New professor in Kassel: Will she revolutionize training for Parkinson's disease?

New professor in Kassel: Will she revolutionize training for Parkinson's disease?

As of August 1, 2025, Dr. Lisa Maurer took over the professorship for training and exercise at the University of Kassel. Her extensive expertise in sports science and her commitment to research improve the prospects in exercise therapy, especially for people with motor impairments. Dr. Maurer completed her sports science studies both in Strasbourg and at Saarland University. Her doctorate at the University of Giessen focused on the motor impairments caused by Parkinson's disease, supported by a scholarship from the German National Academic Foundation.

Dr. Maurer partly studied at renowned US universities such as Northeastern University in Boston and Pennsylvania State University. After completing her doctorate, she led a project in the postdoc phase as part of a DFG collaborative research center between the universities of Giessen and Marburg. This project focused on error perception in complex motor actions and led to the founding of a junior research group focused on neural processing in movement and training.

Research priorities and planned projects

In Kassel, Dr. Bricklayers to develop special training measures aimed at improving error processing. This could have significant positive effects on the motor performance of those affected. Through her research, she wants to help overcome barriers that people with motor disabilities encounter in everyday life.

In addition to her research at the University of Kassel, Dr. Maurer is part of the TReND project (Translational Research Network in Motor Disorder Rehabilitation), which includes pan-European collaboration between researchers from countries such as Belgium, France, Israel and Sweden. This project is funded by the EU as part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and aims to investigate the impairment of the sensorimotor system by various disorders.

Applications and therapeutic perspectives

An important focus of the TReND project is functional variability, which is crucial for stable and adaptive motor control. The development of novel therapy concepts aims to improve motor disorders in various patient groups. People with Parkinson's and older patients, who often suffer from similar motor problems, could experience particular benefits here.

Dr. Maurer's approach to providing support in the area of ​​error processing could not only improve the quality of life of those affected, but also help to effectively translate basic research into clinical practice. In cooperation with the University of Münster, innovative concepts are being developed that could revolutionize the field of movement therapy.

By taking on her professorship at the University of Kassel, Dr. Lisa Maurer highlights important aspects of sport and exercise science and opens up new perspectives for the rehabilitation of people with motor impairments.

More information about Dr. Lisa Maurer and her research can be found in her profiles University of Kassel, Active Parkinson's Foundation and ISPW.