Project Grant 2613454

This $344,401 Project Grant, awarded September 1, 2026, by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Engineering through the Engineering program (CFDA 47.041), funds collaborative research between Boise State University and University of Denver to develop an integrated computational model of human movement. The primary deliverable is a "digital twin" computational platform that combines neural activation, muscle physiology, skeletal mechanics, and pain signaling into a unified tool capable of predicting mobility changes resulting from injury, disease, and aging. The research team will personalize the model using imaging and functional data from individuals with osteoarthritis and patellofemoral pain, leveraging machine learning-assisted surrogate modeling to determine how anatomical and neural factors influence movement and muscle loading.

The project will generate secondary deliverables including open-source software and datasets to promote reproducibility, as well as machine learning-assisted tools designed to support clinical decision-making for physicians and therapists in tailoring individualized treatment and rehabilitation plans. The three-year award (completion date August 31, 2029) is expected to improve outcomes for individuals experiencing mobility loss and contribute to enhanced quality of life for patients with movement disorders. As a multiscale, subject-specific computational framework, the developed model represents a departure from traditional single-system approaches and addresses a gap in predictive capabilities for treatment outcomes in musculoskeletal and neurological conditions.