J. Lucas McKay, Ph.D., M.S.C.R.

J. Lucas McKay

Brief Biography

Dr. McKay is an Associate Professor at Emory University School of Medicine, holding positions in the Department of Biomedical Informatics and the Jean & Paul Amos PD & Movement Disorders Program within the Department of Neurology. Additionally, he serves as Program Faculty in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Emory University and Georgia Tech. He co-directs the Emory Brain Health Center Motion Analysis Laboratory, and maintains one of the largest repositories of full-body behavioral testing data of movement disorders patients in the world. His research interests focus on movement disorders and basal ganglia pathophysiology, with contributions to understanding motor and cognitive deficits in conditions such as Parkinson's disease. Dr. McKay holds a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, with post-doctoral training in movement disorders and clinical research. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed journal papers and conference papers, contributing significantly to the fields of neuroengineering, rehabilitation, and the basic understanding of Parkinson's disease. Dr. McKay's work emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and bridging the gap between engineering and clinical research in Parkinson's disease and related disorders.

Academic Positions

Associate Professor, 9/2024-

Assistant Professor, 9/2020-8/2024

Department of Biomedical Informatics, Emory University School of Medicine
Jean & Paul Amos PD & Movement Disorders Program, Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine
Program Faculty, Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University and Georgia Tech

Assistant Professor, Research Track, 11/2013–8/2020

Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Emory University and Georgia Tech

Administrative Appointments

Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, 6/2022–

Department of Biomedical Informatics, Emory University School of Medicine

Education/Training

Post-Doc, Movement Disorders and Basal Ganglia Pathophysiology, 03/2016–08/2020

Jean & Paul Amos PD & Movement Disorders Program, Emory University Movement Disorders Center
Yerkes National Primate Research Center
Atlanta, GA
* NIH–Sponsored K25 Trainee

M.S., Clinical Research, 08/2014–07/2016

Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
* Thesis Title: A cross-sectional study of set shifting impairments and falling in individuals with and without Parkinson’s disease.
* NIH–Sponsored KL2 Scholar
* Second of only 2 engineers to receive the NIH KL2 fellowship at Emory at time of award

Post-Doc, Human Movement Science, 08/2010-10/2013

Emory University, Atlanta, GA.

Ph.D., Electrical and Computer Engineering, 08/2003-07/2010

Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA.
* Dissertation Title: Neuromechanical constraints and optimality for balance.

Sc.M., Electrical Engineering, 08/2002-05/2004

Brown University, Providence, RI.
* Thesis Title: A low-power pipelined A/D converter for neural signals.

Sc.B., Electrical Engineering, 08/1998-05/2002

Brown University, Providence, RI.

Scholarship

Google Scholar
Pubmed

Journal Papers (Peer Reviewed)

  1. Rosenberg MC, Slusarenko A, Cao K, McKay JL, Emmery L, Kesar TM, Hackney ME, 2023. Motor and cognitive deficits limit the ability to flexibly modulate spatiotemporal gait features in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Front Hum Neurosci 2023 Feb 15;17:1040930. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.20231040930. PMID: 36968783; PMCID: PMC10032222
  2. Kwon H, Clifford GD, Genias I, Bernhard D, Esper CD, Factor SA, McKay JL, 2023. An Explainable Spatial-Temporal Graphical Convolutional Network to Score Freezing of Gait in Parkinsonian Patients. Sensors (Basel) 2023 Feb 4;23(4):1766. https://doi.org/10.3390/s23041766 PMID: 36850363; PMCID: PMC9968199
  3. McKay JL, Nye J, Goldstein FC, Sommerfeld B, Smith Y, Weinshenker D, Factor SA, 2023. Levodopa responsive freezing of gait is associated with reduced norepinephrine transporter binding in Parkinson's disease. Neurobiol Dis 2023 Apr;179:106048. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106048 Epub 2023 Feb 21. PMID: 36813207
  4. Winding S, Shin DGD, Rogers CJ, Ni L, Bay A, Vaughan C, Johnson T, McKay JL, Hackney ME, 2023. Referent Values for Commonly Used Clinical Mobility Tests in Black and White Adults Aged 50-95 Years. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2023 Apr 8:S0003-9993(23)00190-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2023.03.019 Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37037292
  5. Scorr L, Cho HJ, Kilic-Berkmen G, McKay JL, Hallet M, Klein C, Baumer T, Berman BD, Perlmutter JS, Berardelli A, Ferrazzano G, Wagle-Shukla A, Malaty IA, Jankovic J, Bellows ST, Barbano RL, Vidailhet M, Roze E, Bonnet C, Mahajan A, LeDoux MS, Fung VS, Chang FCF, Defazio G, Ercoli T, Factor SA, Wojno T, Jinnah HA, 2022. Clinical Features and Evolution of Blepharospasm: A Multicenter International Cohort and Systematic Literature Review. Dystonia (2022) 1:10359. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/dyst.2022.10359
  6. Hatcher-Martin JM,‡ McKay JL,‡ Pybus AF, Sommerfeld B, Howell JC, Goldstein FC, Wood L, Hu WT, Factor SA, 2021. Cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers in Parkinson's disease with freezing of gait: an exploratory analysis. npj Parkinson's disease (2021) 7:105. ‡equal contributions. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-021-00247-x. PDF  
  7. Payne AM, Palmer JA, McKay JL, Ting LH, 2021.Lower cognitive set shifting ability is associated with stiffer balance recovery behavior and larger perturbation-evoked cortical responses in older adults.Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience 06 December 2021. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2021.742243.
  8. McKay JL, Lang KC, Bong SM, Hackney ME, Factor SA, Ting LH, 2021. Abnormal center of mass feedback responses during balance: a potential biomarker of falls in Parkinson’s disease. PLoS ONE 27 May 2021. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0252119. Data (*.csv)
  9. Martino G, McKay JL, Factor SA, Ting LH, 2020. Neuromechanical assessment of activated vs. resting leg rigidity using the pendulum test is associated with a fall history in people with Parkinson’s disease. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 09 December 2020. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2020.602595.
  10. Hackney ME, Bay AA, Jackson JM, Nocera J, Krishamurthy V, Crosson B, Evatt ML, Langley J, Cui X, McKay JL, Huddleston DE, 2020. Rationale and design of the PAIRED trial: Partnered dance aerobic exercise as a neuroprotective, motor and cognitive intervention in Parkinson's disease. Frontiers in Neurology 09 October 2020. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00943. 
  11. Perez Parra S, McKay JL, Factor SA, 2020. Diphasic worsening of Freezing of Gait in Parkinson's disease. Movement Disorders Clinical Practice 7(3):325-328. https://doi.org/10.1002/mdc3.12918.  PDF  Case 1  Case 2
  12. Prime M, McKay JL, Bay A, Hart A, Kim C, Abraham A, Hackney ME, 2020. Differentiating Parkinson disease subtypes using clinical balance measures. Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy 44(1):34-41. PMC6991154. 
  13. Bong SM,‡ McKay JL,‡ Factor SA, Ting LH, 2020. Perception of whole-body motion during balance perturbations is impaired in Parkinson's disease and is associated with balance impairment. Gait and Posture 76:44-50. ‡equal contributions. PMC7015810.  PDF Supplementary Information  Supporting Data
  14. McKay JL, Goldstein FC, Sommerfeld B, Bernhard D, Perez Parra S, Factor SA, 2019. Freezing of Gait can persist after an acute levodopa challenge in Parkinson’s disease. npj Parkinson's disease 5:25. PMC6874572.  PDF
  15. McKay JL,‡ Hackney ME,‡ Factor SA, Ting LH, 2019. Lower‐limb rigidity is associated with frequent falls in Parkinson disease. Movement Disorders Clinical Practice 6(6): 446-451. ‡equal contributions. PMC6660233.  PDF  Supplementary Information  Supporting Data
  16. Lang KC, Hackney ME, Ting LH, McKay JL, 2019. Antagonist muscle activity during reactive balance responses is elevated in Parkinson’s disease and in balance impairment. PLoS ONE 14(1): e0211137. PMC6347183.  PDF  Supplementary Information  Supporting Data
  17. McKay JL, Lang KC, Ting LH, Hackney ME, 2018. Impaired set shifting is associated with previous falls in individuals with and without Parkinson's disease. Gait and Posture 62: 220-226. PMC5960619.  PDF  Supplementary Information Supporting Data
  18. Hart A, Dillard R, Perkins M, Vaughan C, Kinlaw K, McKay JL, Waldrop-Valverde D, Hagen K, Wincek R, Hackney ME 2017. The DREAMS team: creating community partnerships through research advocacy training for diverse older adults. Educational Gerontology 43(9): 440-450. PMC6301041.
  19. Allen JA, McKay JL, Sawers A, Hackney ME, Ting LH, 2017. Increased neuromuscular consistency in gait and balance after successful mobility rehabilitation in Parkinson’s disease. Journal of Neurophysiology 118(1): 363-373. PMC5501921.
  20. Sawers A, Bhattacharjee T, McKay JL, Hackney ME, Kemp CC, Ting LH, 2017. Small forces that differ with prior motor experience can communicate movement goals during human-human physical interaction. Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation 14(8). PMC5282658.
  21. McKay JL, Ting LH, Hackney ME, 2016. Balance, body motion and muscle activity after dance-based rehabilitation in individuals with Parkinson’s disease: a pilot study. Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy 40(4):257-68. PMC5025380.  PDF  Video Abstract
  22. Chen TL, Bhattacharjee T, McKay JL, Borinski JE, Hackney ME, Ting LH, Kemp CC, 2015. Evaluation by expert dancers of a robot that performs partnered stepping via haptic interaction. PLoS ONE 10(5):e0125179. PMC4438977.
  23. McKay JL, Welch TDJ, Vidakovic B, Ting LH, 2013. Statistically-significant contrasts between EMG waveforms revealed using wavelet-based functional ANOVA. Journal of Neurophysiology 109: 591-602. PMC3545469.
  24. Sohn MH, McKay JL, Ting LH, 2013. Defining feasible bounds on muscle activation in a redundant biomechanical task: practical implications of redundancy. Journal of Biomechanics 46: 1363–1368. PMC4021711.
  25. McKay JL, Ting LH, 2012. Optimization of muscle activity for task-level goals predicts complex changes in limb forces across biomechanical contexts. PLoS Computational Biology 8: e1002465. PMC3325175.
  26. Bunderson NE, McKay JL, Ting LH, Burkholder TJ, 2010. Directional constraint of endpoint force emerges from hindlimb anatomy. Journal of Experimental Biology 213: 2131-2141. PMC2878289.
  27. McKay JL, Ting LH, 2008. Functional muscle synergies constrain force production during postural tasks. Journal of Biomechanics 41: 299-306. PMC4350792.
  28. McKay JL, Burkholder TJ, Ting LH, 2007. Biomechanical capabilities influence postural control strategies in the cat hindlimb. Journal of Biomechanics 40: 2254-2260. PMC3137431.
  29. Song Y-K, Patterson WR, Bull CW, Beals J, Hwang N, Deangelis AP, Lay C, McKay JL, Nurmikko AV, Fellows MR, Simeral JD, Donoghue JP, Connors BW, 2005. Development of a chipscale integrated microelectrode/microelectronic device for brain implantable neuroengineering applications. IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering 13: 220-226. PMID 16003903.
  30. Patterson WR, Song Y-K, Bull CW, Ozden I, Deangellis AP, Lay C, McKay JL, Nurmikko AV, Donoghue JD, Connors BW, 2004. A microelectrode/microelectronic hybrid device for brain implantable neuroprosthesis applications. IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering 51: 1845-1853. PMID 16003903.

