Examples of Active Coleman Institute Funded Research
Since 2001, the Coleman Institute has provided more than 130 grants for research, conference support and other related activities. Some examples of funded research are highlighted below.
The primary activity of the Institute is to provide grants for cognitive disability and technology research and development to CU faculty on all campuses of the university. The Institute makes grants that provide seed funding for research that may lead to patent-protected intellectual property and ultimately, commercialization. Coleman Institute research commitments have also assisted CU faculty in securing significant grant funding from Federal and private agencies.
The Institute provides funding for research and development projects on new technologies and new applications. Advances have been made in areas such as batteryless-wireless power for sensors and devices, and software solutions that map on to new open source opportunities, like Google's Android project. The Institute has a national presence in the area of cognitive technology on the Web, both in the development of standards and in policy directions. Biomedical science and technology projects funded by the Institute include a drug delivery system for conditions such as schizophrenia and epilepsy, immunological studies of AIDS/HIV with potential pharmacological interventions, the development of bio-compatible electrodes for in vivo recording and stimulation in the brain using Cellular Engineering Micro Systems and wireless telemetry, an investigation of drugs to prevent decline in cognitive function, and non-human stem cell research in a mouse model of Down syndrome.
A major investment of the Coleman Institute has been in the co-funding of two federal government center grants from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). In 2004, NIDRR initiated funding for the nation's first Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for the Advancement of Cognitive Technologies (RERC-ACT). In a peer reviewed national competition, the University of Colorado succeeded in securing the Center. In 2009, the grant was re-competed. Once again, the University of Colorado succeeded. The combined federal grants exceed $9 million and the combined commitment by the Coleman Institute for RERC-ACT I (2004-2009) and RERC-ACT II (2009-2014) was over $1.6 million. Cathy Bodine, Associate Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Anschutz Medical Center continues to serve as principal investigator.
The RERC-ACT centers are not the only recipients of Coleman Institute funding. The Institute has also supported research and development across a broad spectrum including "smart" transportation systems, "smart" home residential care systems, a personal digital assistant (PDA) based speech training program for children with Down syndrome and patients with Parkinson's, recreation technology adapted for people with cognitive disabilities, computer-based technology for teaching reading to students with cognitive limitations, and web-based resources for teachers, parents, and students with disabilities in the public schools. Funding has also been provided for initiatives to promote accessibility to the World Wide Web for people with cognitive disabilities, including policy and regulatory issues, single sign-on system, content adjustments, and specialized user support.
Federally-funded Center Grants Co-Funded by the Coleman Institute
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for the Advancement of Cognitive Technologies (RERC-ACT) Co-funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) and the Coleman Institute, 2004-2009 and 2009-2014.
Cathy Bodine, PhD, Associate Professor, Rehabilitation Medicine Department, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, is the principal investigator, and Michael Lightner, PhD, Professor and Chair, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Colorado at Boulder, co-principal investigator.
RERC-ACT II: RERC-ACT II builds on past successes and introduces new elements of research and development of cognitive technologies across the life span. Efforts are focused in three main areas:
- creating a product usability testing facility to focus rigorous industry-standard product testing protocols on cognitive assistive technology,
- developing a core software/sensor platform to support mobile animated agents used for multiple applications, and
- developing Standards, an important missing link for cognitive technology Information Technology access and technologies.
From non-linear job coaching to Socially Assistive Robots, the projects are challenging, creative and show great promise in improving quality of life for people with cognitive disabilities, their families and their caregivers.
The titles of the projects appear below. For descriptions of the projects please go to RERC-ACT.
