Kellie Collins, PT, DPT, PCS, PhD student in the Pediatric Neuromodulation Laboratory, has been awarded a 2025 Promotion of Doctoral Studies (PODS) I Scholarship from the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research—her second time receiving this competitive award, having previously earned it in 2023. The $7,500 scholarship supports emerging investigators committed to advancing the field of physical therapy through research.
Kellie’s project builds directly on the lab’s Baby Brain Recovery study, led by Dr. Bernadette Gillick, and focuses on the integrity and organization of the corticospinal tract (CST) during the critical developmental window of 3–6 months in infants with perinatal brain injury. Using dMRI and single-pulse TMS in tandem with evidence-based clinical assessments (BabyOSCAR, GMA, and HINE), her work aims to identify early neurophysiological markers predictive of a later CP diagnosis at age two. The 3–6-month session will analyze the relationships between CST metrics and early motor assessments, with the goal of identifying accessible clinical proxies for CST development. These findings may offer foundational insights for future research and guide the design and timing of early, targeted interventions. Kellie received the Neurology Award, supported by the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy Endowment Fund.