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Prof. Hugh M Herr

Professor of Media Arts and Sciences
Professor of Health Sciences and Technology
Head, Biomechatronics Group

Primary DLC

MIT Media Lab

MIT Room: E14-374L
(617) 258-6574
https://www.media.mit.edu/people/hherr/overview/

Assistant

Lindsey Reynolds
(617) 253-6780
lmrey_8@mit.edu

Areas of Interest and Expertise

NeuroEngineering Research Collaborative
Sensorimotor Physiology and Engineering
Biomatierals, Neural and Muscular Tissue Interface Engineering
Development of Human Assistive Technologies
Mammalian Locomotory Control
Tissue Engineering
Robotics
Physical Medicine
Rehabilitation

Research Summary

Professor Herr's research program seeks to advance technologies that promise to accelerate the merging of body and machine, including device architectures that resemble the body's musculoskeletal design, actuator technologies that behave like muscle, and control methodologies that exploit principles of biological movement. His methods encompass a diverse set of scientific and technological disciplines, from the science of biomechanics and biological movement control to the design of biomedical devices for the treatment of human physical disability.

His research accomplishments in science and technology have already made a significant impact on physically challenged people. The Variable-Damper Knee Prosthesis has recently been commercialized by Össur Inc., and is now benefiting transfemoral amputees throughout the world. In addition, the Active Ankle-Foot Orthosis is now in the process of being commercialized, and has the potential for improving the quality of life of millions of stroke patients within the U.S. alone. Professor Herr's work impacts a number of academic communities. He has given numerous invited and plenary lectures at international conferences and colloquia, including the IVth World Congress of Biomechanics, the International Conference on Advanced Prosthetics, the National Assembly of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, the Highlands Forum XXII (Life Sciences, Complexity, and National Security), and the TEDMED International Conference. He is Associate Editor for the Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, and has served as a reviewer for the Journal of Experimental Biology, the International Journal of Robotics Research, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, and the Proceedings of the Royal Society: Biological Sciences. He has been invited to participate in joint funding proposals from other universities and corporations, and has served on research review panels including the National Institute of Health, the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. His work has been featured by various national and international media, including Scientific American Frontiers, Technology Review, National Geographic, and the History Channel.

Recent Work

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