People of the Injury Prevention Center
James Ashton-Miller, PhD
Albert Schultz Collegiate Research Professor, Office of Research, University of Michigan
Research Professor, Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Michigan
Research Professor, Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Michigan
Research Professor, School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan
Research Professor, Institute of Gerontology, University of Michigan
Biography
Dr. James Ashton-Miller is the Albert Schultz Collegiate Research Professor and Distinguished Research Scientist in the University of Michigan Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering. He also is the Director of the Biomechanics Research Laboratory. Dr. Ashton-Miller is an internationally recognized researcher in the field of biomechanics.
Research Interests
Dr. Ashton-Miller's current focus includes balance, sports injury, concussion and falls research. In the area of balance and falls, Dr. Ashton-Miller and his colleagues are working to better understand how the brain controls the dynamics of balance, whether standing on one foot, walking or even bicycling. In the area of concussion, they are studying the role of neck strength in children and have invented and validated a simple practical and portable test to evaluate recovery from concussion in and outside the clinic. Dr. Ashton-Miller also studies the biomechanics of unintentional injuries across the life span including spine injuries, ACL and other sports injuries, maternal birth-related injuries, and their sequelae, and physical and cognitive factors involved in older adult falls. He develops novel instrumentation to aid diagnosis and treatment planning, as well as help Fortune 500 companies improve their products.