David Fuller

David Fuller, PhD
Professor
University of Florida Department of Physical Therapy
Box 100154, UFHSC
Gainesville, FL  32610 -0154
Phone: (352) 273-6634
Fax:  (352) 273-6109
Email:ddf@phhp.ufl.edu

Dr. Fuller is a Professor in the Dept. of Physical Therapy. He teaches the Neuroscience course in the Physical Therapy curriculum as well as Neuroplasticity: A Foundation for Rehabilitation in the RSD curriculum. Dr. Fuller’s research program is aimed at understanding how neuroplasticity in the brain and spinal cord influences the control of breathing. The overall hypothesis driving the work in Dr. Fuller’s laboratory is that appropriate induction of neuroplasticity has the potential to improve respiratory muscle control in cases of injury or disease, thereby reducing dependence on mechanical ventilators and improving the quality of life for certain patients. Dr. Fuller’s laboratory uses a multidisciplinary approach to explore the relationship between neural plasticity and breathing. Current projects focus on 1) mechanisms of spinal plasticity induced by rehabilitative training; 2) identifying strategies to improve respiratory motor recovery following spinal cord injury, and 3) using gene delivery to respiratory motoneurons as a tool for improving breathing in certain disease states.