# Harnessing Movement Variability to Treat and Prevent Motor Related Disorders

> **NIH NIH P20** · UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA OMAHA · 2021 · $2,070,473

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
In COBRE Phase I we established the Center for Research in Human Movement Variability
(MOVCENTR) allowing the development of a strong critical mass of investigators and
tremendous growth in terms of research infrastructure with world class facilities and resources
such as the Biomechanics Research Building with its associated technologies and
methodologies as well as the building’s upcoming expansion. In COBRE Phase II, we build on
these foundational successes to maximize the likelihood of achieving an independent,
sustainable, thematic, interdisciplinary center. We aim to further strengthen the infrastructure
and expertise base to explore the mechanisms of human movement variability in order to treat
and prevent motor related disorders. Therefore, we propose to establish three new research
cores, the Movement Analysis Core, the Nonlinear Analysis Core, and the Machining and
Prototyping Core. We also aim to expand the critical mass of funded investigators supporting
research in human movement variability. As such we propose four research projects that will be
carried out under the Center’s umbrella. The project titles are: (1) The influence of prosthesis
use on cortical activation and movement variability, (2) Longitudinal study of gait variability to
predict falls in Parkinson disease, (3) Exoskeleton optimization for reducing gait variability in
patients with Peripheral Artery Disease, and (4) Variability and specificity in reactive stabilization
movements to diverse slip perturbations. These projects are led by strong junior investigators
paired with senior clinical NIH-funded scientists as scientific advisors. Such a mentoring
relationship is unique and has worked very well in enhancing the efficiency and quality of the
clinical and translational research that is conducted in each research project under our thematic
scientific focus.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10245007
- **Project number:** 5P20GM109090-08
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA OMAHA
- **Principal Investigator:** NIKOLAOS STERGIOU
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $2,070,473
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2014-08-01 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10245007

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10245007, Harnessing Movement Variability to Treat and Prevent Motor Related Disorders (5P20GM109090-08). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10245007. Licensed CC0.

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