Product Testing Laboratory (R1)
Non-Linear Context-Aware Prompting System (N-CAPS) for Persons with Cognitive Disabilities: a 12 month pilot feasibility study (R2)
Effects of a Mobile-Based Skill Building Coaching Technology Intervention for People with Cognitive Disabilities: a 6-month randomized controlled-pilot feasibility study (R3)
Cognitive Decline, Work and Technological Interruptions (R4)
Theory and Simulation-based Vocabulary Development for Employment: An Analysis of the Word Maturity Method for Adult Workers with Mild Cognitive Impairments (R5)
Early Developmental Skills Acquisition and Socially Assistive Robotics (SARS): A Pilot Investigation of Effectiveness (R6)
Development of Uniform Standards for Cognitive Technologies (D1)
Interactive Animated Agents Platform Development for Cognitive Technologies at Home, School, Work and Community (IAAP) (D2)
Non-Linear Context-Aware Prompting System (N-CAPS) for Adults with Cognitive Disabilities in the Workplace (D3)
Mobile Coach for Vocational Application (D4)
The Socially Interactive Early Childhood Robotics (SAR) Project (D5)
Inclusive Collaboration Technology for Employment and Participation (D6)
RERC-ACT I: The first RERC-ACT incorporated 13 separate technology-related projects in nine different academic units and involves all campuses at the University of Colorado. In addition, collaborators include universities in four states and five industry partners. Research and development projects fall into five categories:
- Needs Assessment Projects
- Community Living
- Health and Family Support Projects
- Education and Employment
- General Standards Development
Combined Coleman Institute Funding Support for
RERC-ACT I and II = $1.6 million
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Recreation Technology (RERC-RecTech) Co-funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), 2007- 2012, in partnership with the University of Illinois at Chicago
Jane Mulligan, PhD, Assistant Research Professor, Department of Computer Science, University of Colorado at Boulder.
RecTech is dedicated to using technology to promote healthy, active lifestyles for people with disabilities. The CU subcontract focuses on the use of virtual exercise environments for people with disabilities.
Coleman Institute Funding Support: $90,000
Coleman Institute Scientist in Residence: Special Projects
Clayton Lewis, PhD., Professor, Department of Computer Science, University of Colorado at Boulder and the Coleman Institute Scientist in Residence.
The role of the scientist in residence is to identify and support the most promising efforts in shaping mainstream technology to serve the interests of people with cognitive disabilities. Current efforts are centered on the following areas:
- Cognitive accessibility on the World Wide Web
- Personal mobile platforms
- Vocabulary enhancement
- Social software
- Workshops on cognitive technology
- Encouraging student projects in cognitive assistive technology
- Dissemination through presentations and publications
Coleman Institute Funding Support: $450,000
Center for Aging: A Special Focus on Aging and Developmental Disabilities
Sara Qualls, PhD, Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, principal investigator
The Institute provides core funding for the growth and development of the PhD program in geropsychology including graduate fellowships, research support, conference travel, and matching grants.
Coleman Institute Funding Support: $260,000
Technology, Biomedical and Neuroscience Research with implications for people with Cognitive Disabilities
The Coleman Institute support for the basic research conducted by CU faculty spans all campuses. Below are a number of areas of research and some of the faculty who are working in these areas:
Wireless, Batteryless Power
Regan Zane, PhD, Assistant Professor and Zoya Popovic, PhD, Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Colorado at Boulder
- Power management for low power energy harvesting
- RF energy harvesting system
- Applications for assistive technologies and biomedical applications
Coleman Institute Funding Support for these and other related projects: $100,000
Down syndrome, Cognitive Disability and Immunological Research
Alberto Costa, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado at Denver;
- The Role of NDA Receptors on the Pathogenesis of Down Syndrome
Curt Freed, MD, Professor and Head, Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado at Denver
- A Mouse Model of Down Syndrome
- Neural Stem Cell Transplantation Project
- An Investigation of Drugs to Increase the Activity of Neuroprotective Genes in the Brain to Prevent Decline in Cognitive Function
M. Karen Newell, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Biology, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
- The Impact of Antigen-independent B-cell Activation on the Pathogenesis of Infection
Coleman Institute Funding Support for these and other related projects: $500,000
In addition to the grants related to federal agency funded projects and on occasion, seed funding and/or direct support, Coleman Institute support includes funding for undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty. Grants have been received to develop new courses, for undergraduate research apprentices and other student projects, and to support students to attend conferences
