Bio
Dr. Edwards’ research focuses on using technology, including transcranial magnetic stimulation and rehabilitation robotics, to improve recovery in stroke, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injury. At MRRI, he leads additional development of clinical-research integration, and he is further expanding MRRI’s movement science focus. Dr. Edwards also holds a position as a professor in neuroscience at Edith Cowan University in Australia.
Dr. Edwards joined MRRI in 2018 from Burke Neurological Institute in White Plains, N.Y., where he was the director of the Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation Laboratory and director of the Restorative Neurology Clinic. He was also a lecturer in neurology, and Co-Director of the Intensive Course in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation at Harvard Medical School.
The Human Motor Recovery Laboratory has several lines of research addressing recovery of functional movement in humans following stroke. Quantitative clinical neurophysiology, neuroimaging, and kinematic data are studied to understand the basis of motor symptoms and inform emerging physical rehabilitation strategies.
World Federation for Neurorehabilitation – Robotics Special Interest Group
In recognition of his experience in robotics together with MRRI leadership in rehabilitation research, Dr. Edwards was invited to co-chair the World Federation for NeuroRehabilitation (WFNR) Robotics Special Interest Group commencing 2020.
Selected Publications
Below are selected publications by Dr. Edwards. For a full list of his published research, click here.
2022
Van der Groen, O., Potok, W., Wenderoth, N., Edwards, G., Mattlingley, J.B., Edwards, D.: Using noise for the better: The effects of transcranial random noise stimulation on the brain and behavior. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2022 May 17;138:104702 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104702
Zumbansen, A., Kneifel, H., Lazzouni, L., Ophey, A., Black, S.E., Chen, J.L., Edwards, D., Funck, T., Hartmann, A.E., Heiss, W-D, Hildesheim, F., Lanthier, S., Lesperance, P., Mochizuki, G., Paquette, C., Rochon, E., Rubi-Fessen, I., Valles, J., Wortman-Jutt, S., Thiel, A.: NORTHSTAR-study group. Differential effects of speech and language therapy and rTMS in chronic versus subacute post-stroke aphasia: Results of the NORTHSTAR-CA trial. Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, 2022 DOI: 10.1177/15459683211065448
Edwards, D.J., Forrest, G., Cortes, M., Weightman, M.M., Sadowsky C., Chang, S-H., Furman, K., Bialek, A., Prokup, S., Carlow, J., VanHiel, L., Kemp, L., Musick, D., Campo, M., Jayaraman, A.: Walking improvement in chronic incomplete spinal cord injury with exoskeleton robotic training (WISE): a randomized controlled trial. Spinal Cord. 2022. doi: 10.1038/s41393-022-00751-8.
2021
Cramer, S.C., Le, V., Saver, J.L., Dodakian, L., See, J., Augsburger, R., McKenzie, A., Zhou, R.J., Chiu, N.L., Heckhausen, J., Cassidy, J.M., Scacchi, W., Smith, M.T., Barrett, A.M., Knutson, J., Edwards, D., Putrino, D., Agrawal,K., Ngo, K., Roth, E.J., Tirschwell, D.L., Woodbury, M.L., Zafonte, R., Zhao, W., Spilker, J., Wolf, S.L., Broderick, J.P., Janis, S., Intense Arm Rehabilitation Therapy Improves the Modified Rankin Scale Score: Association Between Gains in Improvement and Function. Neurology, 96(14):e1812-e1822, 2021 PMID: 33589538 doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000011667
Fried, P.J., Santarnecchi, E., Antal, A., Bartres-Faz, D., Bestmann, S., Carpenter, L.L., Celnik, P., Edwards, D., Farzan, F., Fecteau, S., George, M.S., He, B., Kim, Y-H., Leocani, L., Lisanby, S.H., Loo, C., Luber, B., Nitsche, M.A., Paulus, W., Rossi S., Rossini, P.M., Rothwell, J., Sack, A.T., Thut, G., Ugawa, Y., Ziemann, U., Hallett, .M., & Pascual-Leone, A. Training in the practice of noninvasive brain stimulation: Recommendations from an IFCN committee. Clinical Neurophysiology, 132(3):819-837, 2021 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2020.11.018
2020
Zumbansen, A., Black, S., Chen, J., Edwards, D., Hartmann, A., Heiss, W. D., Lanthier, S., Lespérance, P., Mochizuki, G., Paquette, C., Rochon, E., Rubi-Fessen, I., Valles, J., Kneifel, H., Wortman-Jutt, S., Thiel, A.. Non-invasive brain stimulation as add-on therapy for subacute post-stroke aphasia: a randomized trial (NORTHSTAR). European Stroke Journal, 2020 https://di.og/10.1177/2396987320934935
