Dr. Odonkor’s research focuses on using mobile applications and wearable technology to monitor physical activity and performance in chronic pain and mobility-limiting musculoskeletal disorders.
The philosophy undergirding his research is that movement is key to life. Humans have evolved to move and when we stop moving, we get sick. Along the same lines, pain from injury or chronic illness can stop us in our tracks and it is really hard to deal with this loss, or even overcome the fear of moving. Thus, his research addresses mobility-limiting musculoskeletal conditions by incorporating our understanding of body biomechanics and expertise in bioinformatics to find novel ways to enhance and evaluate physical activity. He hopes that his research helps to promote independence, maximize function, and enhance patient quality of life.
The primary goal of Dr. Odonkor’s lab is to establish activity based digital biomarkers for musculoskeletal disease such as knee osteoarthritis and spine conditions and to define functional thresholds for healthy versus disease phenotypes.
Dr. Odonkor's lab is interested in utilizing insights from quantitative analytics and bioinformatics:
From a population health perspective, the lab is working together with collaborators at Stanford:
In partnerships with researchers at Harvard, the lab is also studying:
Selected Research Awards
2019 North American Neuromodulation Society (NANS), Research Travel Award
2017 1st Place, Best of Meeting Research Paper Award, American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA)
2017 President’s Citation Award for Best Research Paper, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPMR)
2017 1st Place, Best Research Paper Award, Resident Category, Association of Academic Physiatrists (AAP)
2015 American Pain Society Young Investigator Award
2013 1st Place, Best Paper Award, Medical Student Category, Association of Academic Physiatrist (AAP)
2013 Harvard Medical School, Ruth and William Silen MD Award
Research Press Coverage
Opioids, Sedating Drugs Can Undermine SCS Treatment PainMedicineNews, October 2, 2019
Low pain scores following spinal cord stimulation trials found predictive of successful implants NeuroNews, September 11, 2019
Advances toward precision pain medicine: digital biomarkers, 11th Congress of the European Pain Federation, scientific program, 2019 September 4, 2019
Opioids, Benzos affect Spinal Cord Stimulation Test,MedPage Today, March 12, 2019
Precipitating events associated with successful radiofrequency ablation of lumbar facet joint pain Spinal News International January 17, 2018
Arthritis; Back Pain; Bursitis; Information Science; Arthralgia; Healthcare Disparities; Musculoskeletal Pain; Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment; Health Care; Wearable Electronic Devices; COVID-19
Bioethics; Bioinformatics; Biomarkers; Clinical Guidelines; Clinical Trials; Health Care Quality, Efficiency; Health Equity, Disparities, Social Determinants and Justice; COVID-19