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The Southern Illinois University (SIU) System Collaborative Grant is a research award given to promote the latest biomedical research. For the period of January 1 through December 31, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) Industrial Engineering chair Onal Sinan, PhD, and Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) associate professor Chao Lu, PhD, will be funded for their project “Advancing Biomedical Research Through AI-Driven Dynamic Gait Phase Detection.” 

“This achievement is a testament to the strength of our interdisciplinary approach, the innovative nature of our research and the commitment of both institutions to advancing scientific discovery,” said Sinan.

Sinan and Lu are co-principal investigators for their research, which focuses on gait analysis using deep learning techniques.

Sinan said traditional methods for their research involve force plates. However, those methods are expensive and limited to a laboratory setting. Their collaborative research removes these limitations by integrating electromyography (EMG) signals into an Attention-Enhanced BiLSTM (Atten-BiLSTM) model.

“This AI-driven approach aims to provide a real-time, cost-effective, and non-invasive tool for detecting gait phases,” Sinan said. “[This] ultimately [is] improving clinical diagnostics and rehabilitation for individuals with mobility impairments.”

The $20,000 grant is divided evenly between both campuses. According to Sinan, collaboration between SIUE and SIUC has been key to advancing the research. As principal investigator, Sinan leads data collection at SIUE’s Motion Capture and Analysis Laboratory, where they analyze gait mechanics using advanced motion capture and EMG systems.

“My Co-PI Dr. Lu and I spearhead the development and optimization of the AI model,” Sinan said. “This interdisciplinary partnership combines expertise in biomechanics, signal processing, and artificial intelligence to push the boundaries of biomedical research.”

Sinan and Lu’s collaboration began in 2022 when the two connected over shared interest in applying AI to engineering issues. Upon realizing the potential of a collaboration, Sinan and Lu chose to merge their expertise in gait analysis and apply AI in engineering.

“From the start, the collaboration was built on a foundation of mutual respect and shared enthusiasm for research,” Lu said. “The recognition we received through the SIU System Collaborative Award is especially meaningful because it acknowledges the hard work and dedication we’ve put into this partnership.”

Lu regarded collaborating with Sinan as an enriching experience. He said his experience has not only been academically fulfilling but has also allowed him to deepen professional connections.

“We believed that by bringing together our collective knowledge, we could develop new research directions and mentor students in a way that would truly enrich their academic experience,” Lu said. “This mutual recognition led us to pursue a formal collaboration, which included co-supervising a PhD student together and exploring new avenues for research.”

Sinan added that receiving the grant was a rigorous and competitive process. Applying for the grant involved formulating a compelling research proposal that aligned with the SIU System’s goals, while demonstrating the research’s potential impact on AI-driven biomedical applications and healthcare overall.

According to Sinan, the award allows them to further validate their AI model, explore real-world applications, and position SIU as a player in AI-driven biomedical research.

“More importantly, this recognition underscores the importance of bridging engineering and healthcare to develop transformative solutions that enhance patient care and mobility outcomes,” Sinan said.

PHOTOS:  SIUE Industrial Engineering chair Onal Sinan, PhD; SIUC associate professor Chao Lu, PhD