Dr. Kristine Cowley, PhD

Research summary

Dr. Cowley’s research focus is to increase the health and function of people living with spinal cord injury (SCI). SCI is a life-altering event that causes paralysis and affects virtually every bodily function because of the loss of ascending and descending neural control. 

Loss of these functions leads to the all-too-common secondary consequences of SCI, including obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, lower limb fracture and cardiovascular disease. In order to develop strategies to prevent these sedentary-related conditions, we need a fundamental understanding of brain and spinal neural mechanisms and pathways that generate and coordinate movement and exercise. 

We also need an understanding of how neural circuits that generate movement are integrated with neural circuits that maintains body homeostasis under different environmental conditions, and those that provide the body with the metabolic or energy resources needed to keep moving. Finally, clinical motor function and exercise research is needed to inform and apply fundamental research to develop effective treatment or exercise strategies that reduce the incidence and burden of these sedentary-related conditions.

Dr. Cowley’s team use a variety of techniques and research models, including in vivo and in vitro electrophysiology, immunohistochemistry and fluorescence microscopy, western blot protein analysis and micro-computed tomography. Human research techniques include kinematics, electromyography and electrical stimulation techniques, biomechanics, exercise physiological techniques and ergonomics. Policy and application-based research relies on key-informant interviews and outcome tools and measures.

Dr. Cowley’s research program focuses on identifying strategies to:

• Increase locomotor function and autonomic functions that support movement after SCI.
• Increase exercise capacity and health benefits of exercise after SCI.
• Reduce muscle and bone deterioration after SCI.

And lead in the integration, application and translation of SCI research knowledge, so that people living with SCI can benefit.

Research interests

• Spinal neural mechanisms generating and coordinating locomotion
• Spinal neural mechanisms mediating autonomic support for ongoing movement (and exercise)
• Spinal neural mechanisms providing training-related adaptations in muscle and bone after spinal cord injury (SCI)
• Identifying means to optimize exercise responses in persons living with SCI

Keywords

• Bone health
• Electrophysiology
• Exercise and training adaptations
• Exercise physiology
• Motor physiology
• Muscle health
• Neural circuits
• Spinal cord injury
• Spinal cord physiology
• Sympathetic nervous system

Dr. Cowley received her PhD from the University of Manitoba, investigating the neural control of movement. Since 2012 she has been an associate professor in the Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology.

She holds a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Health and Function after Spinal Cord Injury. 
Dr. Cowley is an associate editor for the Journal of Neurophysiology, the Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, and the Journal of Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism.

She has served on several national and international review committees including the CIHR, NSERC, Brain Canada and the Craig H. Neilsen Research Foundation.

Dr. Cowley serves and has served on many provincial, national and international knowledge application and translation committees and expert panels, including:

• the Paralyzed Veterans of America’s first bone health clinical practice guideline Bone Health and Osteoporosis Management in Adults with Spinal Cord Injury, 
• the expert content committee that developed the Accessibility Advisory Council Recommendations for the Initial Accessibility Standard for the Design of Public Spaces in Manitoba,
• the expert curation committee (ECC) that reviews trials published on ClinicalTrials.gov and curates them for access through https://scitrialsfinder.net, and
• the National Spinal Cord Injury Model of Care Committee and Leadership Group developing a model for SCI rehabilitation in Canada, to address provincial inadequacies, inequities and inconsistencies in SCI rehabilitation, and support for needed medical supplies and equipment.

Education

PhD (Physiology, Neurosciences), University of Manitoba (1998)

Bachelor of Sciences (Biology, 4 year), University of Winnipeg (1990)

Awards

• Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Health and Function after Spinal Cord Injury (2020 – 2025)
• Canada’s Top 100 Women in Science, Technology, Engineering & Math, 2025
• Inaugural Kent Bassett Spiers Award to recognize an outstanding individual who has demonstrated long-term, influential commitment to people with spinal cord injuries.  Presented at the 2023 Canadian Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Association’s 10th Annual Research Meeting, 2023
• Manitoba Medical Students’ Association Teaching Award Nominee for Med I Award: Mentorship, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, 2015
• Top Poster Presentation Award at the 4th International Spinal Cord Society / American Spinal Injury Association Joint Scientific Meeting, 2014
• Rick Hansen Difference Maker Award, 2014
• Will to Win Professorship (2012 – 2017)