Ben Binder-Markey, PT, DPT, PhD

Contact Information

Benjamin Binder-Markey

PT, DPT, PhD

Assistant Professor; Director HRSC Graduate Programs

Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences Department

Benjamin Binder-Markey, PT, DPT, PhD is an assistant professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences with an affiliate appointment within the School of Biomedical Engineering, Sciences, and Health Systems. He completed his postdoctoral training in the Biologics Lab at the Shirley Ryan Abilitylab (formerly The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago), his DPT training and PhD in biomedical engineering at Northwestern University and his bachelor’s in mechanical engineering at the University of Delaware. His work integrates physical therapy, basic science, and engineering principles through the use of experimental and computational modeling methods to understand better how changes in muscle properties following injury or disease affect physical function.

Academic Distinctions

  • Early Career Achievement Award, American Society of Biomechanics, 2023
  • New Investigator Recognition Award (NIRA) Winner, Orthopedic Research Society Annual Meeting, 2023
  • Journal of Biomechanics Award – Top Paper Award, American Society of Biomechanics at the 2022 North American Congress of Biomechanics

Professional Society

American Society of Biomechanics
Academies Research, Neurology & Education of the American Physical Therapy Association
Orthopedic Research Society
Biomedical Engineering Society
Cancer Cachexia Society

Selected Publications

Lieber RL, Wang Z, Binder-Markey BI, Lomas P, Shin A, Kaufman KR: Modeling implications of the relationship between active and passive skeletal muscle mechanical properties, Volume 178, January 2025 (ePub December 2024), 112423, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2024.112423

Roy I, Binder-Markey B, Sychowski D, McAllister D, D’Andrea D, Franz C, Dwinell M, Lieber R: Low dose orthotopic cancer implantation permits measurement of longitudinal functional changes associated with cachexia, epub 2024 July, Journal of Applied Physiology, DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00173.2024

Binder-Markey BI, Lomas P, Shin A, Litchy W, Kaufman KR, Lieber RL,: Direct intraoperative measurement of isometric contractile properties in living human muscle, Journal of Physiology (London) 15 May 2023 (epub March 11, 2023) DOI: 10.1113/JP284092

Binder-Markey BI, Sychowski D, Lieber RL: Systematic review of passive muscle mechanics experimental methodology. Journal of Biomechanics, 2021, December 2, 129:110839 (epub November 5th) doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2021.110839

Binder-Markey BI, Murray WM, Dewald JPA. Passive properties of the wrist and fingers following chronic hemiparetic stroke: interlimb comparisons in persons with and without a clinical treatment history that includes Botulinum Neurotoxin. Front Neurol. 2021; July. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2021.687624

Grant participation:

Hartwell Foundation – Independent Biomedical Research Award (2023-2026)
Role: PI
Project: Identification of Biological Targets to Reduce Muscle Stiffness and Optimize Function Following Long-Term Botulinum Neurotoxin Therapy in Cerebral Palsy

NIH – R21 Exploratory/Developmental Bioengineering Research Grants (2023-2025)
Role: Co-investigator (PI Kara Spiller)
Project: Particle-Assisted Control over Macrophage-Neutrophil interactions (Pac-Man)

Coulter-Drexel Translational Research Partnership Program (2021-2025)
Role: Co-investigator (PI Simon Giszter)
Project: Braided electrodiagnostic probes

Foundation for Physical Therapy Research – Deusinger Family Research Grant (2022-2023)
Role: Binder-Markey (PI)
Project: Effectiveness of a Novel Multi-modal intervention to Prevent Botulinum Neurotoxin Induced Muscle Stiffness

NIH – Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation Engineering Research Career Development Program
NCMRR K12 (2022)
Role: Scholar (PIs Julius .P.A Dewald and David .J. Reinkensmeyer)

Pennsylvania Department of Health Commonwealth – Universal Research Enhancement (CURE)
Formula Grant Program (2022-2023)
Role: Co-investigator (PI Simon Giszter)
Project: Prototype Electrode For Intramuscular Single Unit Myography And Electrodiagnostics

Research Interests

Binder-Markey, PT, DPT, directs the Multiscale Neuromuscular Biomechanics Laboratory at Drexel University. His work integrates physical therapy, basic science and engineering principles through the use of experimental and computational modeling methods to better understand how changes in muscle properties following injury or disease affect physical function. The goal of this work is to develop new technologies and interventions that significantly improve patient care and outcomes.

One focus of his work seeks to understand how skeletal muscle adapts following peripheral or central nervous system injuries and how combined muscle and nervous system changes affect upper limb function. Another focus of his work strives to understand the time course and causes of skeletal muscle wasting due to cancer driven cachexia and its effect on function and morbidity.

His work has been funded by the NIH, Hartwell Foundation, Foundation for Physical Therapy Research, American Heart Association, The Brinson Foundation and Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Catalyst Fund.

View Research Profile

  • 2018, PhD, Northwestern University, Evanston IL
    Biomedical Engineering
  • 2015, DPT, Northwestern University, Chicago IL
  • 2008, Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark DE
    Major: Mechanical Engineering
    Concentration: Biomedical Engineering
  • 2017, Management for Scientists and Engineers Certificate, Northwestern University, Evanston IL
    Kellogg School of Management