Endowed Progessor at Oregon Health & Science University, United States
Dr. Fay Marie Bahling Horak is a globally renowned researcher in neurology, specializing in movement and balance disorders. As the Jay Nutt Endowed Professor of Clinical Research of Movement Disorders at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), she has made groundbreaking contributions to understanding postural control, gait disorders, and Parkinson’s disease. With over four decades of research, she has secured multi-million-dollar grants from NIH, MJFF, VA, and DoD, driving advancements in wearable sensor technology and rehabilitation strategies. Dr. Horak’s highly cited publications, patents, and leadership in the field have earned her numerous prestigious awards, including the NIH MERIT Award, Research.com Best Female Scientist Award, and Neural Control of Movement Distinguished Career Award. She is an Adjunct Professor at multiple international institutions, a Chief Scientist at APDM Wearable Technologies, and a dedicated mentor shaping the next generation of researchers. Her work continues to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and clinical application, making her a pioneer in movement disorder rehabilitation.
Professional Profile
Education
Dr. Fay Horak has a strong educational foundation in physiology, neurophysiology, and physical therapy, which has shaped her distinguished career in movement disorder research. She earned her Ph.D. in Physiology & Biophysics from the University of Washington in 1982, following a Master’s degree in Neurophysiology from the University of Minnesota in 1977. Her academic journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Wisconsin in 1973. She further honed her expertise through a postdoctoral fellowship in Balance Disorders at the Neurological Sciences Institute (Good Samaritan Hospital, Portland) from 1982 to 1985. This diverse educational background provided her with the interdisciplinary knowledge necessary to become a leader in neurology, biomechanics, and rehabilitation science.
Professional Experience
Dr. Fay Horak has had an extensive and influential career in neurology, movement disorders, and rehabilitation research. She has been a Professor at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) since 1990, currently serving as the Jay Nutt Endowed Professor of Clinical Research of Movement Disorders in the Department of Neurology. She is also the Director of the Balance Disorders and Fall Prevention Laboratory, where she leads pioneering research on gait, posture, and neurological rehabilitation. Over the years, she has held adjunct professorships at multiple institutions worldwide, including the University of Bologna (Italy), Simon Fraser University (Canada), and the University of Waterloo (Canada). She previously served as a Senior Scientist at the Neurological Sciences Institute and a Supervisory Research Scientist at the Portland VA Health Care System. Beyond academia, Dr. Horak has contributed to industry innovation as the Chief Scientist at APDM Wearable Technologies (a Clario company), advancing sensor-based movement assessments. Her diverse experience in research, teaching, and clinical applications has established her as a global leader in movement science and rehabilitation.
Research Interest
Dr. Fay Horak’s research focuses on neurological movement disorders, postural control, gait dysfunction, and rehabilitation strategies. She is particularly interested in understanding the mechanisms of balance and mobility impairments in conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and aging-related movement disorders. Her work integrates neuroscience, biomechanics, and wearable sensor technology to develop innovative assessment tools and rehabilitation interventions aimed at improving mobility and preventing falls. She has led pioneering studies on freezing of gait, cortical control of posture, and sensorimotor integration, influencing both clinical practice and therapeutic development. Through multidisciplinary collaborations and high-impact research, Dr. Horak continues to shape the future of neurological rehabilitation and movement science.
Award and Honor
Dr. Fay Horak has received numerous prestigious awards and honors in recognition of her groundbreaking contributions to movement disorders research and rehabilitation science. She was honored with the NIH MERIT Award for 25 years of continuous R01 research funding, a testament to her sustained excellence in scientific inquiry. She has also received the Research.com Best Female Scientist Award, Neural Control of Movement Distinguished Career Award, and the International Society of Posture & Gait Research Honorary Membership. Her work has been widely cited, earning her recognition for having one of the 10 most cited papers in the last 125 years by the American Physiological Society. Additionally, she has received multiple accolades from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), including the Catherine Worthingham Fellows Award and the Anne Shumway-Cook Neuroscience Translation Lectureship Award. Her impact extends beyond academia, as she has been recognized for technological innovation, receiving the OHSU Technology Innovation Award and patents for mobility assessment tools. Through these honors, Dr. Horak’s legacy as a pioneering researcher and mentor in movement science and neurorehabilitation continues to be celebrated globally.