Engineering Conference Papers (Peer Reviewed)

  1. Song YK, Patterson WR, Bull CW, Hwang NJ, Deangelis AP, Lay C, McKay JL, Nurmikko AV, Donoghue JD, Connors BW, 2004. Development of an integrated microelectrode/microelectronic device for brain implantable neuroengineering applications. IEEE EMBS 6:4053-6. PMID 16003903.

Preprints (Not Peer Reviewed)

  1. McKay JL, Nye J, Goldstein F, Sommerfeld B, Smith Y, Weinshenker D, Factor SA, 2020. "Reduced norepinephrine transporter binding in Parkinson's disease with dopa responsive freezing gait." MedRxiv 2022.03.14.22272365 [Preprint]. March 14, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.03.14.22272365
  2. Kilic-Berkmen G, Scorr LM, Dinasarapu AR, McKay JL, Rosen A, Bagchi P, Hanfelt J, McKeon A, Jinnah HA, 2020. "Autoimmune and inflammatory mechanisms in cervical dystonia." MedRxiv 2020.09.03. 20187815 [Preprint]. September 25, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.09.03.20187815
  3. McKay JL, Bozzorg A, Nocera J, Hackney ME, 2017. The influence of Parkinson’s disease and neurotypical aging on cognitive performance among volunteers for an exercise-based rehabilitative intervention. BioRxiv 126607 [Preprint]. https://doi.org/10.1101/126607.
  4. McKay JL, 2017. Agreement between measurements of stance width using motion capture and center of pressure in individuals with and without Parkinson's disease. BioRxiv 122523 [Preprint]. https://doi.org/10.1101/122523.

Review Articles

  1. Ting LH, Chiel HJ, Trumbower RD, Allen JL, McKay JL, Hackney ME, Kesar TM, 2015. Neuromechanical principles underlying movement modularity and their implications for rehabilitation. Neuron 86:38-54. PMC4392340.
  2. Ting LH, Chvatal SA, Safavynia SA, and McKay JL, 2012. Review and perspective: neuromechanical considerations for predicting muscle activation patterns for movement. International Journal of Numerical Methods in Biomedical Engineering 28:1003-1014. PMC4121429.
  3. Ting LH, van Antwerp KW, Scrivens JE, McKay JL, Welch TDJ, Bingham JT, DeWeerth SP, 2009. Neuromechanical tuning of nonlinear postural control dynamics. Chaos 19:026111-026112. PMC2832047.
  4. Ting LH, McKay JL, 2007. Neuromechanics of muscle synergies for posture and movement. Curr Opin Neurobiol 17:622-628. PMC4350235.

