BME Welcomes New Staff Member Jay Alberts, Ph.D.

Dr. Alberts joined the Biomedical Engineering Department in June as an Assistant Staff member with a joint appointment in CCF’s Center for Neurological Restoration.  Before joining CCF, he was an Assistant Professor in the School of Applied Physiology at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta.  He also held appointments in Georgia Tech’s Engineering Psychology Program of the School of Psychology, and the Atlanta VA Rehab R & D Center.  Dr. Alberts will continue to maintain his VA research program with a simultaneous appointment as Center Investigator at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center.

The aim of Dr. Alberts’ research is to understand the structure-function relationships within the central nervous system (CNS) contributing to skilled upper extremity function.  In particular, his research is focused on determining how grasping forces and torques are controlled and coordinated during functional dexterous manipulations.  Systematic investigation of movement patterns produced by different patient groups and healthy adults provides a window into the brain with respect to the role of various structures in the control of voluntary movement.  Experiments are performed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients to determine the role of the basal ganglia in movement control; studies with stroke patients provide insight into cortical and subcortical influences on movement control and comparisons between older and younger adults allow for understanding the general effects of aging on motor function.  Results from these studies provide basic scientific knowledge regarding movement control and have the potential to improve therapeutic interventions and provide methods for tracking the progression and severity of motor illnesses in an objective, quantifiable manner.

Dr. Alberts has numerous publications in high-impact neuroscience journals.  In a recent publication Dr. Alberts and his team reported, for the first time, that unilateral deep brain stimulation (DBS) in advanced Parkinson’s disease patients resulted in long-term changes in bilateral motor function.  These results have the potential to improve the accessibility of DBS to Parkinson’s disease patients who may not be eligible for the traditional bilateral implantation of stimulators due to various contraindications.

Dr. Alberts is currently conducting a preliminary clinical trial to determine the effectiveness of using a robotic device as an adjunct to traditional physical therapy in the rehabilitation of the upper extremity of patients who have suffered a stroke.  In addition to utilizing clinical measures to assess the effectiveness of robotic training, fMRI and kinetic data are being used to identify specific mechanisms underlying any changes in motor function.  This research project will be featured on the scientific program “Beyond 2000” on the Discovery Channel late in the fall of 2005.

Dr. Alberts received his Bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University in 1994 and his Ph.D. from Arizona State University in 2000.  During graduate school he was a Flinn Foundation Scholar and received support from the ARCS (Achievement Rewards for College Scientists) Foundation.  In 1999, an article based on his Master’s thesis project was published in Brain and was selected “Excellent Article of the Year” by an International Review Board and republished in “Focus on Parkinson’s Disease.”  Since 1998 he has had continuous extramural support for his research with grants coming from the American Parkinson’s Disease Association, NIH and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Dr. Alberts has been an active reviewer for numerous neuroscience scientific journals and has reviewed grants for the NIH, the VA and the Alzheimer’s Association.  While at Georgia Tech he served on a number of doctoral dissertation and Master’s thesis committees. He plans to continue mentoring undergraduate and graduate students through the Case BME program.  Dr. Alberts has taught a number of undergraduate and graduate courses ranging from Introductory Biomechanics to special topic courses dealing with the effects of aging on various brain structures and how that impacts movement control.

Dr. Alberts has also found a way to combine his passion for neuroscience and his favorite recreational activity, cycling.  In 2004, he co-founded, along with Parkinson’s patient Cathy Frazier, the non-profit Pedaling for Parkinson’s.  The aim of this organization is to raise awareness and funds for Parkinson’s disease and to encourage patients with Parkinson’s to maintain an active lifestyle after diagnosis.  In the summer of 2003, Cathy and Dr. Alberts rode a tandem bicycle 464 miles across Iowa.  During the past two summers, he has led a group of 22 cyclists, including two PD patients, on a ride across Iowa.  To date, more than $10,000 has been raised and donations have been made to the Georgia Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association and to local PD respite funds.  The Pedaling for Parkinson’s story has been covered by a number of local and national print and broadcast media.  During the 2003 ride, Dr. Alberts noticed an improvement in Cathy’s symptoms during the course of the week (e.g., improved gait and handwriting) while riding the tandem. A manuscript is currently in preparation that details these changes in motor function during this week of intense exercise. He plans to submit a collaborative NIH grant to determine the effects of exercise on Parkinson’s symptoms and its potential neuroprotective value.