Update Your ProfileAcademic Title:
Professor
Primary Appointment:
Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science
Secondary Appointment(s):
Diagnostic Radiology Nuclear Medicine, Neurology
Location:
AHRB, 205D
Phone (Primary):
(410) 706-5919
Education and Training
Dr. Westlake received her B.Sc. degree in Physical Therapy from McGill University and M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Rehabilitation Sciences from Queen's University in Canada. Her doctoral work was focused on the role of proprioception and cognition in postural control and the ability to train sensory integration to improve balance in older adults. Further questions about the neural control of movement were probed during her postdoctoral work in individuals with stroke. She completed one year of postdoctoral research at Stanford University/VA Rehabilitation Research and Development Center and three years in the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging at the University of California, San Francisco. During her postdoctoral years, she developed expertise in functional neuroimaging as a means to understand the processes of brain plasticity to better inform rehabilitation interventions. Dr. Westlake has over twenty-five combined years of clinical and research experience treating stroke and other neurological disorders. In 2011, she joined the faculty at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Biosketch
The overall focus of Dr. Westlake's lab is on understanding the neuromotor and cognitive-emotional mechanisms that underlie impaired movement and motor learning deficits in healthy aging and age-related neurological conditions such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and mild cognitive impairment. Her lab has a particular emphasis on the mechanisms of impaired balance and gait and the development of innovative rehabilitative solutions that are supported by motor learning studies. This research involves an integrative approach, consisting of the study of brain function (fMRI, EEG), biomechanics (kinematics, kinetics), and psychophysiological responses (HRV, GSC) with respect to motor control and learning/neuroplasticity. She is also committed to bringing forth technological advances that embody critical elements of behavioral neuroscience research to target sensorimotor recovery after neurological injury.
Research/Clinical Keywords
Rehabilitation, Balance, Falls, Motor Learning, Cognition, Neuroimaging, fMRI, Aging, Stroke, Parkinson's, Mild Cognitive Impairment
Highlighted Publications
*For a complete list of publications, see My Bibliography
Additional Publication Citations
Awards and Affiliations
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research Doctoral Fellowship, 2002-2007
- Governor General of Canada Academic Gold Medal of Excellence Nominee, 2007
- Physiotherapy Foundation of Canada Constance Beattie Award, 2007
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Clinical Research Initiative Fellowship, 2007-2010
- Associate Editor, Frontiers for Young Minds, 2016-present
Grants and Contracts
*Last 5 years
1. NIDILRR Field Initiated Project 90IFRE0011
K. Westlake, PI
09/30/17-09/29/22
Title: Efficacy of an interactive web-based home therapy program in the recovery of arm and hand following stroke: A randomized trial
2. NIA R03 AG060290-01
K. Westlake, PI
9/1/2018-5/31/21
Title: Influence of Attentional Control on Protective Arm Responses to Balance
3. Maryland Industrial Partnership Grant
K. Westlake, PI
02/01/20-12/31/21
Title: Instrumented Bilateral Arm Trainer with Actuation
4. NIA 2P30 AG028747-16 (Magaziner, PI)
K. Westlake, Co-I/Co-lead Rehabilitation Science and Technologies Core
08/15/21-06/30/26
Title: UM Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center
5. NINDS U44 5U44NS111076-03
K. Westlake, Academic PI
03/01/21-02/28/25
Title: Portable ankle robotics to reverse foot drop after stroke
6. UMB Accelerated Translational Incubator Pilot (ATIP) Program # 1UL1TR003098
K. Westlake PI
05/01/2021-04/30/2022
Title: Exploring responses to reactive balance perturbations in older adults
7. Maryland Industrial Partnerships Grant
K. Westlake, PI
08/01/23-07/31/26
Title: REACH Upper Extremity Trainer: Clinical Testing
8. ACL National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) 90ARHF0009-01-00
K. Westlake, Co-PI
06/01/23-05/31/28
Title: University of Maryland Advanced Neuromotor Rehabilitation Research Training (UMANRRT)
In the News
Westlake K and Menaker J. “Falls: A leading cause of death and disability.”, Maryland Public Television Direct Connection Your Health Series, Oct. 23, 2017.
Westlake K and Rogers M. “Falls and the Elderly: How to stay balanced” National Public Radio (NPR) On the Record, Jan.30, 2018 (re-aired Aug. 29, 2018).
Westlake K. “Study seeks to improve stroke recovery.” Baltimore Beacon newspaper, June 2020.
Westlake K. “Helping to prevent falls in seniors”, Health Radar, interviewed on Aug 2, 2023.
Westlake K and Falvey J. “University of Maryland looks at Fall Prevention and Rehabilitation” National Public Radio (NPR) On the Record, Jul 3, 2024