Inga Wang, OTR/L, PhD

Education

PhD, Rehabilitation Science, University of Florida
MS, Biotechnology, Johns Hopkins University
MS, Statistics, Texas A&M University 
BS, Occupational Therapy, National Taiwan University

Research Interests

• Robotic-Assisted Stroke Rehabilitation
• Aging Research and Machine Learning – Applying predictive modeling to analyze aging trends, establish normative data, detect biomarkers, and identify risk factors across the lifespan
• Rehabilitation Outcome Measures – Developing the iNeck risk assessment model for tech neck and neck pain prevention (TNNP)
• Biomarkers of Aging and Frailty – Constructing a frailty index and identifying aging biomarkers using electronic health records (EHRs).

Interests & Expertise

Inga Wang (former Ying-Chih Wang), Ph.D., OTR/L, is a Professor with School of Rehabilitation Sciences & Technology. Her research is centered around two primary areas: (1) Robotic-Assisted Stroke Rehabilitation, (2) Aging Research and Machine Learning. 

In the past, Dr. Wang has assisted Dr. Craig Velozo in various outcome research projects, focusing on computerized adaptive testing (CAT) and score equating, funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) and VA Rehabilitation Research and Development (RR&D). She has also assisted Dr. Zev Rymer, Vice President for Research at the RIC, on NIH-funded projects, including the Toolbox project. This project aims to provide investigators with a brief yet comprehensive measurement tool for assessing cognitive, emotional, sensory, and motor function in large cohort studies such as epidemiological studies, clinical trials, or clinical studies, as part of the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience. Over the years, she has published population-based reference values for motor performance measurements, including grip strength, dexterity, balance functions, and aging biomarkers across the lifespan. 

With her background in neurorehabilitation and fellowship training in rehabilitation technology, Dr. Wang collaborates with engineers to assess the user experience and efficacy of upper limb robotic-assisted therapy for individuals with neurological disorders. In 2009, Dr. Wang was funded by a 5-yr NIDRR training center grant as a PI on Sub-Project on enhancing the functional and employment outcomes of individuals who experience a Stroke. Since 2021, Dr. Wang has been involved in NIDILRR's Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects, focusing on studying the feasibility and usability of SREx, iTbot, mR2A and other rehabilitation robotics in rehabilitation of the paretic arm, particularly in stroke survivors. The integration of these robotics with Azure app, Digital Twin, and HoloLens aims to enable therapists to interact with patients and control the devices remotely. The ultimate goal is to design high-functioning robotic devices for routine clinical neurorehabilitation and cost-effective options for home-based robot-assisted telerehabilitation. 

Selected Recent Publications

Wang, I., Yen, S.-C., Hou, S., Shefa, S. T., Lin, H.-W., Li, X., & Lakshminarayanan, K. (2025). From Tiny Hands to Steady Hands to Weary Hands: Age-Related Change Rates in Grip Strength Across the Lifespan. Journal of Clinical Medical Research, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.46889/JCMR.2025.6201.

Wang, I.& Wickstrom, R. (2024). Examining the Psychometric Properties of the 10-Item Active Movement Scale (AMS) for Assessing Musculoskeletal Function in Adults. Journal of Orthopaedic Science and Research, 2024, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.46889/josr.2024.5307 

Lakshminarayanan, K., Shah, R., Ramu, V., Madathil, D., Yao, Y., Wang, I., Brahmi, B., & Rahman, M. H. (2024). Motor Imagery Performance Through Embodied Digital Twins in a Virtual Reality-Enabled Brain-Computer Interface Environment. Journal of Visualized Experiments, (207), e66859. https://doi.org/10.3791/66859 

Wang, I., Rahman, M.-H., Hou, S., & Lin, H.-W. (2024). A Scoping Review of Outcome Measures in Ovarian Cancer Clinical Trials. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine, 1(1), 26–39.  

