{"id":13235,"date":"2025-03-01T13:22:41","date_gmt":"2025-03-01T18:22:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/clario.com\/?post_type=articles&p=13235"},"modified":"2025-09-29T13:39:04","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T17:39:04","slug":"researcher-spotlight-clayton-swanson","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/clario.com\/resources\/articles\/researcher-spotlight-clayton-swanson\/","title":{"rendered":"Researcher spotlight: Clayton Swanson"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Precision Motion<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Clayton Swanson, Ph.D.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Research Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, University of Florida<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Opal\u00ae V2R Technology has been used by thousands of researchers worldwide and together, these researchers have published more than 800 peer reviewed papers, greatly contributing to available body of evidence in human movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

APDM, now owned by Clario, has delivered deep scientific expertise and broad endpoint technologies to help transform lives around the world for more than 50 years. Our endpoint data solutions have been deployed over 26,000 times to support clinical trials in more than 100 countries. Our global team of science, technology, and operational experts have supported over 60% of all FDA drug approvals since 2012. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more information, visit our Wearable Biosensors for Research page<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Q:<\/mark> <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Would you please introduce yourself, your academic background and your research interests?<\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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A: <\/mark><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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My name is Clayton Swanson, and I am a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of Florida, as well as a Research Health Scientist at the Brain Rehabilitation Research Center (BRRC) within the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center in Gainesville, Florida.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I earned my bachelor\u2019s degree in Pre-Therapy and Allied Health from Oregon State University, followed by a master\u2019s degree in health and Exercise Science and a Ph.D. in Neuromechanics from Colorado State University. I then completed a postdoctoral fellowship under the mentorship of Dr. David Clark at the BRRC, where I further developed my expertise in neurorehabilitation and mobility research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My research focuses on understanding the neural mechanisms underlying mobility, particularly turning while walking, using multimodal neuroimaging tools. I am especially interested in translating these findings into effective, pragmatic neurorehabilitation strategies to enhance mobility and reduce barriers to optimal care, particularly for individuals with neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis and older adults at risk for mobility decline.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Q:<\/mark> <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Do you have a personal story that led to your interest in human movement\/ neurodegenerative disease research? What continues to drive your ambitions as a scientist?<\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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A: <\/mark><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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My interest in human movement began during my time as a therapy aide at Oregon Health & Science University, where I became fascinated by how physical therapists determine the best treatments for different patients. This curiosity led me to work with Dr. Laurie King and Dr. Fay Horak in the Balance Disorders Laboratory, where I studied the effects of injury and disease on mobility. That experience laid the foundation for my research today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am particularly interested in understanding how the nervous system controls mobility and, more importantly, how we can apply that knowledge to develop targeted rehabilitation strategies for individuals experiencing mobility impairments. What keeps me excited about research is the potential to translate discoveries into meaningful, real-world interventions that improve mobility, independence, and quality of life for individuals with neurological conditions.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Q:<\/mark> <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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How has Clario’s APDM Opal V2R\u00ae System<\/a> been most useful in your research endeavors?<\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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A: <\/mark><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Clario\u2019s APDM Opal system has been a fundamental tool in nearly every study I have conducted or collaborated on. There are several key reasons why I have integrated Opal sensors into my research. First, the system provides a valid and reliable means of capturing detailed spatiotemporal kinematics, which is critical for understanding mobility function. Second, its portability allows for data collection beyond traditional laboratory settings, enabling assessments in diverse environments and improving ecological validity. Lastly, over the past decade, I have received outstanding customer support, from sales to technical assistance, which has further reinforced my trust in the system.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Q:<\/mark> <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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What research projects or questions are you currently working on?<\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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A: <\/mark><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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I am currently exploring research questions related to the feasibility and acceptability of using Opal sensors for fully remote, telehealth-supported clinical mobility assessments. Specifically, I am interested in understanding how wearable sensor technology can be leveraged to assess mobility in individuals who face barriers to in-person care, such as those living in rural areas or with limited transportation access. My goal is to determine whether this approach can provide accurate, reliable assessments and ultimately improve accessibility to mobility evaluations for underserved populations.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Q:<\/mark> <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Where do you see the use of wearable IMU\u2019s in human movement research going in the next 5 years?<\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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A: <\/mark><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Over the next few years, I anticipate that IMUs will continue to play a crucial role in human movement research. One promising direction is their integration with other wearable technologies, such as augmented reality, to provide adaptive, real-time biofeedback during both in-person and remote rehabilitation sessions. Additionally, advancements in artificial intelligence will likely enhance existing algorithms, enabling more precise and population specific movement analysis. These improvements could lead to the development of new metrics sensitive enough to assess fall risk, personalize rehabilitation strategies, and further expand individualized medicine.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Q:<\/mark> <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Fill in the blank:<\/strong><\/mark> When I\u2019m not working on a research project, you can find me\u2026<\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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A: <\/mark><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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When I\u2019m not working, you can find me spending time with my wife and our two young boys, hanging out with friends, exploring parks and playgrounds, hiking, gardening, riding bikes, and staying active outside.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Check out Professor Swanson’s recent publication<\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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\n Peer-Reviewed<\/span>

Links between Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology with Turning Performance in People with Multiple Sclerosis<\/h3>Read<\/span><\/a> <\/article>\n <\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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