Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program

Administrative Assistant: Valerie Closson
Phone: 416-480-6100 ext. 67549
Email: vclosson@sri.utoronto.ca

Education:

• B.Sc., 1982, human biology, University of Guelph, Canada
• M.Sc., 1984, neuroscience, University of Guelph, Canada
• PhD, 1991, neuroscience, University of Guelph, Canada

Appointments and Affiliations:

• Senior scientist, Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute
• Associate professor, departments of rehabilitation science and physical therapy, University of Toronto

Research Foci:

• Stroke recovery
• Posture
• Gait
• Sensorimotor control
• Brain imaging
• Motion analysis

Research Summary:

Innovations in neurorehabilitation offer a promising solution to countering the disability that often follows stroke. Neurorehabiliation researchers focus on two specific techniques aimed at improving a patient's functional recovery. They develop strategies to remodel the healthy neural tissue that remains following a stroke in hopes that it will learn to perform many of the functions previously handled by other parts of the brain. Since such strategies may have limited success in some patients, scientists also develop techniques to retrain behaviour, and employ technology to augment and assist with functional recovery.

The primary objective of Dr. McIlroy's work is to translate basic science and clinical knowledge into post-stroke interventions that provide the best possible functional recovery in patients. This includes a focus on techniques that can maximize neurophysiologic change and recovery as well as identify more effective compensatory strategies and technologies. To meet this objective, his work ranges from basic fundamental research to clinical trials with a primary focus on mobility and balance control.

Selected Publications:

See current publications list at PubMed.