Opportunities - Helping Rehabilitation Robots Adapt Arm Therapy to Each Person After Stroke
Helping Rehabilitation Robots Adapt Arm Therapy to Each Person After Stroke
CIHR Project Grant application
University of Alberta (lead) with the University of Calgary as a study site
Background
After a stroke, many people have trouble moving one arm. Rehabilitation robots can help people practise arm movements many times and can make tasks easier or harder. But a game score does not always show what a person can do on their own. A good score may happen because the robot is helping or because the person is leaning with their body. Our CIHR study will test a better way to guide robotic arm therapy. Short checks without robot help will show what the person can do on their own. Information collected during practice will also help decide when a task is ready to become harder. The study will involve adults living with long-term effects of stroke in Edmonton and Calgary. We hope this work will help robotic arm therapy better match each person's needs.
Roles and Responsibilities
We are looking for two patient partners: people who have had a stroke and/or family caregivers. No research or robotics background is needed. Patient partners will help us make sure the study focuses on what matters to people affected by stroke. They will also help us make the study easier to join for people with different needs and backgrounds.
For the grant application, partners will give advice on study goals and plans; how people are invited and supported to take part; ways to reduce time and travel burden; and clear recruitment and consent materials. We also want advice on travel, scheduling, caregiver needs, and outcomes that matter after stroke.
If the grant is funded, partners can stay involved throughout the study. Based on their interests, they may help with recruitment and retention plans, review how information is collected, help make sense of results, and help plan how findings are shared and used. They may also contribute to talks or papers when appropriate. We will provide support and any training needed.
Time Commitment
The CIHR grant is due September 9, 2026, so the first stage is short and flexible. We would like one 30-45 minute welcome meeting and, if time allows, one short discussion before we submit. A full review of the grant proposal is not required at this stage. If reviewing a draft is part of the usual patient-partner process and a working version is ready in time, we can share relevant sections for optional review.
If the grant is funded, the project is expected to run from April 2027 to March 2032. We expect about 2-3 meetings each year, usually about 60 minutes, plus a few short document reviews. Meetings can be online. In-person meetings are optional when practical. We will plan times around partner availability.
Compensation/Reimbursement
Yes. Patient partners will be paid for their time in meetings and for short preparation or review tasks. We will follow AbSPORU, CIHR and University of Alberta payment guidance. We will also pay back reasonable costs such as parking, local travel or taxi, and caregiver or dependent-care costs when needed. There is no cost to take part as a patient partner.
For more information or to apply please connect with
Dr. Milad Nazarahari, PhD, EIT, Assistant Professor, University of Alberta
Email: nazaraha@ualberta.ca
