Soha Saleh, Ph.D.
The Neurophysiology and Rehabilitation Innovations (NeuREI) Lab applies knowledge of neurophysiology to advance rehabilitation research. Its mission is to improve function and quality of life for individuals with motor and cognitive disabilities.
Research Overview
Unlocking Recovery Through Brain Science
The NeuREI lab areas of research include:
Developing neuroimaging based prognosis models of recovery post stroke
Investigating cognitive-motor interactions and neuromodulation methods to promote neuroplasticity
Using multidisciplinary approach involving structural and functional imaging and electrophysiological techniques and behavioral assessment, combined with advanced signal processing and analysis.
Research Team
The people behind the science
Michael Glassen, M.S.
Research Engineer
Email: mglassen@shp.rutgers.edu
Fares Yahya (Alshargie), Ph.D.
Research Associate II
Email: fares.yahya@rutgers.edu
Harshith Saligrama Ravindra
Graduate Assistant
Email: hs1110@scarletmail.rutgers.edu
Emily Peters, MPH
Research Coordinator
Email: petersen@shp.rutgers.edu
Funding & Grants
Supported Research Programs
Federal, foundation, and institutional funding advancing predictive modeling of treatment responses
National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research
$
Cognitive Integrated Motor Training to Improve Gait and Balance and Reduce Falls in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment
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Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Sponsor Agency: National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research
Brief Overview of Aims: The project aims to improve Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairments gait & balance rehabilitation by shifting the focus from multifactorial motor-only training towards more comprehensive cognitive integrated motor training to better treat ambulation deficits.
Total Dollar Amount:
Funding Period: 09/01/2024- 08/31/2027
- 9/01/2024- 8/31/2027
Rutgers University School of Health Professions – Dean’s Intramural Grant
$35,000
Enhancing Rehabilitation Outcomes in Cerebral Palsy through Gamified Multidisciplinary Interventions: Integrating Speech and Upper Extremity Motor Therapy
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Role: Co-Investigator
Sponsor Agency: Rutgers University School of Health Professions – Dean’s Intramural Grant
Brief Overview of Aims: This project aims to create a gamified multidisciplinary treatment for children with Cerebral Palsy. It will integrate speech and upper extremity (UE) motor therapy into a cloud-based home system for telerehabilitation, making therapy more accessible. The plan is to develop computer-based therapy games to enhance speech intelligibility and UE function, assess the feasibility and effects of the treatment, and examine the neural correlates of speech production and UE movement. The overall goal is to improve the independence and quality of life of children with CP by refining their treatment to better suit their unique needs.
Total Dollar Amount: $35,000
Funding Period: 9/1/2024- 9/1/2025
- 9/30/2015 – 9/29/2020
New Jersey Commission on Brain Injury Research
$179,240
Combining Physical and Mental Practice for the Rehabilitation of Upper Extremity Movement Impairments Secondary to Traumatic Brain Injury
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Role: Principal Investigator
Sponsor Agency: New Jersey Commission on Brain Injury Research
Brief Overview of Aims: This study investigates the effect of motor imagery and performance based feedback on improving rehabilitation outcomes.
Total Dollar Amount: $179,240
Funding Period: July 1, 2017 – May 31, 2021 (completed)
- July 1, 2017 – May 31, 2021
Rutgers University School of Health Professions – Dean’s Intramural Grant
$35,000
Personalized Neuromodulation to Treat Motor and Cognitive Symptoms in Aging Population
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Role: MPI
Sponsor Agency: Rutgers University School of Health Professions – Dean’s Intramural Grant
Brief Overview of Aims: The study aims to improve cognition and mobility in the aging population and individuals with cognitive and mobility deficits due to neurological disorders through cognitive-motor training and personalized brain activation stimulation. Personalized brain stimulation techniques will be used in combination with cognitive-motor training in a virtual reality environment. The study will recruit ten participants to test the effects of training on movement, cognition, and brain connectivity.
Total Dollar Amount: $35,000
Funding Period: 9/1/2023- 9/1/2025
- 9/1/2023- 9/1/2025
New Jersey Commission on Spinal Cord Injury Research
$200,000
Cortical control of walking; brain plasticity following exoskeleton training in Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury
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Role: Principal Investigator
Sponsor Agency: New Jersey Commission on Spinal Cord Injury Research
Brief Overview of Aims: This study investigates the cortical modulation of muscle activation and within-brain activation during walking, and the re-organization of cortical control of walking after SCI and intensive exoskeleton-assisted training.