Invited Talks

National and International

  1. †American Society of Biomechanics 2020. Atlanta, GA, USA. Review of biomechanical evidence: social dance as neurologic training. August 4-7, 2020. †designates speaking engagements cancelled due to COVID-19.
  2. 21st Congress of the International Society for Electromyography and Kinesiology. Chicago, Il, USA. Altered sensorimotor transformations for balance in Parkinson’s disease. July 7, 2016.
  3. International Society for Posture and Gait Research Satellite Symposium, Akita, Japan. Feedback control of balance muscle activity in individuals with Parkinson's disease before and after Adapted Tango rehabilitation. June 22, 2013. Slides

Regional

  1. †Georgia Chapter of the Gerontological Advance Practice Nurses Association (GA-GAPNA) Annual Statewide Conference, Atlanta, GA, USA. Neuromechanics of normal vs. impaired balance. March 14, 2020. †designates speaking engagements cancelled due to COVID-19.
  2. APDA Center for Advanced Parkinson’s Disease Research at Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA. Abnormal center of mass control during balance is associated with falls in Parkinson disease. February 22, 2020.
  3. Emory Neuromodulation Technology Innovation Center, Atlanta, GA, USA. Current clinical applications of motion capture in Movement Disorders. November 19, 2019. Slides
  4. ATL Neuromechanics Meeting, Atlanta, GA, USA. Impaired sensorimotor transformations for balance in Parkinson disease are associated with future falls. July 19, 2019.
  5. Georgia Clinical & Translational Science Conference, Braselton, GA, USA. KL2 Panel Discussion. February 22 – 23, 2018.
  6. Birmingham / Atlanta Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) Planning and Collaboration Meeting. Atlanta, GA, USA. Mechanisms of reactive balance and falls in Parkinson’s disease. April 20, 2016.
  7. Georgia Tech School of Applied Physiology. Mechanisms of reactive balance and falls in Parkinson’s disease. April 13, 2016.
  8. Atlanta VA RR&D Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation. A cross-sectional study of set shifting impairments and falling in individuals with and without Parkinson’s disease. April 6, 2016.

Departmental

  1. Emory Brain Health Center Research Day Data Blitz. Atlanta, GA, USA. New approaches to understanding balance and falls in movement disorders. April 14, 2018.
  2. Emory Biomedical Engineering Department Seminar Series. Atlanta, GA, USA. Understanding balance and falls at the patient and group level in Parkinson’s disease. November 17, 2017.
  3. Emory University Movement Disorders Group Research Retreat. Atlanta, GA, USA. Sensorimotor balance function to predict fall risk in Parkinson’s disease. December 3, 2016.
  4. Emory University Morris K. Udall Center for Excellence in Parkinson’s Disease Research. Balance control and falls in Parkinson's disease. 2015.
  5. Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering & Bioscience at Georgia Tech: Enabling Health through Technologies Workshop. Identifying functional improvements in balance after Parkinson’s disease neurorehabilitation. October 8, 2013.
  6. Emory University Morris K. Udall Center for Excellence in Parkinson’s Disease Research. Mechanisms of Improvement in Parkinson’s Disease Rehabilitation. 2013.
  7. Computational Neuroscience Biology Group, Emory University. Statistically-significant contrasts between EMG waveforms revealed using wavelet-based functional ANOVA. 2013.
  8. Emory University Morris K. Udall Center for Excellence in Parkinson’s Disease Research. Mechanisms of Improvement in Parkinson’s Disease Rehabilitation. 2012.
  9. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech and Emory University. Neuromechanical Constraints and Optimality for Balance [PhD Defense]. 2010. Slides
  10. Laboratory for Neuroengineering, Georgia Tech and Emory University. The Nervous System Maps High-Dimension Sensory Information to Low-Dimension Motor Outputs during Postural Responses. 2009.

Community-based

  1. Invited Speaker, Emory University Merrie Boone Comprehensive Care Clinic for Parkinson’s Disease Lunch and Learn Series. Understanding falls at the patient and group level in Parkinson’s disease. August 1, 2019. Slides
  2. Invited Speaker, Emory-Udall Parkinson's Disease Center Community Conversations with Emory PD Researchers Series. Balance and Falls in PD. May 19, 2018. Slides
  3. Invited Speaker, Emory University Merrie Boone Comprehensive Care Clinic for Parkinson’s Disease Lunch and Learn Series. Balance Improvement in PD. January 4, 2018.
  4. Guest Blog Author, PD GLADIATORS: The Exercise Files. Are my kids going to get PD? January 19, 2017.
  5. Invited Speaker, Developing a Research Participation Enhancement and Advocacy Training Program for Diverse Seniors (DREAMS) Project. Analysis and Evaluation of Clinical and Patient-Centered Outcomes Research. May 5, 2016.
  6. Invited Speaker, Developing a Research Participation Enhancement and Advocacy Training Program for Diverse Seniors (DREAMS) Project. Mechanisms of reactive balance and falls in healthy aging and in Parkinson’s disease. March 14, 2016.
  7. Invited Speaker, Wesley Woods Interactive Health Seminar, “Health, Wellness and Resiliency.” Balance Deficits, Falls, and Freezing of Gait in Parkinson's Disease. May 12, 2015.
  8. Invited Speaker, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute: Robust and Resilient Aging: An Update on Healthy Aging Research. Motor Rehabilitation, PD, EMG measurement, and Biomedical Engineering. May 20, 2014.
  9. Invited Speaker, Conversations with Community Researchers, American Parkinson Disease Association, Georgia Chapter. Reactive Balance Control and Falls in Parkinson’s Disease. 2014.
  10. Invited Speaker, Conversations with Community Researchers, American Parkinson Disease Association, Georgia Chapter. Mechanisms of successful rehabilitation in Parkinson’s Disease. 2013.

