Wendy M. Murray
· Professor of Biomedical EngineeringNorthwestern University · Chemical Engineering
Active 1957–2024
Academic metrics are sourced from OpenAlex and public funding records; values may differ from Google Scholar.
About
Wendy M. Murray is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering and a Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Northwestern University. Her research focuses on developing biomechanical models that accurately represent the mechanical actions of the upper extremity muscles. She has shared these models and anatomical databases with the scientific community, which have been cited hundreds of times. Her main research application is to better understand and improve the function of the disabled upper limb, with relevance to basic motor control, control systems for exoskeletons and upper limb prosthetics, restoration of hand and arm function following cervical spinal cord injury, rehabilitation after stroke, orthopaedic interventions, and injury prevention in baseball pitching.
Research topics
- Computer Science
- Artificial Intelligence
- Human–computer interaction
- Simulation
Selected publications
A Musculoskeletal Model of the Hand and Wrist Capable of Simulating Functional Tasks
IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering · 2022-11-03 · 48 citations
articleOpen accessSenior authorOBJECTIVE: The purpose of this work was to develop an open-source musculoskeletal model of the hand and wrist and to evaluate its performance during simulations of functional tasks. METHODS: The current model was developed by adapting and expanding upon existing models. An optimal control theory framework that combines forward-dynamics simulations with a simulated-annealing optimization was used to simulate maximum grip and pinch force. Active and passive hand opening were simulated to evaluate…
Model-Based Control of Individual Finger Movements for Prosthetic Hand Function
IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering · 2020 · 43 citations
Prosthetic devices for hand difference have advanced considerably in recent years, to the point where the mechanical dexterity of a state-of-the-art prosthetic hand approaches that of the natural hand. Control options for users, however, have not kept pace, meaning that the new devices are not used to their full potential. Promising developments in control technology reported in the literature have met with limited commercial and clinical success. We have previously described a biomechanical mod…
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 2021-06-25 · 42 citations
articleOpen accessSenior authorCorrespondingSignificance Serial sarcomere number determines a muscle’s length during maximum force production and its available length range for active force generation. Skeletal muscle length adapts to functional demands; for example, animal studies demonstrate that chronically shortened muscles decrease length by losing serial sarcomeres. This phenomenon has never been demonstrated in humans. Integrating multiscale imaging techniques, including two-photon microendoscopy, an innovative advance from traditi…
Neurorehabilitation and neural repair · 2018-08-23 · 32 citations
articleOpen accessPoststroke deficits in upper extremity function occur during activities of daily living due to motor impairments of the paretic arm, including weakness and abnormal synergies, both of which result in altered use of the paretic arm. Over time, chronic disuse and a resultant flexed elbow posture may result in secondary changes in the musculoskeletal system that may limit use of the arm and impact functional mobility. This study utilized extended field-of-view ultrasound to measure fascicle lengths…
The Biomechanical Basis of the Claw Finger Deformity: A Computational Simulation Study
The Journal Of Hand Surgery · 2019-06-25 · 18 citations
articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding
Recent grants
NIH · $1.3M · 2019
Prosthesis Control by Forward Dynamic Simulation of the Intact Biomedical system
NIH · $1.7M · 2011–2016
NIH · $1.3M · 2011
Frequent coauthors
- 59 shared
Michael S. Bednar
Loyola University Medical Center
- 57 shared
Eric J. Perreault
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
- 56 shared
Jennifer A. Nichols
University of Florida
- 56 shared
Amy N. Adkins
North Carolina State University
- 36 shared
Benjamin I. Binder‐Markey
Drexel University
- 33 shared
Carrie L. Peterson
Virginia Commonwealth University
- 33 shared
Michael W. Keith
MetroHealth Medical Center
- 30 shared
Sarah J. Wohlman
Northwestern University
Education
- 1997
PhD, Biomedical Engineering
Northwestern University
- 1992
MS, Biomedical Engineering
Northwestern University
- 1990
BS, Mathematics
University of Notre Dame
Similar researchers at Northwestern University
- Resume-aware match score
- Save to shortlist
- AI-drafted outreach
See your match with Wendy M. Murray
PhdFit ranks faculty by your research interests, methods, and publications — grounded in their actual work, not templates.
- Free to start
- No credit card
- 30-second signup