NSF-IMSI Affiliates

The Integrative Movement Sciences Institute (IMSI) is an NSF Biology Integration Institute dedicated to advancing understanding of muscular control of movement across organizational scales from molecular to organismal and ecological. CIMS serves as the UCI-based hub and administrative center of IMSI, which connects a network of faculty affiliates from over 20 institutions. IMSI aims to transform understanding of movement sciences through collaborative, interdisciplinary research and training across multiple scientific disciplines.

This network unites experts in biomechanics, biophysics, physiology, neuroscience, and engineering, all committed to investigating the principles behind agile, efficient, and adaptive movement. Together, NSF-IMSI Affiliates work collaboratively to uncover the complex biological and mechanical processes that drive movement, from molecular to whole-organism scales, inspiring discoveries with far-reaching implications for health, rehabilitation, and technological innovation. The institute also provides inclusive training for the next generation of scientists, emphasizing near-peer mentorship, team science, leadership development, and open-data sharing, to equip a diverse population of trainees with the skills needed for interdisciplinary research. Although IMSI is a year-round program, one of the highlights of IMSI's program is the Summer Institute.

Co-Principal Investigators

Monica Daley

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

| 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.