Work Presented at Scientific Meetings

  1. Jones SA, Martino G, McKay JL, Ting LH, 2021. "The effect of secondary tasks on the standing shortening reaction in people with Parkinson’s disease." In: ISPGR 2022.
  2. Payne AM, Palmer JA, McKay JL, Ting LH, 2021. "Lower cognitive set shifting ability is associated with stiffer balance recovery behavior and larger perturbation-evoked cortical responses in older adults." In: ISPGR 2022.
  3. Miocinovic S, McKay JL, Isbaine F, Nocera J, Tran J, Buetefisch C, 2021. “Gait velocity improves after deep brain stimulation initiation in patients with Parkinson's disease” In: MDS2021: MDS Virtual Congress 2021, September 17-22. PDF
  4. Beach P, McKay JL, 2021. “Prevalence of neurogenic orthostatic hypotension in the idiopathic Parkinson Progression Marker Initiative cohort.” In: MDS2021: MDS Virtual Congress 2021, September 17-22. PDF
  5. *Tripathi R, Factor S, McKay JL, Esper CD, Bernhard D, Miocinovic S. “Long Term Impact of DBS on Gait in PD: A Kinematic Study.” In: GCMAS2021: 2021 Annual Meeting of the Gait and Clinical Movement Analysis Society, West Chester, PA. June 8-9. *podium presentation.
  6. †McKay JL, Hatcher-Martin J, Howell JC, Hu WT, Factor SA. CSF biomarkers in Parkinson patients with and without freezing of gait. In: AAN 2020: 72nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy for Neurology, Toronto, Canada. April 25-May 1. †designates speaking engagements cancelled due to COVID-19.
  7. †Martino G, McKay JL, De Groote G, Factor SA, Ting LH, 2020. Motion analysis of the pendulum test to assess rigidity in people with Parkinson’s disease. In: AAN 2020: 72nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy for Neurology, Toronto, Canada. April 25-May 1. †designates speaking engagements cancelled due to COVID-19.
  8. Perez Parra S, McKay JL, Factor SA, 2020. Diphasic pattern of worsening of Freezing Gait (FOG). In: MDS-PAS 2020: 3rd Pan American Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Congress. Mami, Florida, USA. February 14-16.
  9. Martino G, Bong SM, McKay JL, De Groote F, Factor SA, Ting LH, 2019. Simulating the pendulum test to understand mechanisms of Parkinsonian rigidity In: ISB/ASB2019: XXVII Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics (ISB2019)/ 43rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics (ASB2019). Calgary, Canada. July 31-August 4.
  10. Martino G, McKay JL, Scorr L, Ting LH, 2019. The pendulum test to evaluate the mechanisms of rigidity in Parkinson’s disease. In: Emory University Brain Health Center Research Day, Atlanta, GA, June 29.
  11. *McKay JL, Lang KC, Bong SM, Hackney ME, Factor SA, Ting LH, 2019. Impaired sensorimotor transformations for balance in Parkinson disease are associated with future falls. In: ISPGR 2019: World Congress of the International Society for Posture & gait Research, Edinburgh, Scotland. June 30-July 4. *podium presentation.
  12. Factor SA, Alexander G, Sommerfeld B, Berhard D, McKay JL, Hanfelt J, John S, Goldstein FC, 2019. Levodopa responsiveness subtypes of Freezing of Gait: results using a levodopa test. In: AAN 2019: 71st Annual Meeting of the American Academy for Neurology, Philadelphia, PA, USA. May 4-10.
  13. McKay JL, Goldstein FC, Factor SA, 2019. Anxiety and depression are associated with levodopa-responsive, but not levodopa-unresponsive, freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease. In: AAN 2019: 71st Annual Meeting of the American Academy for Neurology, Philadelphia, PA, USA. May 4-10.
  14. McKay JL, Lang KC, Bong S, Hackney ME, Ting LH, 2018. Sensorimotor transformations for balance in patients with Parkinson’s disease are temporally precise but spatially diffuse. In: Neuroscience 2018: 48th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA, USA. November 3-7.
  15. Bong S, McKay JL, Factor SA, Ting LH, 2018. Impaired directional perception of perturbations to standing is associated with balance impairment in people with Parkinson’s disease. In: Neuroscience 2018: 48th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA, USA. November 3-7.
  16. Prime M, McKay JL, Hart AR, Kim C, Wolf SL, Hackney ME, 2018. Association between Parkinson Subtypes and Tests of Physical Function: the 360 Degree Turn Test is Most Predictive. In: ANA2018: 143rd Annual Meeting of the American Neurological Association, Atlanta, GA, USA. October 21-23.
  17. Factor SA, Alexander G, Sommerfeld B, Bernhard D, McKay JL, Hanfelt J, John S, Goldstein FC, 2018. Levodopa Responsiveness of Freezing of Gait: Results Using a Levodopa Test. In: ANA2018: 143rd Annual Meeting of the American Neurological Association, Atlanta, GA, USA. October 21-23.
  18. Goldstein FC, McKay JL, Sommerfeld B, John SE, Alexander GE, Factor SA, 2018. Cognitive correlates of levodopa unresponsive versus responsive freezing of gait subtypes. In: ANA2018: 143rd Annual Meeting of the American Neurological Association, Atlanta, GA, USA. October 21-23.
  19. McKay JL, Goldstein FC, Factor SA, 2018. Anxiety and depression are associated with levodopa-responsive freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease. In: ANA2018: 143rd Annual Meeting of the American Neurological Association, Atlanta, GA, USA. October 22. Poster M243.
  20. Bong S, McKay JL, Factor SA, Ting LH, 2018. Impaired directional perception of whole body perturbations in people with Parkinson’s disease may contribute to balance impairment. In: ANA2018: 143rd Annual Meeting of the American Neurological Association, Atlanta, GA, USA. October 21-23. Poster S236.
  21. McKay JL, Hackney ME, Factor SA, Ting LH, 2018. Lower-limb rigidity, but neither upper-limb nor neck rigidity is associated with frequent falls in Parkinson’s disease. In: ANA2018: 143rd Annual Meeting of the American Neurological Association, Atlanta, GA, USA. October 21-23. Poster M247.
  22. McKay JL, Lang KC, Ting LH, Hackney ME, 2018. Impaired set shifting is associated with previous falls in individuals with and without Parkinson’s disease. In: Emory University Brain Health Center Research Day, Atlanta, GA, April 14.
  23. Bong S, McKay JL, Factor SA, Ting LH, 2018. Impaired directional perception of whole body perturbations in people with Parkinson’s disease may contribute to balance impairment. In: Emory University Brain Health Center Research Day, Atlanta, GA, April 14.
  24. Bong S, McKay JL, Factor SA, Ting LH, 2018. Impaired directional perception of whole body perturbations in people with Parkinson’s disease may contribute to balance impairment. In: Annual Meeting of the Society for the Neural Control of Movement, Santa Fe, NM, USA. May 1-4.
  25. Lang, KC, McKay JL, Hackney ME, Ting LH, 2018. Abnormal antagonist activation during reactive balance is associated with Parkinson's disease, age, and balance ability. In: Annual Meeting of the Society for the Neural Control of Movement, Santa Fe, NM, USA. May 1-4.
  26. Factor SA, Alexander G, Sommerfeld B, Bernhard D, McKay JL, Hanfelt J, John S, Goldstein FC, 2018. Levodopa Responsiveness of Freezing of Gait: Results Using a Levodopa Test. In: Freezing of Gait 2018, Leuven, Belgium. June 6-8.
  27. McKay JL, Goldstein F, Factor SA, 2018. Association of anxiety and depression with FOG subtype in Parkinson’s disease. In: Freezing of Gait 2018, Poster 113. Leuven, Belgium. June 6-8.
  28. Bong S, McKay JL, Factor SA, Ting LH, 2018. Directional Perception of Whole Body Perturbations is Impaired in People with Parkinson’s Disease. In: Freezing of Gait 2018, Poster 136. Leuven, Belgium. June 6-8.
  29. Lang KC, McKay JL, Hackney ME, Ting LH, 2017. Antagonist muscle activity in postural responses to support-surface translations in exercise-study-eligible people with Parkinson's disease and neurotypical older adults. In: 2017 World Congress of the International Society for Posture and Gait Research, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA. June 25-29.
  30. McKay JL, Lang KC, Ting LH, Hackney ME, 2017. A cross-sectional study of set shifting impairments and falling in individuals with and without Parkinson's disease. In: 2017 World Congress of the International Society for Posture and Gait Research, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA. June 25-29.
