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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biomedical Sciences

Regenerative and Rehabilitation Sciences (RRS) Track

Track Summary: Regenerative and Rehabilitation Sciences (RRS) encompasses a highly interdisciplinary field of study that involves knowledge from diverse fields such as physiology, medicine, genomics, neuroscience, movement sciences, engineering, community and family systems, health services, and epidemiology. The knowledge from these varied disciplines is integrated with the foundational sciences of rehabilitation clinical practice and translational research, and is aimed at enhancing injury prevention, increasing activity, improving tissue regeneration/repair and function. RRS spans the entire life course, from infancy to geriatric populations, and addresses a wide variety of acute and chronic physical conditions that may negatively impact people’s abilities to perform daily activities and participate in their lives fully. The overall goal of RRS is to promote health and wellness among persons with or at risk of developing disabilities or persons with acquired pathophysiology and disease so that participation in daily life can be enhanced.

Overview: Research training in the health professions is necessary to provide needed university academicians in that can advance the fields of rehabilitation and repair/regeneration of tissue after acute or chronic injuries. Patient health is central to all rehabilitation, so the ability to recover from either injury or disability can be impacted by underlying pathophysiology such as cancer, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and aging. College of Health Professions and related disciplines are increasingly offering PhD preparation in the regenerative and rehabilitation sciences area. Study in regenerative and rehabilitation sciences currently represents a significant expansion of the student’s research training that extends beyond professional students obtaining a PhD after completing their degree (e.g., DPT, OTD, MOT) that is closely aligned with their professional degree and emphasizes clinical environment research skills. Thus, the RRS track offers an innovative opportunity for student training in research who can then pursue clinical and academic research careers within the health professions.

Goals: The goal of our RRS track is to prepare graduates with the skills needed to become successful educators, researchers, and innovators in the field of regenerative and rehabilitation sciences. Our graduates will develop strong research, teaching, and leadership skills which are essential for a successful academic career involving a high commitment in research and teaching. Through didactic training and mentored research activities, the RRS student will develop the skills needed to become an independent scientist.  Graduates will have developed the skills needed to teach in higher education, conduct research, and disseminate scholarly research work to peers, colleagues, and the community.

Program Information

 

Program Faculty

Stephen alway's headshot.

Stephen Alway, PhD, FACSM
Professor, Department of Physical Therapy
Director, Muscle Biology and Sarcopenia Laboratory
Faculty Portfolio

Research areas: Sarcopenia, skeletal muscle function, muscle mitochondrial dysfunction, muscle atrophy, myonuclear apoptosis, and muscle hypertrophy

 

Barry Dale

Barry Dale, PhD, PT, DPT, MBA, OCS, SCS, ATC, CSCS
Professor and Chair
Department of Physical Therapy
College of Health Professions, UTHSC
Faculty Portfolio

Research areas: Functional recovery with tendinopathy; biomechanics of movement; gait analysis; exercise-induced fatigue; predictive analytics for injury precention

 

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Denis DiAngelo, PhD
UTHSC Distinguished Professor of Biomechanics
Department of Orthopedics and Biomedical Engineering
College of Medicine, UTHSC
Faculty Portfolio                                              

Research Areas: Advanced biomechanical testing and evaluation of orthopaedic and spinal implant technology using patented robotic testing platform. Design of new rehabilitative bracing technology, including a pediatric scoliosis brace, dynamic ankle orthosis, and offloading back support device.

 

Mohammed Khan

Mohammad Moshahid Kahn, PhD
Assistant Professor, Neurology, Joint Appointment - Department of Physical Therapy

Faculty Profile

Research Areas: Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Stroke, Dystonia, DNA damage, Neuroinflammation, Oxidative stress and antioxidants, Regulation of motor function, Dementia, Ribosomal biogenesis, Long non-coding RNAs and CNS in regulation of muscle weakness.

 

UTHSC no image available

William Mihalko, MD, PhD
Professor, Hyde Chair of Excellence in Rehabilitative Engineering
Department of Orthopedics and Biomedical Engineering
College of Medicine, UTHSC 
Faculty Portfolio

Research areas: Research interests align with his clinical practice as a hip and knee arthroplasty surgeon; a retrieval program for analyzing well-functioning long-term implants; biomarkers associated with early joint replacement failures. 

 

Junaith Mohamed

Junaith S. Mohamed, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Diagnostic and Health Sciences
Director, Muscle and Neural Laboratory
Faculty Portfolio

Research Areas: Skeletal muscle; Skeletal muscle regeneration repair and growth; Skeletal muscle atrophy; Genomics; Proteomics; Epigenetics; microRNAs; Cellular signaling pathways.

 

Kristen Ness

Kirsten Ness, PT, PhD, FAPTA
Member, St. Jude Faculty 
Epidemiology and Cancer Control Department
St Jude Children’s Hospital 
https://www.stjude.org/directory/n/kirsten-ness.html

Research areas: Clinical and population measurement of physical performance and disability; Exercise, physical activity and dietary intervention to prevent and remediate frail health; Accelerated aging in cancer survivors

 

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Phyllis A. Richey, PhD
Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine, Joint Appointments - Department of Physical Therapy and Department of Pediatrics
Faculty Portfolio

Research Areas: Exercise Physiology, pediatric cardiovascular physiology, delivery and assessment of healthy lifestyle interventions, physical activity, mobility, prevention and treatment of obesity and metabolic syndrome

 

Webb A. Smith

Webb A. Smith, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Pediatric Obesity Program
Faculty Portfolio

Research Areas: Clinical exercise physiology, Exercise intervention as medicine, Obesity control and prevention across lifespan, Impact of health behaviors on physical fitness and health, Exercise interventions for health and physical function, Physical function and physiology in those with chronic disease, Physiological adaptations to exercise

 

Last Published: Apr 1, 2025