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 received 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 better understand how changes in muscle properties following injury or disease affect physical function.

Professional Society

Selected Publications

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) (Web Published March 11, 2023) DOI: 10.1113/JP284092

McFarland DC, Binder-Markey BI, Nichols JA, Wohlman SJ, de Bruin M, and Murray WM : A Musculoskeletal Model of the Hand and Wrist Capable of Simulating Functional Tasks. IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 2022, October 27 (epub October 12, 2022). Doi: 10.1109/TBME.2022.3217722

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

Persad LS, Binder-Markey BI, Shin AY, Kaufman KR, Lieber RL: In vivo human gracilis whole muscle passive stress-sarcomere strain relationship. Journal of Experimental Biology 2021, September 1, 224(17) (epub August 6th) doi: 10.1242/jeb.242722

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 (EBRG)
Role: Co-investigator (PI Kara Spiller)
Project: Particle-Assisted Control over Macrophage-Neutrophil interactions (Pac-Man)

Coulter-Drexel Translational Research Partnership Program (2021-2022)
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

Foundation Accelerator Research Grant: Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (2020 – 2021)
Role: Co-Investigator (Co-Is Dr.’s Ishan Roy and Prakash Jayabalan)
Project: Developing a pre-clinical model of cancer associated cachexia

Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Stroke Research: Shirley Ryan AbilityLab & Brinson Foundation
(2018 – 2020)
Role: Post-Doctoral Fellow
Project: Characterizing the passive mechanical properties of muscle and potential impacts following stroke

Pre-Doctoral Fellowship: American Heart Association (2016 – 2018)
Role: Pre-Doctoral Fellow
Project: The Effects of Musculoskeletal Adaptations Versus Neural Deficits on Hand and Wrist
Function in Individuals with Chronic Stroke

Promotion of Doctoral Studies (PODS) II Scholarship: Foundation for Physical Therapy (2016 – 2017)

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