Tsou, S.-C., Chuang, C.-J., Wang, I., Chen, T.-C., Yeh, J.-H., Hsu, C.-L., Hung, Y.-C., Lee, M.-C., Chang, Y.-Y., & Lin, H.-W. (2024). Lemon Peel Water Extract: A Novel Material for Retinal Health, Protecting Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells against Dynamin-Related Protein 1-Mediated Mitochondrial Fission by Blocking ROS-Stimulated Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase/Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Pathway. Antioxidants, 13(5), 538. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13050538 

Wickstrom R, Wang I. Reliability and concurrent validity of the Active Movement Scale (AMS) in adults with musculoskeletal disorders. Work. 2024;78(4):1173-1186. doi: 10.3233/WOR-230626. PMID: 39121151. 

Lien, Hung-Pin; Shieh, Yun-Jer; Chen, Chih-Ping; Huang, Yi-Jing; Wang, Inga; Chen, Mei-Hsiang; Hsieh, Ching-Lin. The minimal important difference for the Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke Patients in the subacute stage. Braz J Phys Ther. 2024 Jan-Feb;28(1):100595. doi: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2024.100595. Epub 2024 Feb 19. PMID: 38394721; PMCID: PMC10899048. 

Lin GH, Lee SC, Huang CY, Wang I, Lee YC, Hsueh IP, Hsieh CL. Accumulative Assessment of Upper Extremity. Phys Ther. 2024 Mar 26:pzae050. doi: 10.1093/ptj/pzae050. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38531775. 

Spector AL, Quinn KG, Wang I, Gliedt JA, Fillingim RB, Cruz-Almeida Y. More Problems, More Pain: The Role of Chronic Life Stressors and Racial/Ethnic Identity on Chronic Pain Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in the United States. Chronic Stress (Thousand Oaks). 2023 Oct 23;7:24705470231208281. doi: 10.1177/24705470231208281. PMID: 37881639; PMCID: PMC10594967. 

Wang I, Spector AL, Gliedt JA, Rahman MH, Ritchie D. Trends and race/ethnic differences in levels of TC/HDL-C ratio in the US among individuals aged 6-80 years: NHANES 2005-2020. Online J Health Allied Scs. 2023;22(1):2. Available at URL: https://www.ojhas.org/issue85/2023-1-2.html  

Wang I, Rahman MH, Hou S, Lin H-W. Assessing the Practical Differences in LDL-C Estimates Calculated by Friedewald, Martin/Hopkins, or NIH Equation 2: An Observation Cross-Sectional Study. J Lipid Atheroscler. 2023 Sep;12(3):e21. https://doi.org/10.12997/jla.2023.12.e21 

Lin GH, Wang I, Lee SC, Huang CY, Wang YC, Hsieh CL. Development of a 13-item Short Form for Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Upper Extremity Scale Using a Machine Learning Approach. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2023 Feb 1:S0003-9993(23)00049-7. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2023.01.005. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36736809. 

Wang I, Li PC, Lee SC, Lee YC, Wang CH, Hsieh CL. Development of a Berg Balance Scale Short-Form Using a Machine Learning Approach in Patients With Stroke. J Neurol Phys Ther. 2023 Jan 1;47(1):44-51. doi: 10.1097/NPT.0000000000000417. Epub 2022 Aug 30. PMID: 36047823. 

Rulik I, Sunny MSH, Sanjuan De Caro JD, Zarif MII, Brahmi B, Ahamed SI, Schultz K, Wang I, Leheng T, Longxiang JP, Rahman MH. Control of a Wheelchair-Mounted 6DOF Assistive Robot With Chin and Finger Joysticks. Front Robot AI. 2022 Jul 22;9:885610. doi: 10.3389/frobt.2022.885610. PMID: 35937617; PMCID: PMC9354078. 

Sanjuan De Caro JD, Sunny MSH, Muñoz E, Hernandez J, Torres A, Brahmi B, Wang I, Ghommam J, Rahman MH. Evaluation of Objective Functions for the Optimal Design of an Assistive Robot. Micromachines (Basel). 2022 Dec 13;13(12):2206. doi: 10.3390/mi13122206. PMID: 36557505; PMCID: PMC9788593. 