Wuennemanna, M.J., Mackenziea, S.W., Lanea, H.[P., Peltza, A.R., Mac, X., Gerberc, L.M., Edwards, D.J., Kitago, T.: Dose and staffing comparison study of upper limb device-assisted therapy. Neurorehabilitation, 46(3):287-297, 2020 DOI:10.3233/NRE-192993
Park, C., Joshua, Y.H., Park, M.O., Dohle, C., Biale, A., Edwards, D., Krebs, H.I. Effects of innovative hip-knee-ankle interlimb coordinated robot training on ambulation, cardiopulmonary function, depression, and fall confidence in acute hemiplegia. Neurorehabilitation, 46(4):577-587, 2020 PMID: 32538882 DOI: 10.3233/NRE-203086
Tozlu, C., Edwards, D., Boes, A., Labor, D., Tsagaris, K.Z., Silverstein, J., Lane, H.P., Sabuneu, M.R., Li, C., & Kuceyeski, A.: Machine learning methods predict individual upper-limb motor impairment following therapy in chronic stroke. Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair 2020 https://doi.org/10.1177/1545968320909796
2019
Edwards DJ, Cortes M, Rykman-Peltz Otr A, Chang J, Elder J., … Pascual-Leone, (2019) A. Clinical improvement with intensive robotic arm training in chronic stroke is unchanged by supplementary tDCS. Restor Neurol Neurosci 37(2) 167-180; doi:10.3233/RNN-180869. PMID: 30932903.
Buchwald, A., Calhoun, H., Rimikis, S., Lowe, M., Wellner, R., Edwards DJ. (2019) Using tDCS to facilitate motor learning in speech production: The role of timing. Cortex 111: 274-285. doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2018.11.014. PMID: 30551048.
Wortman-Jutt S, Edwards D. (2019) Poststroke Aphasia Rehabilitation: Why All Talk and No Action? Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, Volume 33, Issue 4. PMID: 30900528.
Gerber MB, McLean AC, Stephen SJ, Chalco AG, Arshad UM, Thickbroom G, Silverstein J, Tsagaris Z, Kuceyeski A, Friel K, Santos TEG, Edwards DJ. (2019) NeuroMeasure: a software package for quantification of cortical motor maps using frameless stereotaxic transcranial magnetic stimulation, Frontiers in Neuroinformatics 13:23. doi: 10.3389/fninf.2019.00023. PMID: 31105546.
Cramer SC, Dodakian L, Le V, See J, Augsburger R, McKenzie A, Zhou RJ, Chiu NL, Heckhausen J, Cassidy JM, Scacchi W, Smith MT, Barrett AM, Knutson J, Edwards D, et al.; National Institutes of Health StrokeNet Telerehab Investigators. (2019) Efficacy of Home-Based Telerehabilitation vs In-Clinic Therapy for Adults After Stroke: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Neurol. Jun 24. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2019.1604. PMID: 31233135.
2018
Harvey, R.L., Edwards, D.J., Dunning, K., Fregni, F., Stein, J., Laine, J., Rogers, L.M., Vox, F., Durand-Sanchez, A., Bockbrader, M., Goldstein, L.B., Francisco, G.E., Kinney, C.L., Liu, C.Y.: NICHE Trial Investigators. (2018) Randomized Sham-Controlled Trial of Navigated Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Motor Recovery in Stroke. Stroke 49(9):2138-2146. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.117.020607. PMID: 30354990.
Santos, T., Favoretto, D.B., Toostani, I.G., Nascimento, D., Rimoli, B.P., Bergonzoni, E., Lemos, J.W., Truong, D.Q., DElbem, A.C.B., Makkiabadi, B., Mores, R., Louzada, F., Aikson, M., Leite, J.P., Edwards, D.J. (2018) Manipulation of human verticality using high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation. Frontiers in Neurology 9. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2018.00825. PMID: 30459697.
Buckwald, A., Falconer, C., Rykman-Peltz, A., Cortes, M., Pascual-Leone, A., Thickbroom, G.W., Krebs, H.I., Frengi, F., Gerger, L.M., Oromendia, C., Chang, J., Volpe, B.T., Edwards, D.J. (2018) Robotic arm rehabilitation in chronic stroke patients with aphasia may promote speech and language recovery (but effect is not enhanced by supplementary tDCS). Frontiers in Neurology doi: 10.3389/fneur.2018.00853 PMID: 30405512.
Bikson, M., Brunoni, A., Charvet, L., Clark, V., Cohen, L., Deng, Z., Dmochowski, J., Edwards, D.J., Frohlich, F., Emily, K.. (2018) Rigor and Reproducibility in Research with Transcranial Electric Stimulation: An NIMH Workshop Report. Brain Stimulation 11(3):465-480. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2017.12.008. PMID: 29398575.