  31. McKay JL, Ting LH, Hackney ME, 2016. Changes in balance body motion and muscle activity after Adapted Tango rehabilitation for Parkinson's disease. In: Fifth Annual Symposium on Regenerative Rehabilitation, Atlanta, GA. October 14-16.
  32. Lang KC, McKay JL, Hackney ME, Ting LH, 2016. Does effective Adapted Tango rehabilitation improve postural response modulation across stance widths in individuals with Parkinson's disease? In: Fifth Annual Symposium on Regenerative Rehabilitation, Atlanta, GA. October 14-16.
  33. McKay JL, Welch TDJ, Vidakovic B, Ting LH, 2016. Statistically-significant contrasts between EMG waveforms revealed using wavelet-based functional ANOVA. In: Fifth Annual Symposium on Regenerative Rehabilitation, Atlanta, GA. October 14-16.
  34. *McKay JL, Welch TDJ, Vidakovic B, Ting LH, 2016. Wavelet-based functional ANOVA to reveal statistically-significant contrasts between EMG waveforms recorded in different experimental conditions. In: XXI Congress of the International Society of Electrophysiology and Kinesiology, Chicago, Il. July 5-8. *podium presentation.
  35. Lang KC, McKay JL, Hackney ME, & Ting LH, 2016. Leg muscle modulation during balance recovery in older adults with and without Parkinson’s disease. In: Translational Science 2016, Washington, DC. April 13-15.
  36. McKay JL, Ting LH, 2015. Altered Sensorimotor Transformations for Balance In Parkinson’s Disease. In: Brain States: Characterization and Neuromodulation by DBS, Cologne, Germany. October 11-13.
  37. Zhu T, McKay JL, Payne A, Ting LH, Clifford G, 2015. Crowdsourced annotation of EMG onset times in healthy individuals and Parkinson disease. In: 2015 World Congress of the International Society for Posture and Gait Research, Seville, Spain. June 28-July 2.
  38. Lang KC, McKay JL, Hackney ME, Ting LH, 2015. Does effective adapted tango rehabilitation improve postural response scaling in individuals with Parkinson’s disease? In: 2015 World Congress of the International Society for Posture and Gait Research, Seville, Spain. June 28-July 2.
  39. McKay JL, Ting LH, Hackney ME, 2015. Improved balance body motion and muscle activity after dance-based rehabilitation in individuals with Parkinson’s disease: a preliminary study. In: Society for the Neural Control of Movement 2015, Satellite Meeting: Neural Mechanisms of Rehabilitation. Charleston, SC. April 20.
  40. McKay JL, Ting LH, Hackney ME, 2015. Improved balance body motion and muscle activity after dance-based rehabilitation in individuals with Parkinson’s disease: a preliminary study. In: Translational Science 2015, Washington, DC. April 16-18.
  41. Song YS, Chen TL, Bhattacharjee T, McKay JL, Hackney ME, Kemp CC, Ting LH, 2015. Human Arms Remove Energy During Partnered Stepping Tasks with a Robot Follower. In: Piper Health Solutions Workshop on Rehabilitation Robotics, Phoenix, AZ, USA, February 13-14.
  42. Allen JA, McKay JL, Hackney ME, & Ting LH, 2014. Recruitment of subcortical muscle synergies during balance and walking in individuals with Parkinson’s disease can be improved through rehabilitation. In: Society for Neuroscience, Washington, DC, USA. November 15-19.
  43. Lang KC, McKay JL, Compton H, Harris M, Perry, J, Roberts, C, Hackney, ME, Ting LH, 2014. Does successful adapted tango rehabilitation improve postural response scaling in individuals with Parkinson’s disease? In: Society for Neuroscience, Washington, DC, USA. November 15-19.
  44. Allen JA, McKay JL, Ting LH, 2014. Rehabilitation improves generalization of muscle synergies across balance and walking in individuals with Parkinson’s disease. In: 7th World Congress of Biomechanics, Boston, Massachusetts, July 6-11.
  45. Lang KC, Ting LH, McKay JL, 2014. Support surface acceleration affects tibialis anterior onset latency during support surface translation perturbations. In: 2014 World Congress of the International Society for Posture and Gait Research, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, June 29-July 3.
  46. McKay JL, Welch TDJ, Vidakovic B, Ting LH, 2014. Wavelet-based functional ANOVA to reveal statistically-significant contrasts between EMG and kinematics recorded in different experimental conditions. In: 2014 World Congress of the International Society for Posture and Gait Research, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, June 29-July 3.
  47. McKay JL, Ting LH, & Hackney ME, 2014. Adapted tango alters center of mass displacement and muscular activity during reactive balance in individuals with Parkinson’s disease. In: 2014 World Congress of the International Society for Posture and Gait Research, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, June 29-July 3.
  48. Ting LH, McKay JL, Hackney ME, 2014. Exercise-based neurorehabilitation improves sensorimotor responses to perturbation in individuals with Parkinson's disease. In: 24th Annual Meeting of the Society for the Neural Control of Movement, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, April 22-25.
  49. McKay JL, Ting LH, Hackney ME, 2013. Feedback control of balance muscle activity in individuals with Parkinson's disease before and after adapted tango rehabilitation. In: 2nd Joint World Congress of ISPGR and Gait & Mental Function, Akita, Japan, June 22-26.
  50. Chen TL, McKay JL, Bhattacharjee T, Hackney ME, Kemp CC, Ting LH, 2013. Partnered human-robot stepping based on interactive forces at the hand. In: Piper Health Solutions Workshop on Rehabilitation Robotics, Phoenix, AZ, USA, February 22-23.
  51. McKay JL, Huang M, Chen TL, Bhattacharjee T, Hackney ME, Kemp CC, Ting LH, 2013. A simple model of dynamic interaction forces during human-robot partnered motion. In: Piper Health Solutions Workshop on Rehabilitation Robotics, Phoenix, AZ, USA, February 22-23.
  52. Chen TL, McKay JL, Bhattacharjee T, Hackney ME, Kemp CC, Ting LH, 2012. Partnered human-robot stepping based on interactive forces at the hand. In: American Society of Biomechanics, Gainesville, FL, USA, August 15-18.
  53. Sohn MH, McKay JL, Ting LH, 2012. Biomechanics constrains variability in spatial structure of muscle coordination for endpoint force generation. In: American Society of Biomechanics, Gainesville, FL, USA, August 15-18.
  54. McKay JL, Welch TDJ, Vidakovic B, Ting LH, 2012. Statistically-significant contrasts between EMG waveforms revealed using wavelet-based functional ANOVA. In: American Society of Biomechanics, Gainesville, FL, USA, August 15-18.
  55. McKay JL, Welch TDJ, Vidakovic B, and Ting LH, 2011. A method to determine statistically-significant differences between EMG waveforms in the time domain using wavelet-based functional-ANOVA. Program No. 812.03. In: Society for Neuroscience, Washington, D.C., USA.
  56. *McKay JL, Ting LH, 2010. Muscle synergies produce expensive behavioral biases during postural control. In: Society for the Neural Control of Movement, Naples, Florida, USA.
  57. McKay JL, Ting LH, 2010. Muscle synergies reflect optimal control of task-level variables during balance. In: Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA, USA.
  58. McKay JL, Ting LH, 2009. The nervous system maps high-dimension sensory inflow to low-dimension motor outputs during postural responses. In: Advances in Computational Motor Control 8, Chicago, IL, USA, November 11.
  59. McKay JL, Ting LH, 2009. Muscle synergy dimensionality is independent of perturbation dimensionality during postural control. Program No. 81.7. In: Society for Neuroscience, Chicago, IL, USA, November 12-16.
  60. McKay JL, Ting LH, 2007. Coordinating muscles and limbs for postural control in the cat. In: Eighth International Congress of Neuroethology, Vancouver, BC.
  61. McKay JL, Torres-Oviedo G, Ting LH, 2007. Neuromechanical modeling of functional muscle synergies for postural control in the cat. In: American Society of Biomechanics, Palo Alto, CA.
  62. McKay JL, Ting LH, 2005. Influence of limb biomechanics on the force constraint strategy for postural control. Program No. 868.8. In: Society for Neuroscience, Washington DC, USA, November 12-16.
  63. McKay JL, Ting LH, 2004. Variation in individual muscle contributions to endpoint force as a function of limb posture and kinematics. Program No. 306.18. In: Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA, USA, October 23–27.

