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Rehabilitation robots for stroke patients

Monday 9 February 2009

Can a new breed of robotic devices help stroke patients recover more quickly?

That's the question that the University of East London (UEL) is looking to address by inviting the public to a free open day and Public Lecture about new assistive technologies and restorative neuroscience being used by UEL and other leading universities in UK and USA to help stroke patients improve their condition.

Both events will both be on Wednesday 4th March at the Stratford Campus. The open day in the Brain Function & NeuRobotic Laboratory will feature demonstrations of robotics used to help stroke victims. It is hosted by Professor Duncan Turner, Professor of Restorative Neuroscience and Rehabilitation at UEL’s School of Health and Bioscience.

Professor Duncan Turner said: “Stroke can be a major event in a person’s life and the cost to the individuals and their families involved can be huge. In fact, East London has a stroke incidence that is much higher than the rest of the UK.

“UEL is working with other leading universities in the UK and USA to help physical therapists cope with the large workload placed on them by stroke. We are doing this by designing different robotic devices which can be used in a semi-automated fashion in stroke rehabilitation.

“Our guest speaker at the Pubic Lecture is Professor Jane Burridge, and she will discuss the current development of such a robotic device that uses electrical stimulation to help muscles contract again after stroke. These and other technologies are vital as we help people to rebuild their lives.”

The Public Lecture will start at 1pm and feature Professor Burridge, who holds a chair in Restorative Neuroscience at Southampton University.

The Rehabilitation Robotics Open Day will be between 10am -1230pm at the Brain Function & NeuRobotic Laboratory, Room UH 220, University House, Stratford Campus and the Public Lecture will be held afterwards between 1pm -2pm at University House, Lecture Room UH 136.

For further details and to confirm your attendance, contact Melissa Marr, on 020 8223 4985 or m.marr@uel.ac.uk

UEL Press office contact: 0208 223 6239 or 07595 056245

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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