Conclusion
Dr. Fay Marie Bahling Horak is an exceptional, world-renowned researcher in neurology, movement disorders, and rehabilitation. Her contributions to balance disorders, Parkinson’s disease, and wearable motion technology make her a highly deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award.
Her groundbreaking research, global collaborations, mentorship, and industry impact establish her as a leading expert in the field, making her an excellent choice for this prestigious recognition. 🚀
Publications Top Noted
- Title: Daily life mobility detects frailty, falls, and functioning in older prostate cancer survivors treated with androgen deprivation therapy
Authors: Tibbitts, D.C., Mancini, M., Stoyles, S., Horak, F.B., Winters-Stone, K.M.
Year: 2025
Citation: Journal of Geriatric Oncology, 16(2), 102180
- Title: Complex Exercises Improve Cognition in People With Parkinson’s Disease and Freezing of Gait
Authors: Silva-Batista, C., Almeida, F.O.D., Batista, A., Horak, F.B., Ugrinowitsch, C.
Year: 2025
Citation: Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, 39(1), pp. 3–15
- Title: Correction to: Mobilise-D insights to estimate real-world walking speed in multiple conditions with a wearable device
Authors: Kirk, C., Küderle, A., Micó-Amigo, M.E., Curreli, C., Bottin, F.
Year: 2024
Citation: Scientific Reports, 14(1), 28878
- Title: Accelerating Parkinson’s Disease drug development with federated learning approaches
Authors: Khanna, A., Adams, J., Antoniades, C., Wagner, J.A., Jones, G.B.
Year: 2024
Citation: npj Parkinson’s Disease, 10(1), 225
- Title: Reply to E. Shash
Authors: Shah, V., Muzyka, D., Guidarelli, C., Horak, F., Winters-Stone, K.
Year: 2024
Citation: JCO Precision Oncology, 8
- Title: Effects of balance constraints during a double-step reaching task
Authors: Moya-Jofré, C., Mariman, J.J., Bruna-Melo, T., Mancini, M., Burgos, P.I.
Year: 2024
Citation: Gait and Posture, 113, pp. 130–138
- Title: ISB recommendations on the definition, estimation, and reporting of joint kinematics in human motion analysis applications using wearable inertial measurement technology
Authors: Cereatti, A., Gurchiek, R., Mündermann, A., Delp, S., Aminian, K.
Year: 2024
Citation: Journal of Biomechanics, 173, 112225
- Title: A Pragmatic Review on Spinal Cord Stimulation Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease Gait Related Disorders: Gaps and Controversies
Authors: Hvingelby, V.S., Carra, R.B., Terkelsen, M.H., Welter, M.-L., Zrinzo, L.
Year: 2024
Citation: Movement Disorders Clinical Practice, 11(8), pp. 927–947
- Title: The Use of Novel Instrumented Socks to Detect Changes in Daily Life Mobility During an Exercise Intervention in Prostate Cancer Survivors Treated with Androgen Deprivation Therapy
Authors: Tibbitts, D.C., Stoyles, S.A., Mancini, M., Dieckmann, N.F., Winters-Stone, K.M.
Year: 2024
Citation: Seminars in Oncology Nursing, 40(4), 151658
- Title: Can strength training or tai ji quan training reduce frailty in postmenopausal women treated with chemotherapy? A secondary data analysis of the GET FIT trial
Authors: Winters-Stone, K.M., Stoyles, S.A., Dieckmann, N.F., Roeland, E.J., Li, F.
Year: 2024
Citation: Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 18(4), pp. 1179–1189
