The two frontier projects for biomedical research
July 27th, 2020 - TheUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma and Inail have signed a collaboration agreement for the implementation of two research projects - "Wifi-Myohand" and "ReGiveMeFive" - with a total joint investment of more than three million euros so that cutting-edge solutions can be developed for full reintegration social and working life of amputees.
“Wifi-Myohand” it concerns an implantable system, optimized for interfacing with the peripheral nervous system for the restoration of sensory perception in upper limb prostheses, and aims at the creation of a new wireless system for the active control of the movements of the bionic limb by the patient . The project will be coordinated by Prof. Loredana Zollo, ordinary of Bioingindustrial engineering Ucbm and for Inail theing. Emmanuel Groups, technical director of the research and training area of the Prosthesis Center of Vigorso di Budrio.
“ReGiveMeFive” looks at new frontiers in prosthetic surgery and aims to increase the number of patients who benefit from the most advanced bionic surgery procedures to improve the general health condition of the amputee patient, for example by significantly reducing chronic phantom limb pain and pain related to the physical integration of the prosthesis with the limb stump. The coordinators for Ucbm will be prof. Vincenzo Denaro, head emeritus and full professor of Orthopaedics, and for Inail theing. Groups.
The two projects, both lasting 36 months, involve the research and training area, the health area and the technical production area of the Inail Prosthesis Center of Vigorso di Budrio and the Research Units of theUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma of Orthopedics and Traumatology, of Advanced Robotics and Person Centered Technologies, of Neurology, Neurophysiology and Neurobiology, of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, of Neurophysiology and NeuroingEngineering of Human-Technology Interaction. In both projects the involvement, as partners, of theBioRobotics Institute of the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa.
“With these two projects, our University once again casts its gaze towards the frontiers of biomedical research, that of creating increasingly advanced technologies that are at the same time attentive to the needs of the person – explained the rector of theUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Raffael calabrò – Having a limb again does not yet mean a full return to normal life if it does not allow full social and work reintegration: for years our university has been studying the most cutting-edge solutions to increase the well-being of those who need it most. Allowing a real diffusion of bionic limbs that can actually be used in work activities and in daily life represents a real contribution to the development of the society in which we live, and for this reason we are pleased to sign a new agreement with Inail".
“For our institutional mission – underlined the president of Inail, Franco Bettoni - research represents a fundamental strategic lever, capable of producing results with a significant impact on the quality of life of our patients and of experimenting with increasingly effective treatments to reduce post-injury recovery times and improve rehabilitation programmes. The agreement signed today with theUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma confirms a now consolidated partnership and further strengthens our synergy with the main academic and research bodies, aimed at creating a scientific network of excellence for the implementation of highly prospective projects in the prosthetic and rehabilitation field".