Neurosciences Research Center welcomes new director of movement disorders research

The Jane and John Justin Institute for Mind Health at Cook Children's is pleased to welcome Director of Movement Disorders and Stroke Research Shuo-Hsiu "James" Chang, M.D.

Dr. Chang will join the Neurosciences Research Center under the leadership of Christos Papadelis, Ph.D., at the beginning of 2026.

Currently, Dr. Chang is a research associate professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Houston. He holds a Master of Science and doctorate in human movement science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master in Business Administration in health care from The George Washington University.

Dr. Chang also serves as the administrative director of the NeuroRecovery Research Center at TIRR Memorial Hermann, where he focuses on innovative research in neurorehabilitation, particularly in the development and application of wearable exoskeletons and robotic-assisted therapies for adults and children with neurological impairments.

Throughout his career, Dr. Chang has made valuable contributions to the field, authoring numerous publications in leading scientific journals and serving as an associate editor for Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences. He has been an invited speaker at national and international conferences, sharing his insights on rehabilitation robotics and neurorehabilitation. His work has been recognized with several awards, including the Fellowship in Geriatric Research Award from the American Physical Therapy Association. 
Dedicated to mentoring the next generation of researchers and clinicians, as well as fostering a collaborative and innovative environment, Dr. Chang’s modest and impactful approach to advancing physical medicine and rehabilitation, continues to improve patient outcomes and enhance the quality of life for individuals with disabilities.

Dr. Chang will develop his own research program focusing on the rehabilitation of lower extremities for children with cerebral palsy, dystonia, stroke and other movement disorders by using exoskeletons. This research will be performed at both Cook Children’s and The University of Texas at Arlington.

For more information, call the Neurosciences Research Center at 682-715-5026