Dr Pablo CRUZ GONZALEZ

Pablo



Research Fellow
Email: pablo.cg@ntu.edu.sg
Linkedln: www.linkedin.com/in/pablo-cg/
Education

Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Medicine, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
M.S. in Neuroscience, University of Salamanca
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, University of Salamanca 


Biography

Dr. Pablo Cruz is a medical researcher with a strong background in neuroscience and rehabilitation. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Salamanca in Spain, where he developed a deep interest in the physiology and pathology of the brain, particularly in relation to neurological disorders. To further his expertise, he pursued a Master's degree in Neuroscience at the same institution. Following his academic training, Dr. Pablo sought to gain practical clinical experience, spending a year as an intern at the Diakoniewerk Oberlausitz Katharinenhof in Dresden, Germany. During this time, he gained valuable insights into the practical aspects of rehabilitation. 

Driven by his interest for research, Dr. Pablo moved to Hong Kong to join The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, where he spent over eight years in various academic and research roles. He completed his PhD in medical rehabilitation, specializing in the mechanisms and applications of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and cognitive training for cognitively impaired populations. 

After earning his PhD, Dr. Pablo is focusing on integrating brain-computer interface (BCI) technology to enhance motor function in post-stroke rehabilitation. His research also led to the development of cutting-edge technology aimed at assessing dexterity in individuals with motor impairments. His work bridges the gap between technology and rehabilitation, aiming to optimize recovery outcomes for stroke survivors. Dr. Pablo’s research line lies not only in leveraging the latest technology and artificial intelligence in rehabilitation but also in designing precise interventions for stroke survivors that improve their function. Recognizing the need for a holistic approach, he has expanded his research to include comprehensive phenotyping of stroke survivors, both quantitatively and qualitatively, to understand how psychosocial and cultural factors impact motor and cognitive rehabilitation and how these relationships influence the overall recovery process. By taking a step back to evaluate stroke recovery holistically, Dr. Pablo aims to develop personalized interventions that align with the unique needs of each patient.

​​​​​Research Interest

​Rehabilitation Medicine, Neurorehabilitation, Neurosciences, Mental Health, Occupational Therapy

 

Publication

Please see my full research output on ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9073-3061 and Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=6uHwbhwAAAAJ&hl=en Below, you can see recent and relevant publications related to my current work:

1. Cruz-Gonzalez, P., He, A. W.-J., Lam, E. P., Ng, I. M. C., Li, M. W., Hou, R., Chan, J. N.-M., Sahni, Y., Vinas Guasch, N., Miller, T., Lau, B. W.-M., & Sánchez Vidaña, D. I. (2025). Artificial intelligence in mental health care: A systematic review of diagnosis, monitoring, and intervention applications. Psychological Medicine, 55, e18. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291724003295

2. Fong, K. N. K., Zhang, J., & Gonzalez, P. C. (2025). Closed-Loop Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) Training for Hemiparetic Upper Extremity in Patients with Chronic Stroke: A Randomized control study. Brain Stimulation, 18(1), 570. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2024.12.1030

3. Jing Soh, L., Syn Lim, L., Chuan Law, W., Lau, J. L., Lie, E., Yeh, I.-L., Cruz Gonzalez, P., Sidarta, A., & Tech Ang, W. (2025). Technical Properties of a Sensor-Aided Key Rig for Hand Function Measurement: A Proof of Concept Study. IEEE Sensors Journal, 25(1), 260–265. https://doi.org/10.1109/JSEN.2024.3494814

4. Toh, F. M., Lam, W. W. T., Cruz Gonzalez, P., & Fong, K. N. K. (2025). Effects of a Wearable-Based Intervention on the Hemiparetic Upper Limb in Persons With Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, 39(1), 31–46. https://doi.org/10.1177/15459683241283412

5. Gonzalez, P. C., Fong, K. N. K., & Brown, T. (2021). Transcranial direct current stimulation as an adjunct to cognitive training for older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A randomized controlled trial. Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, 64(5), 101536. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rehab.2021.101536