Research Support & Grants

VIS4ION-FiT: Visually Impaired Smart Service System for Spatial Intelligence and Onboard Navigation for Fitness in Thailand

Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH) / National Eye Institute
Grant No.: R01TW012930-01
Role: PI
Collaborator(s): Rajesh Vedanthan (MPI), Todd Hudson, Chen Feng, Giles Hamilton-Fletcher, Mahya Beheshti

Description/Synopsis: This project supports the implementation and testing of the VIS4ION-FIT wearable and smartphone system, which uses artificial intelligence and multimodal feedback to help persons with blindness or low vision safely engage in physical activity in public parks. The study evaluates whether the system can increase physical activity and improve health-related outcomes.

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AAABLE: Addressing Ableism through Accommodations for Blindness and Low Vision in Healthcare — R01EY036667

Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH) / National Eye Institute
Grant No.: R01EY036667
Role: PI
Collaborator(s): Megan Morris (MPI), Joseph Ravanell, Kathi-Ann Joseph, Sefy Paulose Joshi, Angeles Ramos, Mahya Beheshti

Description/Synopsis: This project develops and evaluates a framework to improve accessibility and reasonable accommodations for patients with blindness and low vision in healthcare settings. The goal is to reduce barriers to care and promote health equity through evidence-based navigation and accommodation strategies.

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The Contribution of Eye–Hand Coordination Impairment to Functional Deficits in Stroke — R21HD107353

Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Grant No.: R21HD107353
Role: PI
Collaborator(s): Todd Hudson, Mahya Beheshti, Robert Sainburg, Yvonne Lui, Fieremans, Sohae Chung

Description/Synopsis: This project examines how disruptions in eye-hand coordination contribute to functional impairment following stroke. Using synchronized eye tracking and kinematic analysis, the study quantifies visuomotor coordination deficits and aims to inform rehabilitation strategies that improve functional outcomes.

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VIS4ION-Thailand: Visually Impaired Smart Service System for Spatial Intelligence and Onboard Navigation — R33EY033689

Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH) / National Eye Institute
Grant No.: R33EY033689
Role: PI
Collaborator(s): Rajesh Vedanthan (MPI), Todd Hudson, Chen Feng, Giles Hamilton-Fletcher, Mahya Beheshti

Description/Synopsis: This project advances a smart navigation system for individuals with visual impairment using wearable and smartphone-based technologies. It focuses on scalable, infrastructure-independent navigation support across complex indoor and outdoor environments.

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Sensory Substitution and Brain Plasticity Following Vision Loss — R01EY034897A1

Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Grant No.: R01EY034897A1
Role: Co-I
Collaborator(s): Chuen Wing Chan (PI)

Description/Synopsis: This project develops and evaluates sensory substitution technologies that convert visual input into auditory or tactile signals. It studies neuroplastic mechanisms that support functional compensation after vision loss and informs the design of assistive technologies that enhance independence, mobility, and quality of life.

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Implementation of Communication Disability Collection and Accommodations in Primary Care Settings — R01DC020188

Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Grant No.: R01DC020188
Role: Co-I
Collaborator(s): Megan Morris

Description/Synopsis: This project develops an electronic health record–integrated framework to identify communication disabilities and support appropriate accommodations in primary care. Its goal is to improve patient-provider communication, care quality, and accessibility across routine clinical workflows.

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Human Hippocampal Oscillations during Visuomotor Exploration — R61DC022830

Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Grant No.: R61DC022830
Role: Co-I
Collaborator(s): Anli Liu (PI)

Description/Synopsis: This project investigates how hippocampal activity relates to eye movements during naturalistic visuomotor behavior. By integrating intracranial recordings with behavioral analysis, it aims to advance understanding of memory, navigation, and active visual exploration.

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NSF Convergence Accelerator Track H (Phase II): Smart Wearables for Expanding Workplace Access for People with Blindness and Low Vision — 2345139

Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Grant No.: 2345139
Role: PI
Collaborator(s): Maurizio Porfiri, Yao Wang, Sundeep Rangan, Chen Feng, Todd Hudson, Giles Hamilton-Fletcher, Mahya Beheshti

Description/Synopsis: This project supports the translation of smart wearable technologies to improve workplace access for individuals with blindness and low vision. It integrates navigation, scene understanding, networking, and human-machine interfaces for real-world deployment.

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EAGER: TaskDCL: MX3 – Navigation in Crowds for Persons with Blindness/Low Vision — 2421874

Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Grant No.: 2421874
Role: PI
Collaborator(s): Maurizio Porfiri

Description/Synopsis: This project uses virtual reality and wearable technologies to study how individuals with visual impairment navigate through crowds. The findings will support the development of safer and more effective assistive technologies for dynamic urban environments.