Wang I, Hou S, Rahman MH, Li X, Ritchie D, Spector AL. Trends in Low-Density Lipoproteins Cholesterol (LDL-C) in US Aged 12 to 80 Years: Data from the 2007-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Journal of Neurology and Epidemiology, 2022, 7, 19-25. DOI: https://doi.org/10.12974/2309-6179.2022.07.03 

Selected Funded Grants

NIDILRR at Administration for Community Living (ACL) Projects for Translating the Findings and Products of Disability and Rehabilitation Research and Development into Practice #: 90DPKT0015-01-00, $999,995.
Mohammad H Rahman
9/1/2023-8/31/2028
Title: Translating Multifunctional Robotic Assistive Arm (mR2A) for Activities of Daily Living Assistance into Practice 

MCW Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment, AHW-funded project, Improving Heart Health, Supporting Healthy Minds, and Dismantling Cancer, $50,000.
Xiaoyan Li
7/1/2023-6/30/2024
Title: A Preliminary Study Monitoring Motor Unit Properties in Acute Stroke 

NIDILRR at Administration for Community Living (ACL) Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) #: 90DPGE0018-01-00, $1,490,000.
Mohammad H Rahman
9/1/2020-8/31/2023
Title: Multifunctional Robotic Assistive Arm (mR2A) for Activities of Daily Living Assistance 

NIH R21 NS113716-02, $275,000.
Xiaoyan Li
7/1/2021-9/30/2022
Title: High-Density Surface EMG Based CMAP Scan for Motor Unit Number High-Density Surface EMG Based CMAP Scan for Motor Unit Number 

MCW, Stroke Rehabilitation Center Grant - Clinical and Translational Seed Award, $49,996.
Jingsung Wang (UWM Principal), Erin McGonigle (MCW Principal)
11/1/2019-10/31/2020
Title: Determining Potential Benefits of Model-Free Learning Techniques for Improving Arm Motor Function in Stroke Survivors with Ideomotor Limb Apraxia 

UWM Graduate School-Research Growth Initiative
Ying-Chih Wang
07/01/2013-06/30/2014
Title: Translating Modified Ashworth Scale into Neurophysiological, Quantitative Kinematic and Kinetic Values 

Graduate School Research Committee Awards
Ying-Chih Wang
07/01/2012-06/30/2013
Title: Remove Air Bubbles Generated in the IV Lines during the Intravenous Cancer Therapy 

NIDRR - GRANT # ED-H133B080031
Elliot J. Roth - MD
10/01/2008-9/30/2013
Title: Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Enhancing the Functional and Employment Outcomes in Individuals who Experience a Stroke Sub-Project: Development of a Return-to-Work Vocational Assessment Using Virtual Reality Technology and Navigation/Manipulation Interfaces 

Boston ROC Network - Pilot Studies Award
Ying-Chih Wang
07/01/2011-06/30/2013
Title: Development of a Quantitative Spasticity Measure for Routine Clinical Practice 

UWM – Stimulus for Extramural Enhancement & Development (CHS SEED GRANT)
Ying-Chih Wang
02/01/2010-12/31/2011
Title: Develop a Quantitative Spasticity Measure 

NIH SUB-CONTRACT - CONTRACT NO.: HHS-N-260-2006-00007-C
William Z. Rymer
9/2006-8/2011
Title: NIH Toolbox for Assessment of Neurological and Behavioral Function. 

UW-Madison/UW-Milwaukee Intercampus Research Incentive Grants
Ying-Chih Wang
07/01/2011-06/30/2012
Title: An EEG Triggered Robotic Stroke Rehabilitation Device # MIL PRJ491D 

Affiliations

• BioRobotics Laboratory
• Rehabilitation Research Design & Disability (R2D2) Research Center
• Assistive Technology and Accessible Design (ATAD), Graduate Certificate