Educational and Scientific Center for Prosthetics and Rehabilitation
Due to ongoing military conflicts in Ukraine, many military personnel and civilians have suffered from severe injuries leading to limb amputations. Unfortunately, experts predict that our country will have the highest number of amputees in the future, compared to other states. No one was prepared for this. This fact compels both the public and private sectors to develop mechanisms today that will cope with the following challenges in future:
Training specialists in the field of prosthetics and orthotics (improving existing and developing new educational programs);
Supporting the development of existing companies specializing in the production and repair of prosthetics/orthotics and creating new ones;
Engaging foreign specialists in prosthetics/rehabilitation to exchange experience with our experts;
Implementing new policies for working with people with disabilities (creating conditions for their rapid and painless adaptation in society), and more.
In 2023, at the initiative of the KOLO Charitable Foundation, the NGO U+, Parashar Industries, and the Rehabilitation Center "Without Limits" (Bez Obmezhen), an Educational and Scientific Center for Prosthetics and Rehabilitation was established at the Postgraduate Education Institute of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. The creation of such a center will help address the acute shortage of prosthetics and rehabilitation specialists. Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute is supposed to be the top technical university in Ukraine and has the status of a research institution, which will not only ensure highly professional training of specialists based on the study of advanced technologies but also facilitate the development, implementation of technologies learnt from foreign partners and relevant partner companies, and the development of proprietary technologies.
The center work is carried out in two directions: educational and innovative. During particularly designed specialized courses, practical classes are partially conducted at the Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Rehabilitation Center "Without Limits" (Bez Obmezhen) and hospitals. Also, during the training, students have the opportunity to participate in events held by the center jointly with partners.
The total number of graduates who have already completed courses at the Center is 54 specialists (as of the end of January 2024). All of them can provide qualified assistance to military and civilian personnel affected by Russia's military aggression.
As part of cooperation with leading manufacturers of lower and upper limb prosthetics, such as Parashar Industries, the Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Rehabilitation Center "Without Limits" (Bez Obmezhen), and Esper Bionics LLC, students of the Biomedical Engineering Faculty and the Educational and Research Mechanical Engineering Institute have the opportunity to:
Study in a dual education format;
Participate in factory excursions;
Undergo pre-graduation internships.
The number of faculties involved in implementing this project is constantly growing.
With the support of the KOLO Charitable Foundation, the funding for the Center has been planned for the establishment of two laboratories. One will be based at the Biomedical Engineering Faculty, providing students with access to traditional prosthetic manufacturing technologies. The second will focus on researching and studying modern technologies. Both laboratories will be equipped with specialized state-of-the-art equipment, allowing better and deeper study of technologies and familiarizing students with industry demands under the guidance of experts.
The Center work focuses on studying and analyzing the state of prosthetics and rehabilitation nationally and internationally, studying key prosthetic manufacturing technologies, including their main elements such as sockets, cuffs, mechanical parts for upper and lower limb prosthetics. Implementing additive manufacturing technologies in prosthetics will provide a powerful impetus and form the basis for breakthrough results in the coming years, making it another vector of the Center work.
According to the strategic development plan and identified tasks, one of the directions of the KOLO Charitable Foundation work is comprehensive implementation of an innovative approach in project activities. We invite everyone to join our projects aimed at fostering innovation in the country. We are also ready to collaborate with innovators and assist in the implementation of interesting projects.