Service

Grant Review

Departmental Service

Committee Memberships

Professional Society Service

Editorships and Editorial Boards

Memberships

Positions

Manuscript Review

Community Organization Service

Teaching

Emory University Department of Biomedical Informatics

  1. 2023– Emory University BMI 510: “Biostatistics for Machine Learning.” Course developer and director. (4 hours, required core class)
  2. 2021 Emory University BMI 585: “Biostatistics for Machine Learning.” Course developer and director. (3 hours)
  3. 2020– Emory University BMI 500: Introduction to Biomedical Informatics. “Clinical 3D motion capture II.”
  4. 2020– Emory University BMI 500: Introduction to Biomedical Informatics. “Clinical 3D motion capture I.”
  5. 2016 Emory University BMI 500: Introduction to Biomedical Informatics. “Time series and kinematic analysis.”

Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Neurology

  1. 2017. Emory University School of Medicine Neurology PGY1-4 Residents. “Gait analysis.” [Neurology resident lecture.] April 21, 2017.
  2. 2017. Emory University School of Medicine Movement Disorders Fellows. “Biostatistics in SPSS.” [Movement Disorder Fellow Lecture.] June 2, 2017.

Emory University Division of Physical Therapy

  1. Emory University DPT971: Health in Aging: Patient Care in the 21st Century. “Understanding causes of falls at the patient and group level in Parkinson's disease.” [DPT student lecture.] September 15, 2017.
  2. *Emory University DPT915: Clinical Research I and II. 2016– (Instructor), 2012-2014 (Co-Instructor). *Responsibilities include 1-hour weekly formal lecture, thesis supervision, and development of formal didactic materials on scholarship, biostatistics, study design, experimental methodologies.

Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University and Georgia Tech

  1. 2021. Georgia Tech BMED8843: Special Topics: Clinical Experiences for Engineers. “PHI Concepts.” [Graduate student lecture.]
  2. 2018-2019. Georgia Tech BME2250: Problems in Biomedical Engineering. “Parkinson’s disease.” [Undergraduate lecture.]
  3. 2018. Georgia Tech BMED 8813: Advanced Seminar. [Ad hoc graduate student review article reader.]
  4. 2017-2018. Georgia Tech BMED8823: Special Topics: Clinical Experiences for Engineers. “Clinical neurology and brain health.” [Graduate student lecture.]
  5. 2013. Georgia Tech BMED7610: Quantitative Neuroscience. “Optimization during hierarchical control of muscles and limbs for balance.” [Graduate student lecture.]
  6. 2010. Georgia Tech BMED3400: Introduction to Biomechanics. Head Teaching Assistant.

Brown University Department of Electrical Engineering

  1. 2003. Brown University EN163: Digital Electronic Systems Design. Head Teaching Assistant.
  2. 2002. Brown University EN162: Analysis and Design of Electronic Circuits. Head Teaching Assistant.

Mentoring

Scientists and Fellows

  1. 2020-2021. Shannon Fillmore, DPT, Neurologic Physical Therapy Resident
  2. 2019-2020. Shantha Nithiananda, PT DPT, Neurologic Physical Therapy Resident
  3. 2016-2017. Cameron Jadali, PT DPT, Neurologic Physical Therapy Resident
  4. 2015-2016. Maryamnaz Zaribaf, MD, Visiting Scientist

Doctoral Thesis Committees

  1. 2016–2019. Aiden Payne, Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
  2. 2015-2019. Kimberly Lang, Graduate Division in Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Emory University
  3. 2016-2017. Jeonghee Kim, Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

Emory Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) Research Groups

  1. 2020-2021. Peter Choi, Lexi Ruello, Ellie Schneider. Project: A Scoping Review: Associations Between Assistive Device (AD) Use And Fall Risk in People with Parkinson’s (PwP). PDF
  2. 2019-2020. Madison Hobbs, Nirja Gajjar, Kayla Miller, Sarah Wieberg. Project: Impact of Cognitive Impairment on Mini-BESTest and EMG Activity During Balance for Patients with Parkinson’s Disease. PDF
  3. 2018-2019. Maggie Brogan, Matthew Kilgore, Shantha Nithiananda, Helen Williford. Project: Predictive Value of Mini-BESTest Subdomains for Future Falls in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease. PDF
  4. 2017-2018. Caitlyn Behling, Kierstan Jacobs, Emily Rift, Susan Su, Molly Volden. Project: Reactive Postural Control on the Mini-BEST is differentially associated with Fall History in Parkinson’s Disease. PDF Data
  5. 2016-2017. Morgan Bridges, Meredith Ehrenheim, Kristin Muldowney, Madison Ryan, Meghan Stanley. Project: Assessment of gait abnormalities in individuals with Parkinson’s disease with and without suspected cholinergic deficits. PDF
  6. 2013-2014. Holly Compton, Meg Harris, Jessica Perry, Caroline Roberts.
  7. 2012-2013. Mitchell McCall, Keaton Kramer, Courtney Pope, Austin Ruedrich (winner of the Pamela Catlin Research Award for her work on the affiliated project)

Emory Rollins School of Public Health MPH Students (Research Experience and Learning, "REAL")

  1. 2021-2022. Imari Genias, Global Health, RSPH.
  2. 2021-2022. Grey Skelton, Biostatistics, RSPH.
  3. 2019-2020. Glendadora Dolce, Environmental Health, RSPH.
  4. 2018-2019. Livvy Shafer, Epidemiology, RSPH.
  5. 2017–2018. Chrystelle Kiang, Epidemiology, RSPH.

Undergraduate Students

  1. 2018. Tess Greene, Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech.
  2. 2016. Alvince Pongos, Applied Mathematics, Emory University.
  3. 2016. Benjamin Wibonele, Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech.

Awards and Press

Awards

  1. 2017. APSselect award for distinction in scholarship, American Physiological Society (Article #12 above)
  2. 2016-2017. Clinical Loan Repayment Program (LRP) Award, National Institutes of Health / National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NIH/NINDS)
  3. 2015. Burroughs-Wellcome Fund Trainee Travel Award
  4. 2014–2016. Clinical Loan Repayment Program (LRP) Award, National Institutes of Health / National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NIH/NINDS)
  5. 2014-2016. KL2 Mentored Clinical and Translational Research Scholar Award, NIH/Atlanta Clinical and Translational Science Institute (ACTSI)
  6. 2004. Sigma Xi
  7. 2003-2007. President’s Fellowship, Georgia Institute of Technology
  8. 2001. Tau Beta Pi

Invitations to Professional Courses

  1. 2017. NIH NRMN (National Research Mentoring Network) training course, provided by GCTSA
  2. 2013. NIH TIGRR (Training in Grant Writing in Rehabilitation Research) fellow

News and Press

  1. 2017. American Physiological Society, Most Mentioned Recent Articles: Increased neuromuscular consistency in gait and balance after partnered, dance-based rehabilitation in Parkinson’s disease (Altmetric Score = 176) [Journal of Neurophysiology August 2017 Newsletter]. Retrieved from http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=1117133343078&ca=387bc6ad-e2e8-4fdd-a2df-1299809e8be7
  2. 2017. American Physiological Society, Increased neuromuscular consistency in gait and balance after partnered, dance-based rehabilitation in Parkinson’s disease [Journal of Neurophysiology Podcast]. Retrieved from https://jneurophysiol.podbean.com/e/increased-neuromuscular-consistency-in-gait-and-balance-after-partnered-dance-based-rehabilitation-in-parkinsons-disease/
  3. 2016. Atlanta Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, Recent KL2 Scholar and MSCR Graduate Dr. Lucas McKay Receives NIH K25 Award [Press release]. Retrieved from http://www.actsi.org/news-and-events/news/2016/mckay-receives-nih-k23-award/index.html
  4. 2016. Woodruff Health Sciences Center, Research shows Adapted Tango program alters balance control in Parkinson's disease patients [Press release]. Retrieved from http://news.emory.edu/stories/2016/10/ting_mckay_tango_study/index.html
  5. 2016. Woodruff Health Sciences Center, NIH grants support research on balance in Parkinson's and other diseases [Press release]. Retrieved from http://news.emory.edu/stories/2016/10/mckay_lucas_grants/index.html

