize care and recovery by integrating regenerative medicine into the rehabilitation process. Scientists are investigating therapies that enhance tissue repair and offer alternatives to surgery, aiming to restore function and alleviate pain.

Our Mobility Scientists in Action

Bambini Robotic Exoskeleton
Bambini Robotic Exoskeleton
Kessler Foundation Advances Patient Care Through Mobility and Engineering Innovation
Kessler Foundation Advances Patient Care Through Mobility and Engineering Innovation
 Robotics for Stroke Rehabilitation | Karen J. Nolan | TEDxHerndon
Robotics for Stroke Rehabilitation | Karen J. Nolan | TEDxHerndon