Amputees get a leg up with new tech 🦿

Researchers and clinicians in Asia continue to advance prosthetic limb technology to make it more effective and accessible for patients in the region.

October 30, 2024

Feature of the week

Breakthroughs in prosthetic limb technology give amputees a boost

Prosthetic limb technology has come a long way over the years, offering variety and accessibility to support the unique needs of amputees. In the Asia-Pacific region, robotic prosthetics are of particular interest, with the market projected to grow by nearly 10 percent from 2023 to 2030.

From AI-powered sensors that promote sensation to robotic limbs that generate lifelike movement, discover how recent developments in prosthetics technology ensure that amputees never miss out.

📽️ WATCH: A different approach to breast cancer detection 🧬

As Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October comes to a close, hear from scientists like Dr. Li Jingmei, whose groundbreaking work makes it possible for more women to understand their risk for breast cancer, and take the necessary precautions.

For over a decade, Dr. Li—a senior research scientist at Singapore's Genome Institute, A*STAR—has harnessed genetics to deepen our understanding of breast cancer; studying the combined effects of common gene variants to broaden early detection methods. Watch her work in action in this episode of Asia's Changemakers. ▶️

Editorial highlights

TECHNOLOGY

A 3D-printed prosthetic hand can learn the wearers’ movement patterns to help amputee patients perform daily tasks.

HEALTH

The finding opens up possibilities for using these transformed cells in regenerative therapies.

ENVIRONMENT

Tropical cyclones in Southeast Asia are forming closer to coastlines, putting at risk tens of millions of people living in these areas.

Meet the Asian Scientist 100 Community

University of Sri Jayewardenepura | Sri Lanka 🇱🇰 | Chemistry

Munaweera received the 2023 TWAS-Atta-ur-Rahman Award in Chemistry, for her contributions to the development of engineered inorganic nanostructures and nanofiber composites that may have multidisciplinary applications.

Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology | South Korea 🇰🇷 | