Advanced Platform Technology Center
Kristen Gelenitis, PhD
Research Interests
Neuroprostheses, Assistive Technology, Exercise Physiology, Virtual Reality for Health and Rehabilitation
Dr. Kristen Gelenitis is an Investigator with the Advanced Platform Technology (APT) Center at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center. She received her B.S. at Bucknell University and her Ph.D. at Case Western Reserve University, both in Biomedical Engineering. Her research focuses on enhancing exercise performance in people with paralysis using advanced neurotechnology and physiological analyses.
Dr. Gelenitis has investigated novel selective stimulation patterns delivered through implanted multi-contact peripheral
nerve cuff electrodes to delay stimulation-induced muscular fatigue. Her work has enabled neuroprosthesis users to prolong isometric contraction times and sustain greater dynamic cycling intensities.
Most recently, Dr. Gelenitis and her team have been investigating immersive virtual reality in conjunction with neural stimulation during exercise to better engage participants, encourage central drive, and involve volitional effort. The goal is to simultaneously address the physiological and technology-based challenges to exercise after paralysis in order to maximize full-body benefits.
Image Description: Team Cleveland’s 2020 Cybathlon competitor trains for the FES cycling event using a feedback-controlled stimulation pattern developed by Dr. Gelenitis and APT Center researchers.