Total Dollar Amount: $200,000
Funding Period: June 1, 2018 – May 31, 2024 (no cost extension)
- June 1, 2018 – May 31, 2024
Publications & Impact
Selected Research Publications
2026
Differential Brain Reorganization in Chronic Cervical Spinal Cord Injury and Its Relation to Motor versus Sensory Impairments: A Preliminary Investigation
Brihmat N, Saleh S, Zhang F, Carnahan J, Bayram M, Yue G, Forres G,
Sci Rep 16, 7108 (2026).
2025
Brain Connectivity During Walking and Obstacle Avoidance in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis and Healthy Controls: A Pilot EEG Study
Al-Shargie F, Glassen M, DeLuca J, Saleh S.
IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng. 2025;33:2945-2955. doi: 10.1109/TNSRE.2025.3592492. PMID: 40705589; PMCID: PMC12372641.
2025
White Matter Integrity as a Biomarker of Gait Recovery in Patients Post-Stroke
Gutterman Jennifer, Motwani Chirag, Glassen Michael, Merians Alma, Nolan Karen J, & Saleh Soha.
IEEE Xplore, Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2025 Jul;2025:1-4. doi: 10.1109/EMBC58623.2025.11254249. PMID: 41337023.
2025
Correlations Between Morpho-structural Properties of the Brain and Cognitive and Motor Deficits in Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury
Alivar A, Saleh S, Glassen M, Suviseshamuthu ES, Handiru VS, Allexandre D, Yue GH.
Neurotrauma Rep. 2025 Jan 24;6(1):68-81. doi: 10.1089/neur.2024.0091. PMID: 39990701; PMCID: PMC11839535
2025
Translating a Preclinically Tested 15 Hz rTMS Protocol to Humans With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury: A Safety and Feasibility Study
Brihmat N, Bayram MB, Paine M, Carnahan J, Zhong J, Guan X, Yue GH, Saleh S, Forrest GF.
Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2025 Aug 6. doi: 10.1002/acn3.70154. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40770962.
2024
Insights into COVID-19 pathophysiology from a longitudinal multisystem report during acute infection
Brihmat N, Bayram MB, Bheemreddy A, Saleh S, Yue GH, Forrest GF.
Exp Neurol. 2024 Oct;380:114917. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2024.114917. Epub 2024 Aug 9. PMID: 39127120
2024
Identifying neural correlates of balance impairment in traumatic brain injury using partial least squares correlation analysis
Handiru VS, Suviseshamuthu ES, Saleh S, Su H, Yue G, Allexandre D.
J Neural Eng. 2024 Sep 12;21(5). doi: 10.1088/1741-2552/ad7320. PMID: 39178907
2024
Obstacle Avoidance in Healthy Adults and People With Multiple Sclerosis: Preliminary fNIRS Study
Al-Shargie F, Glassen M, DeLuca J, Saleh S.
IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng. 2024;32:3966-3976. doi: 10.1109/TNSRE.2024.3487526. Epub 2024 Nov 6. PMID: 39466870
2024
Effectiveness of virtual reality training compared to balance-specific training and conventional training on balance and gross motor functions of children with cerebral palsy: A double blinded randomized controlled trial
Ziab H, Saleh S, Talebian S, Olyaei G, Mazbouh R, Sarraj AR, Hadian MR.
J Pediatr Rehabil Med. 2024 Aug 16. doi: 10.3233/PRM-220120. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39150837.
Achievements
Awards & Honors
2015
Outstanding Research Scholar: Lebanese International University
2015
Best Conference Paper Award: 2015 Global Health Annual Meeting
2014
Best Paper Award: Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair
2010
Best Paper Award: VIII International Conference on Disability, Virtual Reality and Associated Technologies
2009
Outstanding Performance Award: Dana Knox Showcase Committee, NJIT
2006
Best Student Capstone Design Project: Annual Engineering Exhibition
Get Involved
Join our Research
Interested in advancing your research? Reach out to Dr. Saleh
to learn more about opportunities to get involved.