Deborah Won
Papers
6
Total Citations
58
H-Index
5
About
Deborah Won is a biomedical engineer and rehabilitation scientist whose research sits at the intersection of robotics, functional electrical stimulation, and spinal cord injury (SCI) recovery. Her work centers on developing and optimizing body weight-supported treadmill training (BWSTT) technologies to restore stepping function following spinal cord injury, with a particular focus on rodent models that illuminate the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms of recovery. Won's most influential contribution—cited 25 times—demonstrated that robotic assistance encouraging active movement generation, rather than fully assisting stepping, produces superior locomotor learning in spinally contused rats, a finding with profound implications for clinical rehabilitation design. Building on this, she pioneered an innovative functional electrical stimulation (FES) system precisely synchronized with robotic stepping data, moving beyond conventional, pattern-based stimulation approaches to create more physiologically responsive therapies. Her subsequent research confirmed that robot-applied resistance during BWSTT further enhances both stepping outcomes and synaptic plasticity, suggesting neuroplasticity-driven benefits. Across her body of work, Won has consistently advanced the principle that the quality and timing of neuromuscular engagement during training—not simply movement assistance—is critical to meaningful rehabilitation. Her research offers important guidance for engineers and clinicians designing next-generation robotic and electrical stimulation therapies for SCI patients.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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