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Nina Bradley

Dr. Nina Bradley, PhD, is Associate Professor in the Division of Biokinesiology & Physical Therapy and the Department of Cell & Neurobiology at USC. She serves as the Director of the Motor Control Development Laboratory at USC, conducting research in early sensorimotor development. She is currently the Principal Investigator of an NIH R01 awarded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development entitled “Development and Control of Repetitive Leg Movements During Embryonic Development.” Her interest in early childhood development has been evident throughout her research career, as the PI of an NSF-funded research grant investigating the embryonic foundations of motor control development, as well as two research projects investigating prenatal development funded through the Zumberge Faculty Research and Innovation Fund. Dr. Bradley was also the recipient of the Pediatric Section Research Award from the American Physical Therapy Association.

Positions & Honors

Positions
2006-present Faculty member, Program in Biomedical and Biological Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
2002-present Associate Professor, Cell & Neurobiology, University of Southern California
1997-present Faculty, Program in Neuroscience, University of Southern California
1996-present Associate Professor, Biokinesiology & Physical Therapy, University of Southern California
1992-1996 Assistant Professor, Biokinesiology & Physical Therapy, University of Southern California
1992-1994 Adjunct Professor, Physical & Occupational Therapy, McGill University
1988-1992 Assistant Professor of Physical & Occupational Therapy, McGill University

Selected Honors & Awards
1995 Pediatric Section Research Award, American Physical Therapy Association
1986 Postdoctoral Scholar, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
1986 Graduate Women of the Year, UCLA Academic Women's Association

Education

University of Colorado, Boulder Postdoc 1986-1988 Psychobiology
University of California, Los Angeles Ph.D. 1986 Kinesiology
University of California, Los Angeles M.S. 1983 Kinesiology
University of Southern California B.S. 1975 Physical Therapy

Current Research Support

NIH – NICHD R01 HD053367-1 2006-2009
“Development and control of repetitive leg movements during embryonic development”
The goals of the studies are to characterize the motor commands and kinematics for a distinct class of repetitive limb movements that emerge in the final days of embryogenesis. Studies will also determine when and how motion-dependent feedback uniquely shaped by environmental constraints begins to impact the motor commands and how the motor commands are impacted by changes in the rate of embryogenesis under different light conditions.
Role: PI

Selected Publications

  1. Bradley, N.S., Ryu Y.U., and Lin, J. Fast Locomotor Burst Generation in Late Stage Embryonic Motility. Journal of Neurophysiology 99:1733 - 1742, 2008.
  2. Bradley NS, Solanki D, Zhao D. Limb movements during embryonic development in the chick: evidence for a continuum in limb motor control antecedent to locomotion. Journal of Neurophysiology 94: 4401-4411, 2005.
  3. Oztop E, Bradley NS, Arbib MA. Infant grasp learning: A computational model. Experimental Brain Research, 158: 480-503, 2004.
  4. Bradley NS, Jahng DY. Selective Effects of Light Exposure on Distribution of Motility in the Chick Embryo at E18. Journal of Neurophysiology 90: 1408-1417, 2003.
  5. Bradley NS. Age-related changes and condition-dependent modifications in distribution of limb movements during embryonic motility. Journal of Neurophysiology 86: 1511-1522, 2001
  6. Bradley NS, Sebelski C. Ankle restraint modifies motility at E12 in chick embryos. Journal of Neurophysiology. 83: 431-440, 2000.
  7. Herman SI, Bradley NS. Interlimb differences in postural responses during symmetric and asymmetric stance. Neurology Report 23:44-51, 1999.
  8. Bradley NS. Transformations in embryonic motility in chick: kinematic correlates of type I and II motility at E9 and E12. Journal of Neurophysiology 8: 1486-1494, 1999.
  9. Bradley NS. Reduction in buoyancy alters parameters of motility in E9 chick embryos. Physiology & Behavior 62:591-595, 1997.
  10. Chambers SH, Bradley NS, Orosz MD. Kinematic analysis of wing and leg movements for type I motility in E9 chick embryos. Experimental Brain Research 103:218-226, 1995.