Grant Support

Current Grant Support

Atlanta VAMC Research Supplement, Hackney, PI; 11/2022–09/2023
Role of Arterial Stiffness in OFF-Time in Parkinson’s Disease.
Objective: To identify associations between arterial stiffness and OFF medication time in PD.
Role: Co-I/Biostatistician
Award Amount: $100K
BMI Pilot Project Award, McKay/Ting, Co-PIs; 10/2022–08/2023
Specific Fall Risk Factors in Healthy Aging and Parkinson's Disease.
This project examines what protective factors prevent falls and how these factors may differ across demographic groups. This funding will assist in specifically targeting underrepresented minorities with Parkinson’s disease.
Role: Co-PI
Award Amount: $11K
Oracle for Research Computing Award, McKay, PI; Kwon, Fellow; 05/2022–04/2023
Human Activity Recognition for Movement Disorders (MDHAR): Learning human movements from large-scale video, motion capture, and wearables
Objectives: This proposal provides research support and cloud computing credits for transfer learning between kinematic data recorded in our clinical center and large online computer vision repositories.
Role: PI
Award Amount: $100K in Oracle Cloud Computing Services
Frontiers of Freezing of Gait, McKay/Factor, Co-PIs; 2021-2023
Private Foundation Funding
Objectives: To identify novel PiB-PET and kinematic biomarkers of levodopa-unresponsive Freezing of Gait in Parkinson’s disease.
Role: Co-PI
Direct costs: $200k
NIH AG072756-A1, Ting/Borich, MPI; 2022–2027
Individual-specific engagement of cortical resources for standing balance control in aging and post-stroke
Objectives: To identify cortical activity signatures of engagement of cortical resources for balance control using EEG during perturbed balance control. .
Role: Co-I/Biostatistician
Total Project Costs: $3.6M
McCamish Foundation Blue Sky Award, McKay, PI; 07/2021-06/2022
Human activity recognition to track Freezing of Gait in Parkinson’s disease
Objectives: Apply modern computer vision approaches to identify and score freezing of gait from 2D video.
Role: PI
Total Direct Costs: $125k
Emory Udall Center Pilot Project, Buetefisch, PI; 03/2020–02/2021
A quantitative, mechanistic approach to improve the understanding of the effects of deep brain stimulation therapy on gait in Parkinson’s disease.
Objectives: To identify acute and chronic effects of deep brain stimulation (DBS) on gait outcomes measured in a clinical setting.
Role: Co-I
Total Direct Costs: $30K
VA Merit, Hackney, PI; 09/2019–08/2024
Partnered dance aerobic exercise as a neuroprotective, motor, and cognitive intervention in Parkinson’s disease.
Objectives: Randomized controlled trial of partnered exercise-based rehabilitation to improve motor-cognitive integration and slow neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease.
Role: Co-I/Biostatistician
Total Direct Costs: $1.1M
NIH 1R01AG062691, Hackney, PI; 06/2019–03/2024
Partnered Rhythmic Rehabilitation for Enhanced Motor-Cognition in Prodromal Alzheimer's Disease
Objective: To compare the effects of partnered, rhythmic rehabilitation and walking rehabilitation for people with prodromal Alzheimer's disease on motor-cognitive integration.
Role: Co-I/Biostatistician
Total Project Cost: $3.3M
NIH R01HD046922, Ting, PI; 09/2017–05/2022
Neuromechanical modeling of postural responses: mechanisms of balance impairments in Parkinson's disease
Objectives: To use novel computational and experimental techniques to advance mechanistic understanding of how muscle rigidity, a cardinal sign of PD, contributes to balance impairments in carefully-selected akinetic/rigid PD patients.
Role: Co-I/Biostatistician
Total Direct Costs: $2.2M

Completed Grant Support

APDA Center for Advanced Research at Emory University, Wichmann, PI; 09/2019-08/2021
Objectives: This proposal will support ongoing pilot project funding for Parkinson's disease research at Emory University. Dr. Mckay will conduct a pilot study comparing sensorimotor control of balance in neurocognitively normal PD patients with that in those with Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD). The other pilot study in year one will use advanced imaging approaches to identify biomarkers of PDD and related conditions.
Role: PI, Pilot Study 2
Direct costs: $45k to McKay
NIH K25HD086276, McKay, PI; 09/2016–08/2021
Neural mechanisms of balance deficits, falls, and freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease
NIH/NICHD/NCMRR Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award
Research Objectives: To translate analyses of balance control developed in animal models and healthy young individuals to identify new predictors of fall risk among PD patients and to understand determinants of freezing of gait. Training Objectives: To provide the PI with didactic and mentored training in PD pathophysiology and clinical management.
Role: PI
Primary Mentors: Thomas Wichmann, M.D., Stewart Factor, D.O.
Total Direct Costs: $509K
NIH KL2TR000455 and UL1TR000454, Stephens, PI; 08/2014–07/2016
NIH/NCATS Mentored Clinical and Translational Research Scholar Award
Reactive balance to identify disease phenotypes and predict falls in Parkinson’s disease
Research Objectives: to compare reactive balance control in tremor-dominant (TD) and postural instability and gait dominant (PIGD) PD phenotypes and to obtain preliminary data on associations between reactive balance deficits and fall risk in a small sample of PD patients. Training Objectives: to provide the KL2 scholar with didactic training in clinical research design, biostatistical analysis, and epidemiology.
Role: KL2 Scholar
Total Direct Costs: $115K to McKay
NIH R21HD075612, Ting, PI; 08/2013–05/2015
Mechanisms of improvement in neurorehabilitation of Parkinson's Disease
NIH/NICHD/NCMRR Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Award
Objective: To differentially identify mechanisms of adaptation during perturbed balance control before and after an adapted tango intervention.
Role: Co-I
Total Direct Costs: $325K
Pilot Grant, McKay, Hackney, co-PIs; 04/2012–03/2013
Emory-Udall Parkinson's Disease Center / GCTSA
Mechanisms of balance improvement during Parkinson’s disease rehabilitation
Objective: to investigate brainstem-mediated mechanisms of enhanced postural control after motor rehabilitation in individuals with PD in the “ON” medication state.
Role: Co-PI
Total Direct Costs: $35K

