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La Crosse Institute for Movement Science (LIMS)

College of Science and Allied Health
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Background. The Health Science Center was built from a partnership between the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Western Wisconsin Technical College, Viterbo University and Franciscan Skemp Healthcare and Gundersen Lutheran Hospital to enhance health care, strengthen medical health science education, and encourage applied research initiatives. This multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary organization has provided an infrastructure for applied research activities to study movement and houses many of the health professions programs from the College of Science and Allied Health.

The study of movement is rather unique bringing scientists of various disciplines together in the quest for new knowledge. Biomechanics, in particular, is a multidisciplinary field blending the areas of medicine, engineering, computer science and anatomy. Certainly, the multidisciplinary nature of this field as well as the multidisciplinary nature of the Health Science Center warrants the creation of this institute on the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse campus. The goal is to bring both scientists and clinicians together in a common goal of movement research and clinical service.

Current LIMS Members

Hanni Cowley, MSPT (Gundersen Lutheran Sports Medicine)

Chris Durall, DPT, ATC, MSPT (UW-La Crosse Health Center)

John Greany, PT, PhD, Exercise Physiologist, (Health Professions)

Thomas Greiner, PhD, Biological Anthropologist, (Health Professions)

Di-An Hong, PhD, Biomechanist, (Laboratory Manager, Health Professions)

Tom Kernozek, PhD, Biomechanist, (Health Professions)

Robert Ragan, PhD, Computational Physicist (Physics)

John Willson, MSPT, PhD, Biomechanist, (Health Professions)

Each year over 40 students from graduate and undergraduate programs across campus are involved in laboratory research including Physical Therapy, Exercise and Sport Science, Physics, and Biology.  High technology funding from the State of Wisconsin supports several Physics Biomedical undergraduate student internships in the lab.  A graduate assistant from Exercise and Sport Science is also assigned to the lab. Many undergraduate students have presented at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research and some at professional meetings in biomechanics and sports medicine. Graduate students have presented with LIMS faculty at professional conferences in physical therapy, sports medicine and biomechanics such as the American College of Sports Medicine or the American Society for Biomechanics.

Rationale. To recognize the importance of teaching, research and service opportunities of faculty with expertise in movement science at UW-La Crosse, the College of Science and Allied Health has established the La Crosse Institute for Movement Sciences (LIMS). The formation of the Institute for Movement Sciences will serve as a formal mechanism to bring together as a cohesive group all interested faculty and clinicians with expertise in this discipline. The Institute will increase collaboration within the campus and will increase and strengthen partnerships with healthcare, government, and other academic institutions in the region and nation. Expected benefits of the Institute include the following:

· Greater visibility of this group externally and on campus
· Greater diversity of expertise for teaching, research and service
· Greater ability for compete for extramural resources at the state and national levels
· Greater ability to recruit talented undergraduate and graduate students to this campus
· More efficient use of resources

These benefits will enhance the educational opportunities of the affected students and increase the stature of UW-L as an excellent university.

Current LIMS initiatives, activities and recent projects (pdf document)

Distinguished Lecturer: Tim Hewett, PhD, FACSM October 6, 2006

The Institute is comprised of faculty and clinicians with expertise and interest in Movement Studies. The current director of LIMS is Tom Kernozek, PhD. (kernozek.thom@uwlax.edu).