NSF-IMSI Affiliates

The Integrative Movement Sciences Institute (IMSI) is a National Science Foundation (NSF) Biology Integration Institute dedicated to advancing the understanding of muscular control of movement across organizational scales—from molecular to organismal and ecological. CIMS serves as IMSI’s UC Irvine-based hub and administrative center, connecting a nationwide network of faculty affiliates from over 20 institutions.

IMSI fosters collaborative, interdisciplinary research and training to transform movement sciences across biomechanics, biophysics, physiology, neuroscience, and engineering. Our NSF-IMSI affiliates—leading researchers from academic institutions across the country—work together to uncover the complex biological and mechanical processes that drive agile, efficient, and adaptive movement. Their discoveries have broad implications for health, rehabilitation, and technological innovation.

IMSI is also committed to training the next generation of scientists through inclusive, team-based mentorship. Our programs emphasize near-peer mentorship, leadership development, open-data sharing, and interdisciplinary collaboration, equipping a diverse population of trainees with essential research skills. While IMSI operates year-round, a centerpiece of its programming is the IMSI Summer Institute, an immersive experience that brings together researchers to accelerate innovation in movement sciences.

IMSI Executive Committee

Monica Daley

Director

University of California, Irvine

| madaley@uci.edu

Dr. Daley works at the interface of biomechanics, neuromuscular physiology and neuroscience, to understand how humans and animals achieve integrated function for stable and agile movement, particularly in non-steady locomotor tasks. These studies aim to reveal general principles of movement that inform human and animal health and welfare — including clinical gait assessment, treatment of movement disorders, rehabilitation strategies, and bio-inspired engineering of legged robots and mobility assistance technology.

Kiisa Nishikawa

Co-Director

Northern Arizona University

| kiisa.nishikawa@nau.edu

The Nishikawa laboratory collaborates widely with scientists and engineers to investigate the biomechanics and biophysics of muscles from molecules to movement, with an emphasis on investigating the role of titin in muscle force production. The laboratory’s current focus is linking in vivo experimental data to ex vivo models and experiments. This work has led to many new and exciting ideas, including the idea that muscle is a tunable material, and the related idea that neural control permits, rather than instructs, muscle force. Currently, they have experiments and modeling projects ranging from skinned fiber and intact muscle physiology to biomechanics, kinesiology and exercise science.

Nancy Aguilar-Roca