Welcome to the Colorado Concussion Research Laboratory
Lab Director, David Howell, PhD, ATC
Principal Investigator
Lab Director
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David Howell, PhD, ATC
The overarching goal of Dr. Howell’s research is to evaluate objective and quantitative measures that provide clinically relevant data for concussion management and to discover the physiologic underpinnings of post-concussion deficits. A concussion is a multifaceted and heterogeneous injury, so monitoring recovery and determining biological predictors of long-term outcomes remains challenging. Currently, Dr. Howell and his team are focused on establishing a framework to better understand and assess effective methods to allow athletes with a concussion to return to full sports participation in a safe manner. Dr. Howell is also the current president of the Pediatric Research in Sports Medicine (PRiSM) Society. Outside of the office, Dr. Howell enjoys activities that are typical for a Colorado resident: fly-fishing, skiing, hiking, canoeing, and exploring places that don’t get cell service.
Title:
Associate Professor, Department of Orthopedics, University of Colorado School of Medicine
Director of Clinical Research, Colorado Program for Musculoskeletal Research, Department of Orthopedics, University of Colorado School of Medicine
Director of Research, Sports Medicine Center, Children’s Hospital Colorado
Email:
Primary research interests:
Pediatric concussion; human movement analysis; youth athlete health
Links to complete bibliography of published work:
https://profiles.ucdenver.edu/display/15074432
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/david.howell.1/bibliography/public/
Education
:
BA, Whitworth University, Spokane, WA
MS, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
PhD, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
Post-Doc, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
Associate Lab Director
Julie C. Wilson, MD.
Through her clinical practice and corresponding research, Dr. Wilson’s goal is to advance the clinical care of children and adolescents with concussions through research investigating methods to diagnosis, manage and reduce the risk of concussions and their subsequent effects. As the Co-Director of the Concussion Program at Children’s Hospital Colorado, Dr. Wilson provides a wealth of experience as someone who treats children with a concussion on a daily basis, conveying unique insights from both a clinician and patient/parent perspective to incorporate into our ongoing research studies. Outside of work, Dr. Wilson enjoys cycling, snowboarding, spending time with her dogs, and trying to find the best tea and ice cream shops in Colorado.
Lab Members
Post-Doctoral Researcher
Catherine (Cat) Donahue, PhD, ATC
Catherine (Cat) Donahue, PhD, ATC, graduated with her Ph.D. from the University of Virginia (UVA) in 2023 and is now a post-doctoral research fellow in the Department of Orthopedics with a research focus on sports concussions. Prior to her PhD at the University of Virginia, she completed her Masters in 20 16 also at UVA, and her Bachelors at Point Loma Nazarene University in 2012. Dr. Donahue brings over 10 years of research and clinical experience as a certified athletic trainer, working in a variety of settings including athletics, military, and performing arts. Her research focuses on the sequelae of sports concussions, specifically the role of sleep and sleep-related factors. Outside of the lab, she enjoys paddleboarding, snowboarding, and spending time with her golden retriever, Goose.Research Scientists
Kate Smulligan, PhD, PT, DPT
Kate Smulligan is a Ph.D. candidate in the CU Rehabilitation Science program with a research interest in sports concussions. She is particularly interested in the interplay between the cervical spine and the vestibular and oculomotor systems, and how that impacts persistent symptoms following concussion. Kate began her career as a physical therapist specializing in traumatic brain injury rehabilitation, and she brings her clinical expertise in this area to further the understanding of optimal assessment, treatment, and prevention of concussions.Doctoral Students
Mathew Wingerson, MS
Mathew Wingerson, MS, is a Ph.D. student at the University of Colorado Anschutz studying rehabilitation sciences. The focus of his research is understanding how post-concussion exercise affects physiological markers of recovery in adolescents and young adults. Mathew is passionate about innovations of research and dedicated to leveraging advanced statistical and data science methods to enhance the clinical care of concussions. Outside of research, Mathew is an avid sports fan (Rock Chalk!), loves reading mystery novels, and will never turn down an offer to go thrift/antique shopping!
Joshua (Josh) Kniss, PT, DPT, OCS
Joshua (Josh) Kniss, PT, DPT, OCS is a Ph.D. student in the University of Colorado Rehabilitation Science Program at the Anschutz Medical Campus. Josh’s research interests include investigating movement patterns and gait dynamics in individuals who recently sustained a concussion to better predict prognosis, improve treatment strategies, and prevent concussion. Josh is an active-duty officer in the U.S. Army, and he brings seven years of experience as a U.S. Army Physical Therapist to the lab. In his free time, Josh enjoys spending time with his wife, two young sons, and two dogs. He is also an avid basketball player and snow skier.
Research Professionals
Kelsie Richardson, MS
Kelsie Richardson, MS, is a research professional in the Colorado Concussion Research Lab. She completed her BS in Biology at Chadron State College (2017) and her MS of Pharmaceutical Bioengineering at the University of Washington (2021), which focused on drug discovery and design as well as clinical drug and device development. Kelsie is particularly interested in the use of biomarkers as a method of determining concussion severity and long-term effects of brain injury. As an athlete and youth softball coach, she hopes to apply her knowledge and experience both on the field and in the lab.
Lab Alumni
Morgan Potter, Research Assistant (2017-2019). Current: Ph.D. Student, University of Delaware
Tatiana Patismas, Medical Resident (2019-2020). Current: Sports Medicine Fellow, Children’s Hospital Colorado.
Katie Van Deventer, Medical Student (2019-2020). Current: Medical Resident, UC-Irvine.
Julia Southard, Undergraduate Intern, Regis University (2019).
Corrine Seehusen, Research Assistant (2019-2021). Current: Medical Student, University of New England.
Linda Neely, Master’s Student (2021-2022). Current: Physical Therapy Student, University of Colorado.
Casey Little, Research Assistant (2021-2022). Current: Medical Student, University of Virginia
Jake Rademacher, Undergraduate Intern (2022-2023).
Samantha Magliato, Research Assistant and Master’s Student (2020-2023).
Ryan LaGreca, Master’s Student (2022-2023). Current: Physician Assistant Student, University of Colorado.
Samual Messenger, Master’s Student (2023-2024).
Madison Brna, Research Assistant (2022-2024). Current: Medical Student, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Lindsey Kemp, Research Assistant (2023-2024).
Makenna Hemmerle, Research Assistant (2023-2024).