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THRIVES: TeleHealth, Analytics and Remote Patient Monitoring for Inclusive, Diverse, and Equitable Healthcare Work at Scale — 2129076

Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Grant No.: 2129076
Role: SP
Collaborator(s): Oded Nov (PI), Rumi Chunara, Batia M Wiesenfeld, Devin Mann, Olugbenga Ogedegbe

Description/Synopsis: The adoption of data-intensive technologies in healthcare warrants a thorough investigation of misalignments between current frameworks and proposed technologies that may undermine human-technology partnership. This project co-develops tools that lower barriers to technology adoption and empowers individuals with diverse roles within the medical sector to maximize patients' gains.

Unraveling Sensorimotor Integration Post-Stroke: Neurophysiological Insights — 90SFGE0072-01-00

Agency: NIDILRR Switzer Research Fellowships
Grant No.: 90SFGE0072-01-00
Role: Advisor/Mentor
Collaborator(s): Mahya Beheshti (PI)

Description/Synopsis: This research addresses gaps in understanding sensorimotor integration impairments after stroke, which limit mobility, independence, and quality of life. Using EEG and EMG, it examines brain–muscle connectivity during static and functional tasks to identify disrupted neural communication. The findings will support objective, data-driven rehabilitation strategies that improve motor function and promote recovery.

Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection (PASC) Initiative: NYU Langone Health Clinical Science Core, Data Resource Core, and PASC Biorepository Core — OT2HL161847

Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Grant No.: OT2HL161847
Role: Co-I

Description/Synopsis: This multi-core initiative supported large-scale clinical and translational research on long COVID by establishing infrastructure for clinical phenotyping, data harmonization, and biospecimen collection. It enabled multidisciplinary studies on mechanisms, risk factors, and long-term outcomes.

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VIS4ION-Thailand: Visually Impaired Smart Service System for Spatial Intelligence and Onboard Navigation — 5R21EY033689-02

Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Grant No.: 5R21EY033689-02
Role: PI

Description/Synopsis: This project developed a smart wearable assistive platform to enhance navigation and mobility for individuals with visual impairment. By integrating multimodal sensing, real-time mapping, and machine vision, it aimed to improve safety, independence, and health outcomes in complex environments.

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Eye–Hand Coordination in Elderly Stroke Survivors: A Functional Visuomotor Rehabilitation Approach — R03AG0423

Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Grant No.: R03AG0423
Role: PI

Description/Synopsis: This project investigated visuomotor coordination deficits in older adults following stroke, with emphasis on eye-hand coupling during goal-directed movement. The work aimed to inform targeted rehabilitation strategies that improve motor recovery and independence.

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Eye–Hand Coordination in Stroke — K12

Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Grant No.: K12
Role: PI

Description/Synopsis: This line of research examined disruptions in visuomotor coordination following stroke, focusing on temporal and spatial coupling between eye and hand movements. The work aimed to develop mechanism-based biomarkers that capture deficits beyond traditional clinical measures.

SCC IRG Track 2: Transportation Gaps and Disability-Related Unemployment – Wearables for Accessible Commuting — 1952180

Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Grant No.: 1952180
Role: PI

Description/Synopsis: This project addressed mobility-related barriers to employment among individuals with visual impairment by developing wearable systems and data-driven frameworks for accessible urban commuting. It aimed to improve mobility, safety, workforce participation, and health equity.

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NSF Convergence Accelerator Track H: Smart Wearables for Expanding Workplace Access for People with Blindness and Low Vision — 2236097

Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Grant No.: 2236097
Role: PI

Description/Synopsis: This project advanced smart wearable technologies that support navigation and accessibility in workplace environments. By integrating sensing, machine learning, and human-machine interfaces, it aimed to support seamless interaction with physical and digital workspaces.

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Future Expert Work in the Age of “Black Box”, Data-Intensive, and Algorithmically Augmented Healthcare

Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Role: Senior Personnel

Delivering Sensory and Semantic Visual Information via Auditory Feedback on Mobile Technology — W81XWH2110615

Agency: U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)
Grant No.: W81XWH2110615
Role: Co-PI

Description/Synopsis: This project developed mobile systems that translate visual information into auditory cues to support individuals with visual impairment. It emphasized real-time performance, semantic and spatial information delivery, usability, and deployment in everyday settings.

