Facilities – Kevin P. Granata Biomechanics Lab

Treadmill Laboratory

Dr. Queen also directs the Granata Treadmill Lab at Virginia Tech, which is housed in Norris Hall on the Virginia Tech campus in close proximity to both the main Granata Lab and Dr. Queen’s office. The Treadmill Lab contains an instrumented treadmill, motion capture equipment, and a physical therapy treatment table. This space is also equipped with a ceiling anchor to enable the use of a harness while on the treadmill.

Laboratory

Dr. Queen directs the Kevin P. Granata Biomechanics Lab (Granata Lab) at Virginia Tech and thus has full access to all of its resources. The Granata Lab encompasses 2,500 sq. ft. of space in Norris Hall on the Virginia Tech campus. Norris Hall is one of the engineering buildings on the Virginia Tech campus and houses faculty offices and classrooms for the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics. The Granata Lab contains office space for postdoctoral fellows, graduate, and undergraduate students. Dr. Queen’s office is also located in Norris Hall in close proximity to the Granata Lab. Most of the laboratory space is used for motion capture as well as biofeedback training. All of the laboratory equipment is around the perimeter of the lab, which allows for ample open floor space for all necessary training. In addition, the elastic bands that are needed for the tactile biofeedback portion of the project are currently available in the lab.

Clinical Space

Lewis Gale Sports Medicine – Orthopaedic Surgery Clinics – The sports medicine orthopaedic clinic and affiliated physicians which inlcudes Dr. Farmer’s practice is located near the Virginia Tech campus, approximately a 2 miles from the Granata Lab. In addition, Lewis Gale Sports Medicine has 6 offices throughout southwest Virginia which could be included as additional referral sites if there is any difficulty in recruiting patients to participate in the study. The orthopaedic clinic contains approximately 20 private exam rooms that will be used by the referring physicians when they are recruiting patients for this study and where any necissary clinical evaluations will be completed. The sports medicine physicians work with both physician’s assistants as well as nurses in the clinical setting. These physician extenders will be part of the study team and will be asked to help improve subject recruitment and aid in patient retention throughout the course of the research study.

Carilion Orthopaedic Clinics – The sports medicine orthopaedic clinic and affiliated physicians, have clinic facilities throughout Southwest Virginia. The closest Carilion Orthopedic clinic is located adjacent to the Virginia Tech campus, approximately a quarter of a mile from the Granata Lab. The orthopaedic clinics contain private exam rooms that are used by the referring physicians when they are recruiting patients for this study and where any necessary clinical evaluations will be completed. The extended clinical team (nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants, and scheduling staff) are all part of our study team in order to optimize subject recruitment and aid in patient retention throughout the course of every research study. In addition, the Carilion Orthopedic facility adjacent to the Virginia Tech campus contains an outpatient physical therapy facility that can be used in the collection of physical performance tests, clinical evaluations as well as patient reported outcomes. Carilion Orthopedics also has a state of the art clinical and research space in the Institute for Orthopedics and Neurology (ION Building) located in Roanoke, VA. This facility serves as a major referral site for patients interested in participating in our research projects. Some of the clinical research studies in the Granata Lab will be completed in collaboration with the physician and physical therapists at the ION building in Roanoke, VA.

Athletics at Virginia Tech – The Granata Lab works closely with the sports medicine providers at Virginia Tech on both research projects as well as aiding in athlete performance testing throughout the year. Collaborative research projects are being completed between the department of athletics and the Granata Lab. Performance based testing and biofeedback interventions are being completed in the Virginia Tech Athletic Training Room on a variety of projects allowing the Granata Lab team to complete work in a variety of settings.

Professor Kevin Granata was a man with a sharp intellect who answered a call to serve the cause of scholarship and higher education. He died protecting students after he shepherded them into his office in order to safeguard them, and after he went to investigate and intervene.

Professor Granata was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio and received undergraduate degrees from Ohio State University in electrical engineering and physics. He later earned a Master’s degree in physics from Purdue University. Thereafter, he worked in the Applied Physics Laboratory in Maryland. He received his doctoral degree in biomedical engineering from Ohio State University and then worked in the Department of Orthopedics at the University of Virginia, where he was the director of the Gait Laboratory.

Professor Granata was recruited to ESM to continue his teaching and research interests. He had numerous publications and research grants and lectured both nationally and internationally. He distinguished himself by making many outstanding scholarly contributions. In particular, he developed innovative methods to quantify low back stability that are considered cutting edge by other leaders in the field. He served as mentor for numerous students and junior professors. When Dr. Granata was promoted to the rank of professor, one of these professors conveyed, “Countless times he has provided me with valuable guidance on research-related matters such as student advising, experimental issues, and manuscript preparation.”

Leaders in the field of biomechanics called him “among the top five biomechanics researchers in the country working on movement dynamics in cerebral palsy”, as being “nationally recognized for his research”, “as an internationally outstanding scholar and educator”, as “often finding themselves quoting from Dr. Granata’s papers”.

Professor Granata’s greatest passion and pride was his family, especially his wife and children. He was also an athlete. He rowed crew at Purdue, participated in biathlons and triathlons and was an avid runner and cyclist. He loved coaching his sons’ Lacrosse teams.

He served Virginia Tech with pride and dedication. We became better because of him. We will recover, rebuild, rejuvenate and excel in his memory. He will not be forgotten.

A trust fund controlled by his family, which will contribute to the support of his wife and three children, has been established in honor of Dr. Granata. Contributions can be made to Kevin P. Granata Memorial Trust, StellarOne 2280 Kraft Drive Suite 1000, Blacksburg, VA 24060.

— His colleagues and friends from Virginia Tech. We are Virginia Tech. We will remain ESM.