2021 Lindenauer Lecture - Sunil Agrawal, PhD
Robotics to Improve Balance, Posture, and Mobility in Children and Adults
Join us on November 1, at 5PM ET for the 2021 Marilyn R. Lindenauer Distinguished Speaker Series. We will virtually host Dr. Sunil Agrawal, a Columbia roboticist and professor who works to help improve the lives of our patients as well as many other children and adults.
Dr. Agrawal is also the Director of Robotics and Rehabilitation (ROAR) Laboratory at Columbia University. Neural and orthopedic disorders limit the ability of children and adults to perform activities of daily living. Columbia University Robotics and Rehabilitation (ROAR) Laboratory works on design of innovative robots and their clinical studies, targeted at improving everyday human functions such as sitting, head-turning, standing, walking, stair-climbing, reaching, and others. This talk will provide a perspective of how robotics can be integrated into clinical care. These robotic technologies are targeted for children with cerebral palsy and adults with spinal cord injury, stroke, ALS, and others. Relevant pilot studies will be presented during the talk; Robotics to Improve Balance, Posture, and Mobility in Children and Adults.
Meet the 2021 Lindenauer Lecture Speaker
Sunil K. Agrawal, PhD
Sunil K. Agrawal received a Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University. He is currently a Professor and Director of Robotics and Rehabilitation (ROAR) Laboratory at Columbia University, located both in engineering and medical campuses of Columbia University. Dr. Agrawal has published more than 500 journal and conference papers, three books, and 17 U.S. patents. He is a Fellow of the ASME and AIMBE. His honors include a NSF Presidential Faculty Fellowship from the White House in 1994, a Bessel Prize from Germany in 2003, and a Humboldt US Senior Scientist Award in 2007. He is a recipient of 2016 Machine Design Award from ASME for “seminal contributions to design of robotic exoskeletons for gait training of stroke patients” and 2016 Mechanisms and Robotics Award from the ASME for “cumulative contributions and being an international leading figure in mechanical design and robotics”. He has successfully directed 33 PhD student theses and currently supervises the research of 6 PhD students at ROAR laboratory. He is the founding Editor-in-Chief of the journal “Wearable Technologies” from Cambridge University Press. He was also the Conference Chair for IEEE BioRob2020 held in New York City in 2020.
Honors and Awards:
- Machine Design Award, ASME, 2016
- Robotics and Mechanisms Award, ASME, 2016
- Fellow of AIMBE, 2016
- Alexander von Humboldt Foundation U.S. Senior Scientist Award, Germany, 2007
- Fellow of ASME, 2004
- Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany, 2002
- The Presidential Faculty Fellow Award, The White House, 1994
- Fritz and Dolores Russ Research Award, Ohio University, 1994
- Best All Rounder Student Gold Medal, IIT, Kanpur, 1984
Talk Objective
Neural and orthopedic disorders limit the ability of children and adults to perform activities of daily living. Columbia University Robotics and Rehabilitation (ROAR) Laboratory works on design of innovative robots and their clinical studies, targeted at improving everyday human functions such as sitting, head-turning, standing, walking, stair-climbing, reaching, and others. This talk will provide a perspective of how robotics can be integrated into clinical care to (i) improve trunk control in children using a Trunk Support Trainer (TruST), (ii) facilitate head-neck movement using novel robotic neck braces, (iii) retrain walking and balance using a Tethered Pelvic Assist Device (TPAD), (iv) characterize biomechanics of upper body using a Robotic Upright Stand Trainer (RobUST), (v) study scoliosis with a Robotic Spine Exoskeleton (ROSE), and (vi) facilitate reaching in individuals on wheelchairs using a Wheelchair Robot for ActivePostural Support (WRAPS). These robotic technologies are targeted for children with cerebral palsy and adults with spinal cord injury, stroke, ALS, and others. Relevant pilot studies will be presented during the talk.