Directory Entry For: Andrea Behrman

Biography

Andrea L. Behrman is Professor at the University of Louisville, Department of Neurological Surgery, Kosair for Kids Endowed Chair in Pediatric Neurorecovery and faculty in the Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, Louisville, KY. She is Director of the Kosair for Kids Center for Pediatric NeuroRecovery providing activity-based therapies to promote recovery from SCI in children (Frazier Rehab Institute) and conducting research to inform clinical practice (University of Louisville). She served as Co-Director of Reeve Foundation NeuroRecovery Network providing standardized activity-based therapies for individuals with SCI at six adult and two pediatric sites. Her research focuses on developing therapeutic interventions, measurement tools, and the next generation of equipment promoting neuromuscular and physiological functions recovery after SCI in children and adolescents using principles of activity-dependent plasticity and knowledge of the neurobiology of motor control and walking. Her work has been funded by NIH; Craig H. Neilsen Foundation; Department of Defense; National Center for Neuromodulation for Rehabilitation; the Kentucky Network for Innovation and Commercialization; Coulter Translational Award; Expediting Commercialization, Innovation, Translation & Entrepreneurship; Helmsley Foundation; the Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Board; the Todd Crawford Foundation to Cure Paralysis; and Kosair for Kids. Behrman is a graduate of Furman University (BS Biology), Duke University MS (Physical Therapy), and University of Florida (PhD Exercise Science/Motor Control).

Research Interests

Dr. Behrman's research interests include a predominant focus on advancing the health, recovery, quality of life, and participation of children and adolescents with spinal cord injuries both upper and lower motor neuron injuries, etiologies including traumatic and non-traumatic, and children with perinatal spinal cord injuries. Family and caregiver needs are also of research interest.  To accomplish these research objectives her work spans several areas including: 

• activity-dependent plasticity
• activity-based therapies
• human motor development and control
• neurobiology of motor control
• neuromuscular function: Trunk control, standing/walking, arm/hand function
• use of non-inasive spinal stimulation as an adjuvant to physical therapies/interventions
• locomotor training

Degrees and Certifications

Publications

All Scholarly and Creative Works