2026 Spring Symposium

Lucas Smith, PhD
Dr. Smith established the MyoMatrix Lab at UC Davis to investigate how the extracellular matrix dictates skeletal muscle mechanics as well as the regenerative capacity muscle. Dr. Smith earned his PhD in Bioengineering at UC San Diego working with Dr. Richard Lieber and Dr. Henry Chambers to understand skeletal muscle adaptions in contracture of children with cerebral palsy. Dr. Smith pursued the role of the extracellular matrix in muscle disease during postdoctoral work at the University of Pennsylvania with Dr. Elisabeth Barton. He continued studies at University of Pennsylvania on fibrosis in liver disease with Dr. Rebecca Wells and the influence of mechanical environments on stem cells with Dr. Dennis Discher. Dr. Smith integrated these studies at UC Davis as an Assistant Professor in 2018 and Associate Professor in 2024. His research seeks to uncover mechanisms leading to innovative therapies to modulate skeletal muscle function, with an emphasis on the stiffness of muscle in contracture.

Noelle Moreau, PhD, PT
Noelle G. Moreau, PhD, PT, is a Professor of Physical Therapy and the Associate Dean for Research in the School of Allied Health Professions at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. Dr. Moreau’s research focuses on the investigation of the neuromuscular mechanisms underlying abnormal muscle function and movement impairments in children with cerebral palsy from the macro to microscopic. Dr. Moreau’s work is funded through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where she is a principal investigator of two multi-site clinical trials to investigate the effects of novel intervention programs for harnessing muscle plasticity and improving walking activity and community mobility for children with cerebral palsy. The overarching goal of Dr. Moreau’s research is the development of effective rehabilitation strategies to improve activity, participation, and quality of life for individuals with cerebral palsy.

Sudarshan Dayanidhi, PhD, PT
Sudarshan Dayanidhi, PT, PhD, is a Research Scientist at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and an Assistant Professor at Northwestern University since 2015. Dr. Dayanidhi's research is primarily focused on skeletal muscle physiology and metabolism related to chronic diseases during development and during aging. He obtained an undergraduate degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Mumbai in 1999, followed by a MS in Pediatric Physical Therapy from Drexel University. He worked as a physical therapist in the Motion Analysis Lab at Shriners Hospitals for Children, Philadelphia from 2003-2007. His PhD work was done in the laboratory of Prof. Francisco Valero-Cuevas at the University of Southern California, part of a collaboration with Prof. Hans Forssberg at Karolinska Institute, Sweden. He obtained a MS in Mechanical Engineering in 2010 and a PhD in Biokinesiology in 2012. His postdoctoral training in muscle physiology from 2012-2015 was in the laboratory of Prof. Rick Lieber.  Dr. Dayanidhi's laboratory focuses on metabolism, muscle mitochondria and muscle stem cell physiology in both humans and animals. He is specifically interested in how these aspects change in children with cerebral palsy. His research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, American Heart Association, American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine/Pedal-with-Pete Foundation/C-PROGRESS, and Shirley Ryan AbilityLab.

Andrea Domenighetti, PhD, MBA

Andrea “Andy” Domenighetti, PhD, MBA, is a Research Scientist and Principal Investigator of the Translational Biomedicine Lab at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. He is a translational biologist whose work focuses on the cellular and tissue mechanisms that drive skeletal muscle dysfunction in neuromuscular and rehabilitation populations, with particular emphasis on cerebral palsy (CP). His research addresses muscle contractures and pathological remodeling, aiming to clarify how muscle biology changes across development and aging in CP and how these changes relate to function and clinical outcomes.

Dr. Domenighetti’s program integrates human biospecimens, clinically grounded study designs, and advanced molecular profiling approaches to map disease-relevant cell states and regulatory pathways. He also works closely with multidisciplinary clinical and research teams to bridge biological discovery with clinical translation, including biomarker development and therapeutic strategies to improve recovery in stroke, spinal cord injury, and CP.

He has authored peer-reviewed publications spanning cardiovascular, neuromuscular and musculoskeletal biology and currently leads collaborative projects focused on CP muscle biology and novel interventions to address progressive musculoskeletal and neurological complications.

Jason Howard, MD
Dr. Howard is a Royal College/American Board-certified Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon currently serving as the Division Head of Orthopaedic Surgery at the IWK Health Centre and Professor of Surgery at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Prior to this, Dr. Howard practiced at Nemours Children’s Hospital–Alfred I. duPont Campus in Wilmington, Delaware, assuming the role of Director of Orthopaedic Research during that time. He attended medical school at Memorial University (1998) and residency at the University of Calgary (2003). His clinical fellowships were at the Royal Children's Hospital-Melbourne (Pediatric Orthopaedics), and at Starship Children's Hospital in Auckland, New Zealand (Pediatric Spine). In addition to his medical training, Dr. Howard also holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering (Memorial) and graduate studies in Biodesign at Stanford University. His clinical interests include cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophies, spinal muscular atrophy, peripheral neuropathies, and other neuromuscular conditions (including spine). His publications are focused on spastic muscle basic science and epidemiological studies in cerebral palsy and other neuromuscular disorders, specifically spinal muscular atrophy. In 2019, he co-edited a highly successful textbook, “The Pediatric and Adolescent Hip: Essentials and Evidence” (Springer Nature) which has had global appeal.

Eva Pontén, MD, PhD

Eva Pontén, MD, PhD is an Associate Professor and a specialist in orthopedic surgery and hand surgeon at the Department of Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery, Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm, and has an assignment as Karolinska University Hospital Chief Physician.

Her clinical practice focuses mainly on cerebral palsy (upper and lower limb), spina bifida, arthrogryposis, limb deficiencies, developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), and trauma.

In her research, she focuses mainly on cerebral palsy, with particular interest in muscle physiology, morphology, and function, as well as treatment strategies including the use of botulinum toxin. Her work seeks to deepen understanding of neuromuscular impairments and translate scientific insights into improved therapeutic interventions. She also studies gait and standing in spina bifida, arthrogryposis, bladder exstrophy and limb deficiencies.

Dr. Pontén is actively involved in teaching and mentoring the next generation of surgeons and researchers, and she contributes regularly to national and international scientific forums.

Ferdinand von Walden, MD, PhD
Ferdinand von Walden MD/PhD is an associate professor of physiology at the Department of Women’s and Children’s Health at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, and a resident in pediatrics at the Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. He leads a multidisciplinary team focusing on molecular muscle physiology in health and disease and adaptations to physical activity in both children and adults.