Jonathan Naber, a recent University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) graduate has received a Whitaker International Fellow Grant, which he will use to conduct a long-term trial of the low-cost, transradial prosthesis he developed through his non-profit organization, IPT, formerly known as Illini Prosthetic Technologies. Naber earned his bachelor’s degree in materials science and engineering in 2011.
The goal of the Whitaker Program is to assist in the development of professional leaders who are outstanding engineers and scientists who will lead and serve the biomedical engineering profession with an international outlook. Fellows may study at a university, conduct research, or work as an intern at a policymaking organization. Generally, fewer than 15 of these fellowships are awarded annually.
Naber will spend the next 12 months in Guatemala, continuing work he began in January to collect usage data from individuals with amputations using the prosthesis developed by IPT. He also will investigate options for making the device in Guatemala. His goal is to use the data to improve the prosthesis before potentially manufacturing and distributing it to individuals with amputations throughout Central America and, ultimately, the developing world.
