Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Arizona State University, through its Office of Research and Sponsored Projects Administration, received a $160,620 Project Grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) under the Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.865). The award, effective June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2028, supports research characterizing bilateral ankle mechanics in stroke survivors and investigating relationships between ankle dysfunction and impaired posture and gait control.

The research initiative addresses critical knowledge gaps regarding post-stroke sensorimotor impairment by conducting comprehensive characterization of both paretic and non-paretic ankle mechanics across multiple planes of motion during upright posture control and walking. Primary project deliverables include detailed biomechanical analysis of ankle function during lower-extremity activities and a pilot study evaluating correlations between specific ankle mechanics alterations and clinical performance metrics related to posture and gait dysfunction. The project also aims to assess the predictive capacity of robotic characterization outcomes for functional impairment in stroke survivors, with findings intended to inform development of targeted rehabilitative strategies for the 7 million stroke survivors in the United States.