Babyar, S., Santos, T., Will-Lemos, T., Mazin, S., Edwards, D., Reding, M. (2018) Sinusoidal Transcranial Direct Current Versus Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation for Treatment of Lateropulsion Poststroke. Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases 27(12):3621-3625. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis. PMID: 30314762.
2017
Cortes, M., Thickbroom, G., Valls-Sole, J., Shirvalkar, P., Pascual-Leone, A., Edwards, D.J. (2017) Improving lower limb strength in incomplete spinal cord injury with non-invasive spinal associative stimulation. Brain Stimulation: Basic, Translational, and Clinical Research in Neuromodulation 10(2):538–539.
Cortes M, Thickbroom G, Elder J, Rykman A, Valls-Sole J, … Edwards DJ. (2017). The corticomotor projection to liminally-contractable forearm muscles in chronic spinal cord injury: A transcranial magnetic stimulation study. Spinal Cord, 55(4), 362-366. PMID: 27995943.
Wortman-Jutt, S., Edwards, D.J. (2017) Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Poststroke Aphasia Recovery. Stroke 48(3):820-826. PMID: 28174328.
Leon, D., Cortes, M., Elder, J., Kumru, H., Laxe, S., Edwards, D.J., Josep, M.. Montserrat-Bernabeu, T., Pascual-Leone, A. (2017) tDCS does not enhance the effects of robot-assisted gait training in patients with subacute stroke. Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience 35(4), 377-384, 2017 doi: 10.3233/RNN-170734. PMID: 28697574.
Ruffini, G., Fox, M.D., Santarnecchi, E., Miranda, P.C., Edwards, D.J., Wendling, F. (2017) Modeling, targeting and optimizing multichannel transcranial current stimulation (tCS). Brain Stimulation: Basic, Translational, and Clinical Research in Neuromodulation 10(2):466-467.
2016
Peters H, Edwards DJ, Wortman-Jutt S, Page S. (2016). Moving forward by stimulating the brain: Transcranial direct current stimulation in post-stroke hemiparesis. Front Hum Neurosci, 10(394). PMID: 27555811.
T Santos-Pontelli, T.E., Rimoli, B.P., Favoretto, D.B., Mazin, S.C., Truong, D.Q., Leite, J.P., Pontes-Neto, O.M., Babyar, S.R., Reding, M., Bikson, M., Edwards, D.J. (2016) Polarity-Dependent Misperception of Subjective Visual Vertical during and after Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS). PLoS One, 11(3), 2016 e0152331. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0152331. PMID: 27031726.
Babyar, S., Santos-Pontelli, T., Will-Lemos, T., Mazin, S., Bikson, M., Truong, D.Q., Edwards, D.J., Reding, M. (2016) Center of Pressure Speed Changes with tDCS Versus GVS in Patients with Lateropulsion after Stroke. Brain Stimulation 9(5):796-8. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2016.06.053. PMID: 27372843.
Bolognini, N., Russo, C., Edwards, D.J.: The sensory side of post-stroke motor rehabilitation. Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience 11;34(4):571-86, 2016 doi: 10.3233/RNN-150606.
Bashir, S., Vernet, M., Najib, U., Perez, J., Alonso-Alonso, M., Knobel, M., Yoo, W.K, Edwards, D.J., Pascual-Leone, A. (2016) Enhanced motor function and its neurophysiological correlates after navigated low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation over the contralesional motor cortex in stroke. Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience 34(4):677-789. doi: 10.3233/RNN-140460. PMID: 27567763.
2015
Thickbroom GW, Cortes M, Rykman A, Volpe BT, Fregni F, Krebs HI, Edwards DJ. (2015) Stroke subtype and motor impairment influence contralesional excitability. Neurology, 85(6):517-520. PMID: 26187228.
M Cortes, GW Thickbroom, A Rykman, A Pascual-Leone, DJ Edwards. Physiologic mapping and modeling of motor targets for neuromodulation in spinal cord injury. (2015) Brain Stimulation: Basic, Translational, and Clinical Research in Neuromodulation. 8(2):431-432. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2015.01.376
Murray, L.M., Edwards, D.J., Ruffini, G., Labar, D., Stampas. A., Pascual-Leone, A., Cortes, M. (2015) Intensity dependent effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on corticospinal excitability in chronic spinal cord injury. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 96(4 Suppl):S114-21. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2014.11.004. PMID: 25461825.
Schambra, H.M., Ogden, R.T., Martínez-Hernández, I.E., Lin, X., Chang, Y.B., Rahman, A., Edwards, D.J., Krakauer, J.W. (2015) The reliability of repeated TMS measures in older adults and in patients with subacute and chronic stroke. Front Cell Neuroscience, 9:335. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2015.00335. PMID: 26388729.