Our research projects center around improving mobility through the use of driving simulation, virtual reality treadmill training, cognitive-motor interference, task complexity and multimodal cognition. These methodologies assist our researchers in making discoveries that help improve the lives of people facing mobility and cognition difficulties.

Current Research Projects

1. A Comprehensive Virtual Reality Balance Assessment for Parkinson's Disease.
2. Driver's Safety Institute to Improve Performance of Long Haul Truck Drivers.
3. Virtual Reality Treadmill Training to Improve Cognition and Mobility in Multiple Sclerosis.
4. Neurophysiological Changes in Pre-Clinical Alzheimer's Disease.
5. Increased Mental Effort during Visual Scanning Tasks in mild Traumatic Brain Injury.
6. Driving after Concussion: Naturalistic and Driving Simulation Study.
7. Cognitive Control as an Intervention for Older Adults.

Completed Research Projects

1. Increased Cognitive Effort During Dual-tasking and Its Relationship with Falls in Parkinson's Disease
2. Cognitive Workload Reflects Subliminal Cognitive Impairment in Pre-Clinical Alzheimer's Disease
3. Cognitive Effort in Breast Cancer Survivors
4. The Eyes Have It: Use of Pupillometry to Assess Cognition in Multiple Sclerosis
5. Eye-catching Measures of Cognitive Fatigability and Daytime Sleepiness in Multiple Sclerosis
6. Development of a Low-Cost Portable Driving Simulator

Current and Previous Funding (last three years)

Hannes Devos (Site PI) and Jeffrey M. Hausdorff (PI)
Virtual Reality-Treadmill Combined Intervention for Enhancing Mobility and Cognitive Function in Patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis
National Multiple Sclerosis Society

Hannes Devos (PI), Jeffrey Burns (mentor), William Brooks (mentor), Kathleen Gustafson (mentor), Jonathan Mahnken (biostatistical advisor)
Neurophysiological Changes in Pre-clinical Alzheimer's Disease
National Institutes of Health

Hannes Devos (Co-I) and Vibhash Sharma (PI)
A Pilot Study for Quantitative Assessment of Gait in Essential Tremor Using Wireless Sensors: Potential Diagnostic Tool and Measure of Progression
Intentional Essential Tremor Foundation

Amber Conn (PI)
Driving in Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's Foundation

L. Steve Miller (UGA, PI), Hannes Devos (Co-PI), Abiodun Akinwuntan (Co-PI)
Cognitive Control as an Intervention for Older Adults
Clinical Translational Science Unit

Jamie Myers (Co-PI) and Hannes Devos (Co-PI)
Task Evoked Pupillary Response: Assessment of Cognitive Effort for Breast Cancer Survivors
University of Kansas Cancer Center 2017 Fall Pilot Award

Hannes Devos (Co-PI) and Abiodun Akinwuntan (Co-PI)
A Low Cost Portable Driving Simulator
Institute for Advancing Medical Innovation/Frontiers Trailblazer Award

Hannes Devos (Co-PI) and Jamie Myers (Co-PI), Abiodun Akinwuntan, Wendy He, Jennifer Klemp, Monica Kurylo, Melissa Mitchell, Anne O’Dea (Co-I)
Task-Evoked Pupillary Response: Assessment of Cognitive Effort for Breast Cancer Survivors
KU Cancer Center Pilot Grant

Hannes Devos (Co-PI) and Catherine Siengsukon (Co-PI)
Eye-Catching Measures of Cognitive Fatigability and Daytime Sleepiness in Multiple Sclerosis
KU Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science Research Fund

Hannes Devos (PI) and Sharon Lynch (Co-I)
The Eyes Have It: Evaluation of Cognition Through Pupillometry in Multiple Sclerosis
National Multiple Sclerosis Society

Melike Kahya (PI) and Hannes Devos (Mentor)
Cognitive Workload During Cognitive-Motor Interference and its Predictive Accuracy of Falls in Parkinson’s Disease
National Institutes of Health T-32 Kansas Training Program in Neurological and Rehabilitation Science

Melike Kahya (PI) and Hannes Devos (Mentor)
Cognitive Workload During Cognitive-Motor Interference and Its Predictive Accuracy of Falls in Parkinson’s Disease
Mabel A. Woodyard Fellowship in Neurodegenerative Disorders

Shelley Bhattacharya (Site PI), Abiodun Akinwuntan (Site Co-PI) and Hannes Devos (Co-I)
Driver’s Safety Institute to Improve Performance of Long Haul Truck Drivers
U.S. Department of Transportation