Grants Submitted

NIH 1R01HD107208-01A1, McKay, PI; 04/01/2023–03/31/2028
Specific fall risk factors in healthy aging and Parkinson's disease
Objectives: To test the predictive power of two specific risk factors for the two most common types of falls in people with and without Parkinson's disease.
Role: PI
Total Project Costs: $3.0M
Submitted 5 July 2022
NIH 1R21AG081711-01, McKay, PI; 04/01/2023–03/31/2025
Human activity recognition for impaired and freezing gait
Objectives: 1. To apply deep learning computer vision models to classify freezing and impaired gaits in two novel datasets. 2. To release the underlying data and code for public competition.
Role: PI
Total Project Costs: $424K
Submitted 16 June 2022
NIH 1R01HD107208-01A1, Factor/McKay, MPI; 04/01/2023–03/31/2028
Multifaceted examination of freezing gait in Parkinson's disease
Objectives: To use PiB-PET imaging and comprehensive motion analysis to characterize freezing gait in Parkinson's disease.
Role: Co-PI
Total Project Costs: $3.2M
Submitted 5 June 2022
NIH Bridge2AI Award, Tunik (Northeastern U), PI, McKay, Site PI; 02/2022–01/2026
Generation of the Human Movement (HuMo) Phenotyping Dataset and Scalable Framework to Enable Artificial Intelligence Applications for Understanding Disease and Improving Health
Objectives: This multi-site project will generate a large longitudinal dataset of structured, semi-structured, and unstructured human movement recordings in people with Parkinson's disease and other conditions.
Role: Emory Site PI, Data Acquisition Module Member, Standards Module Member
Submitted: 8/2021
Total Direct Costs (Emory Site): $660K
R01, McKay/Factor, PIs; 04/2022–03/2027
Multifaceted approach to characterizing subtypes of Freezing of Gait in Parkinson's disease
Objectives: to characterize biological, neuroanotomical, and kinematic features of Freezing of Gait (FOG) subtypes.
Role: Co-PI
Submitted: 7/2021
Total Direct Costs: $2.2M
R01, McKay, PI; 2021-2026
Modifiable causal pathways to improve Center of Mass control and prevent falls in Parkinson's disease
Objectives: Identify specific and modifiable risk factors for fall subclasses in PD.
Role: PI
Submitted: 2/2021
Total Direct Costs: $2.3M
Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (OAIC) Pilot Grant, Borich, PI; 2021-2022
Understanding the effects of diabetes on balance control and falls post-stroke
Objectives: Pilot study to examine balance features predictive of fall risk in stroke survivors.
Role: Co-I
Submitted: 9/2020
Total Direct Costs: $30k
VA 1 I01 RX003688-01, Hackney, PI; 12/2020-11/2024
Racial Differences and Differences in Behavioral Outcomes and Remote Fall Intervention in Veteran COVID-19 Survivors
Objectives: To characterize motor, cognitive and psychosocial function in Diverse Veteran COVID-19 Survivors and to test the non-inferiority of TeleSTEADI Fall Prevention Initiative for reducing falls in incidence in Veteran Survivors versus Veterans who have never had COVID-19.
Role: Co-I/Biostatistician
Total Direct Costs: $1.2M
CRCNS Research Proposal, Ting/McKay/De Groote/Desloovre, PIs; 09/2019–08/2024
CRCNS Research Proposal: Collaborative Research: Neuromechanical models of muscle tone and reflex contributions to neurological movement disorders
Objectives: to develop generalizable mechanistic models and automated assessment tools for spasticity in cerebral palsy and Parkinsonian rigidity.
Role: Co-PI
Submitted: 11/2019
Total Direct Costs: $2.1M
R01, Factor, PI; 07/2020–06/2020
Impact of catecholamines and amyloid on cognition and freezing gait in Parkinson disease
This project will use neuropsychological testing, neuromelanin MRI and PIB-PET imaging, and CSF analysis to characterize levodopa unresponsive freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease.
Role: Co-I
Submitted: 10/2019
Total Project Cost: $3.7M
R01NS112250-01A1, McKay, PI; 04/2020–03/2025
Neural mechanisms of falls in de novo Parkinson’s disease and STN DBS patients
Objectives: 1) To test whether new biomarkers of impaired control of the Center of body Mass (CoM) during balance tasks are predictive of "first falls" in people with newly-diagnosed PD; 2) To test whether impaired CoM control during balance responds to therapeutic deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN DBS); 3) To evaluate the impact going through functional neurosurgery has on the rate of falls experienced by PD patients referred to STN DBS surgery.
Role: PI
Submitted: 10/2018
Percentile: 31
Resubmitted: 7/2019
Total Direct Costs: $2.2M
Pilot Grant, Martino, PI; 2019-2020
Assessment of Parkinsonian rigidity through experimental and simulation analysis of the pendulum test
Objectives: Pilot study to quantify lower limb rigidity using kinematic motion capture and biomechanical simulation in a laboratory environment and via mobile phone video.
Role: Co-I
Submitted: 3/2019
Total Direct Costs: $30k
R01, Hackney, PI; 09/2019–08/2024
Assaying biological central and peripheral biomarkers of neuroprotection from Partnered Aerobic Exercise in Parkinson's disease
Objectives: Randomized controlled trial of partnered exercise-based rehabilitation to reduce OFF time and improve other markers of progression in PD patients with motor fluctuations.
Role: Co-I
Submitted: 2/2019
Total Project Cost: $3.7M
CRCNS Research Proposal, Ting/De Groote, PIs; 09/2019–08/2024
Collaborative Research: Mechanistic models for dissociating muscle tone and reflex contributions to movement in neurological disorders
Objectives: to develop generalizable mechanistic models and automated assessment tools for spasticity in cerebral palsy and spinal cord injury, as well as Parkinsonian rigidity.
Role: Co-PI
Submitted: 11/2018
Total Direct Costs: $1.7M
Emory Udall Center Pilot Proposal, Hackney, PI; 07/2018–06/2019
Dance-based rehabilitation and dietary modification to improve patient experience of drug efficacy in Parkinson’s disease
Objectives: To test whether diet modification is a successful adjuvant to exercise-based rehabilitation in improving OFF times in PD.
Role: Co-I
Submitted: 03/2018
Total Direct Costs: $30K
Georgia CTSA Pilot Proposal, Scorr, PI; 07/2018–06/2019
Next generation diagnosis and measurement metrics for cervical dystonia
Objectives: To develop and test quantitative kinematic outcome measures for cervical dystonia before and after best medical therapy.
Role: Co-I
Submitted: 03/2018
Total Direct Costs: $30K
Emory Brain Health Initiative Pilot Grant, Buetefisch, PI; 07/2017–07/2019
A quantitative, mechanistic approach to improve the understanding of the effects of deep brain stimulation therapy on gait in Parkinson’s disease
Objectives: To identify acute and chronic effects of deep brain stimulation (DBS) on gait outcomes measured in a clinical setting.
Role: Co-I
Submitted: 04/2017
Total Direct Costs: $90K
Status: Semi-Finalist, not awarded
VA Merit, Hackney, PI; 02/2017–01/2021
Rehabilitation mechanisms in Parkinson's disease and minor cognitive dysfunction
Objectives: To identify effective treatment strategies for people with comorbid Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and to identify underlying mechanisms to guide the development of improved rehabilitative options for postural control.
Role: Co-I
Submitted: 06/2016
Total Direct Costs: $1.1M
NSF Research Award, Clifford, PI; 09/2017–08/2022
BIGDATA: IA: Collaborative Research: An unsupervised framework for fusing conflicting medical labels of continuous time series in big data
Objectives: To extend a Bayesian framework developed for automatic classification of electrocardiographic data to include electroencephalography data (for detection of seizures) and electromyography data (for assessment of Parkinson’s disease status).
Role: Co-I
Submitted: 03/2017
Total Direct Costs: $2.0M
Google Faculty Research Award, McKay, PI; Nominally 1 year, unrestricted
Reducing transportation barriers to exercise rehabilitation for people with Parkinson’s disease: a potential early application for self-driving technology
Objectives: 1) To develop backend and user–facing technology that will connect Parkinson’s patients with crowdfunded free rides to exercise–based rehabilitation via e–hail or self–driving technology. 2) To demonstrate that free rides to rehab improve outcomes in a randomized trial.
Role: PI
Co-Investigators: Clifford, Hackney
Submitted: 09/2016
Total Direct Costs: $150K
R01, Clifford, PI; 07/2015–06/2018
A Large-Scale Bayesian Crowd-Sourcing Approach for Accurate Medical Labeling and Prediction in Neurophysiological Time Series
Objectives: to develop scalable, standardized, algorithms for segmentation, feature extraction and classification of surface electromyogram (sEMG) data, to create of a gold standard public database of sEMG of young healthy individuals and individuals with and without Parkinson’s disease, and to establish standards in sEMG analysis.
Role: Co-I
Submitted: 06/2016
Status: discussed, not awarded
Total Direct Costs: $900K
Disclosures. Dr. McKay provides clinical research consulting for BioCircuit Technologies.