Andrea L. Behrman, PhD, PT, FAPTA Research Focus

Research focus

The Pediatric NeuroRecovery lab develops and tests therapeutic interventions promoting neuromuscular recovery to improve outcomes, participation, and quality of life for children and adolescents having spinal cord injuries from traumatic and non-traumatic etiologies. Children 3 –18 years old participate in research studies. We capitalize on knowledge of the neurobiology of motor control and principles of experience-dependent plasticity to advance neuromuscular recovery in children unexpected to recover or improve their physical capacity due to severity of impairments and chronicity of injury. We benefit from basic science discoveries for the role of the spinal cord in motor control and the forward path of research in adults with SCI. With an intimate relationship with the Pediatric Translational NeuroRecovery Clinic housed in Frazier Rehab, we can fast-track scientific findings readily into clinical practice. Children and families come from 33 states and 10 countries to participate in research and/or receive restorative-based therapies in the clinic.  

Key research areas

• Recovery of trunk control, head control; reduce incidence of scoliosis
• Recovery of walking after dis-complete and complete SCI, upper motor neuron
• Recovery of walking after lower motor neuron SCI
• Recovery of upper limb function
• Application of transcutaneous spinal stimulation as an adjunct to activity-based training for walking, trunk, and upper limb motor recovery
• Develop, test, and move to market the next generation of therapeutic devices that synergize with the aim of neuromuscular recovery, support progression, and aid practice in the home and community
• Combinatorial therapies that impact multi-system functions, e.g., sensorimotor system and autonomic system (bowel, bladder, respiratory)
• Understanding the unique impact of perinatal SCI on sensorimotor and physiological functions with focus to improve outcomes through tailored therapeutic interventions, e.g., activity-based therapies, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, transcutaneous spinal stimulation
• Develop and validate outcome measures for recovery of motor capacity
• Assess the impact of children under-going restorative-based therapies and their outcomes on caregivers 

Current projects 

• Non-Invasive spinal stimulation as an adjuvant therapy for trunk control after pediatric SCI
• Optimization of noninvasive spinal stimulation to restore hand function in children with spinal cord injury
• Understanding perinatal spinal cord injury: Comprehensive assessment and personalized neuromodulation for improved whole-body functions
• Novel uses of spinal stimulation to promote walking recovery in 1) ambulatory children with poor, uncoordinated gait pattern and upper motor neuron injuries, 2) non-ambulatory children with lower motor neuron injuries
• Impact of activity-based therapies on motor and functional recovery in children with SCI from acute flaccid paralysis 

Research staff 

• Andrea L. Behrman, PhD, PT, FAPTA - Professor and Director, Kosair for Kids Endowed Chair in Pediatric NeuroRecovery   
• Goutam Singh, PhD - Visiting Assistant Professor UofL; Assistant Professor, DPT Program, Spalding University, Louisville, KY  
• Lisa Clayton - Clinical Research Senior Manager
• Molly King - Clinical Research Program Manager
• Katie Fields - Research Manager
• Anthony Gallahar - Research Manager
• Brittany Logsdon - Research Manager
• Justin Vogt - Research Manager
• Lee-Ann Zeller - Program Manager
• Steve Gruneisen - Statistical Data Analyst
• Parth Parikh – BioMed Research Tech II
• Keyonna McKinsey, PhD - Post-Doctoral Fellow
• Chilota Iloegbunam - Research Assistant  

Clinic Staff - Frazier Rehab - UofL Health 

• Laura Leon Machado, PT, DPT, ATP - Clinic Supervisor  
• Matt Davis, PT, DPT, ATP
• Dakota Walker, PT, DPT
• Kelly Dougherty, PT, DPT
• Bridget Foster, PT, DPT
• Kyndra Adams, OTD, OTR/L
• Taylor DeSpain, OTR/L
• Chloe Benkiser - Research Lead Activity-Based Technician  
• Robert Reyes, BS Clinic - Lead Activity-Based Technician
• Amelia Fougerousse - Activity-Based Technician II
• Isabelle Giovanco - Activity-Based Technician II
• Jaden Whitehead - Activity-Based Technician II  
• Emily Hardin - Activity-Based Technician I
• Grace Hubler - Activity-Based Technician I
• Zachary Ortmann - Activity-Based Technician l 

Recent publications   

• Lucas K, Singh G, Alvarado LR, King M, Stepp N, Parikh P, Ugiliweneza B, Gerasimenko Y, Behrman AL. Non-invasive spinal neuromodulation enables stepping in children with complete spinal cord injury. Brain. 2025 Sep 3;148(9):3290-3299. doi: 10.1093/brain/awaf115. PMID: 40184166.
• Howland DR, Trimble SA, Fox EJ, Tester NJ, Spiess MR, Senesac CR, Kleim JA, Spierre LZ, Rose DK, Johns JS, Ugiliweneza B, Reier PJ, Behrman AL. Recovery of walking in nonambulatory children with chronic spinal cord injuries: Case series. J Neurosci Res. 2023 Jun;101(6):826-842. doi: 10.1002/jnr.25162. Epub 2023 Jan 23. PMID: 36690607.
• Goode-Roberts M, Noonan K, Stout D, Calvery M, Brothers K, Doonan NW, Behrman AL. Case Report: Capitalizing on Development and Activity-Dependent Plasticity, an Interaction with Pediatric-Onset Spinal Cord Injury. Front Pediatr. 2022 Mar 29;10:804622. doi: 10.3389/fped.2022.804622. PMID: 35425730; PMCID: PMC9002091.
• Keller A, Singh G, Sommerfeld JH, King M, Parikh P, Ugiliweneza B, D'Amico J, Gerasimenko Y, Behrman AL. Noninvasive spinal stimulation safely enables upright posture in children with spinal cord injury. Nat Commun. 2021 Oct 6;12(1):5850. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-26026-z. PMID: 34615867; PMCID: PMC8494794. 

  Research supported by: 

• Kosair for Kids
• Craig H. Neilsen Foundation
• Department of Defense
• NIH National Center for Neuromodulation for Rehabilitation
• The Coulter Research Translational Award (Wallace H. Coulter Foundation)
• The Kentucky Network for Innovation and Commercialization (KYNETIC)
• Expediting Commercialization, Innovation, Translation & Entrepreneurship (EXCITE)
• Kentucky Spinal Cord and Head Injury Research Trust Board
• Jewish Hospital
• The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust
• Todd Crawford Foundation for the Cure for Paralysis
• Shelley A. Trimble Fund
• WHAS Crusade for Children 

 Participant family housing and lodging supported by:

• Ronald MacDonald House – Louisville, KY