The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) has joined forces with LIMBS International, an international nonprofit organization that provides ultra-low-cost prostheses around the world, to provide new research and education opportunities for students.
“Our research relationship with LIMBS has tremendous benefits for both organizations, but especially for our students and faculty,” said UTEP President Diana Natalicio, PhD. “We will engage in research projects that will help provide sustainable solutions for amputees and address other needs in developing countries. There will be numerous opportunities for students and faculty to make significant advancements in a variety of fields.”
The flagship innovation for the nonprofit group is the LIMBS Knee. It is the only modular prosthetic knee in the world that meets all international standards and can be maintained and repaired locally in the developing world, according to a UTEP press release. It can be made using simple tools for less than $100.
As part of the research partnership, work will be done in lab space at UTEP’s new Biomedical Engineering and Bioinformatics Building.
“We are proud to be working in collaboration with UTEP to make significant strides in addressing the problems for amputees in the developing world,” said Roger Gonzalez, PE, PhD, LIMBS president and founder. “LIMBS has the proven distribution network to facilitate the research and education benefits this partnership provides.”
