Alexis Sunderlage

Alexis Sunderlage, OTR/L (she/her) is an Associate Research Scientist at NYU Jameel Arts & Health Lab. She is working on the Dance for Parkinson’s Disease (PD) project, a study aimed at understanding the effects of dance intervention in people with PD.

Alexis completed her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy at Washington University in St. Louis where she researched cognition related to Parkinson’s Disease. She works clinically as an occupational therapist with children and older adults. Prior to her OT experience, she received a Master of Science in Dance Science from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance where she researched strength and conditioning perceptions in elite pre-professional ballet dancers at the Royal Ballet School. She has presented at major conferences, such as the Society for Neuroscience and the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science.

She is passionate about advancing healthcare through the performing arts and developing evidence-based therapeutic approaches to make dance accessible to diverse populations. Her current work as a research scientist brings together the fields of neuroscience, dance, and clinical practice to advance our understanding of the brain during dance in those with Parkinson's Disease.