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, Sychowski D, Lieber RL: Systematic review of passive muscle mechanics experimental methodology. Journal of Biomechanics, Vol 129, 2021, 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 epub August 6th doi: 10.1242/jeb.242722

Binder-Markey BI, Murray WM, Dewald JPA: Effects of altered neural input and botulinum toxin on hand passive properties in chronic stroke. Frontiers of Neurology 2021; 10 August. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2021.687624 Pre-print medRxiv 19011312; doi: 10.1101/19011312

Lieber RL, Binder-Markey BI: Biomechanical and Structural Basis of Muscle Passive Mechanical Properties Journal of Physiology 2021 epub June 9 doi: 10.1113/JP280867

Binder-Markey BI, Dewald JPA, Murray WM: The Sensitivity of the Development of the Claw Finger Deformity to Biomechanical Changes of the Finger After Intrinsic Muscle Paralysis: A Computational Biomechanical Model Study, Journal of Hand Surgery 2019;44(9):751-761

View Google Scholar Profile of Benjamin Binder-Markey

Grant participation:

Coulter-Drexel Translational Research Partnership Program (2021-2022)
Role: Co-investigator (PI Simon Giszter)
Project: Braided electrodiagnostic probes

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 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

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 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