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Precise Customized Navigation for All, Indoors and Outdoors

Agency: National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR)
Role: Co-PI

Objective Assessment of Recovery during Post-Stroke Neurorehabilitation Therapy using Brain–Muscle Connectivity Network — 2037878

Agency: National Science Foundation / U.S. Food and Drug Administration (NSF/FDA)
Grant No.: 2037878
Role: Co-PI

Description/Synopsis: This project developed objective, physiology-based metrics of motor recovery by quantifying brain-muscle connectivity during rehabilitation. Using EEG and EMG, it aimed to establish reliable biomarkers for assessment, monitoring, and personalization of neurorehabilitation.

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SIR: Robust, Reliable, and Trustworthy Regulatory Science Tools for Stroke Recovery Assessment using Hybrid Brain–Muscle Functional Coupling Analysis — 2037878

Agency: National Science Foundation / U.S. Food and Drug Administration (NSF/FDA)
Grant No.: 2037878
Role: Co-PI

Description/Synopsis: This project extended prior work to develop regulatory-grade tools for assessing stroke recovery using hybrid brain-muscle connectivity metrics. It focused on robustness, reliability, and clinical validity to support translation into regulatory and clinical decision-making.

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Vision-Based Diagnostics for Concussion

Agency: New York State (ECRIP)
Role: Co-PI

De-constructing Urban Park Plazas for the Visually Impaired: An Approach to Optimize Navigation using an Advanced Wearable

Agency: NYC Department of Transportation
Role: PI

Technology for Pressure Sensing

Agency: NYC Economic Development Corporation (NYC EDC)

Walk Safe Navigator Project

Agency: The Parkinson Alliance
Role: PI

Materson Award

Agency: Foundation for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Role: PI

Description/Synopsis: This award supports innovative research and career development in physical medicine and rehabilitation, enabling early-stage investigators to advance impactful work in neurorehabilitation.

Revolutionizing the White Cane: Evolving toward a Disruptive Commercial Product

Agency: Ender's Trust
Role: PI

Art in Parkinson's Project

Agency: Fresco Institute for Parkinson's & Movement Disorders
Role: Co-PI

Description/Synopsis: This project explores the role of artistic engagement in improving motor and cognitive function in individuals with Parkinson's disease, supporting innovative non-pharmacological rehabilitation approaches.

Cooperative SLAM meets Edge Computing for an Advanced Wearable

Agency: Telecom Corporate Sponsorship
Role: PI

Semantic Visual-Inertial SLAM (SVI-SLAM): Advanced Wearables Reconstructing Scenes Without Infrastructure and at the EDGE

Agency: Crown Castle
Role: PI

Mobility in Age-related Macular Degeneration

Agency: NYU Grossman School of Medicine (CTSI Pilot)
Collaborator(s): Anat Lubetsky (PI), Smita Roa

A Single Sensor AI-facilitated Platform to Evaluate and Enhance Balance Anywhere, Anytime

Agency: NYU Grossman School of Medicine (CTSI Pilot)
Role: Co-I
Collaborator(s): Betsy Coker (PI) and Anat Lubetsky

Description/Synopsis: This work aims to transform how balance is measured and managed by developing an accessible, at-home platform that enables continuous, data-driven assessment. By leveraging AI and wearable sensing, the project supports early detection of balance decline and scalable interventions to reduce fall risk and improve mobility and independence.

Real-world Auditory-Social Engagement (OAI Pilot Project)

Agency: NYU Langone Health / Optimal Aging Institute (OAI Pilot Project)
Role: Mentor
Collaborator(s): Ariel Hight (PI)

Description/Synopsis: Human communication is central to identity, connection, and well-being. When this process is disrupted, as in age-related hearing loss (ARHL), the consequences are profound: social isolation, increased listening effort, and elevated risk of cognitive decline and dementia. This project adopts eye tracking and audio/video to analyze auditory-social dynamics in the real world.

Omnidirectional Spatial Perception – Expanding Human Capabilities

Agency: NYU Grossman School of Medicine (ARSF)
Role: PI

Description/Synopsis: This project investigates new approaches to spatial perception and orientation by integrating sensory, computational, and engineering methods to expand human interaction with complex environments.

Physician-Scientist Training Program

Agency: NYU Grossman School of Medicine (CTSI Training)
Role: PI

Description/Synopsis: This program supports the development of physician-scientists through advanced training in clinical and translational research, fostering interdisciplinary approaches to improve patient care.

Wearables to Command More Access and Inclusion in a Smarter Transportation System

Agency: C2SMART (United States Department of Transportation Center)
Role: PI

Advanced Wearables

Agency: NYU SoM – Connect the Dots
Role: PI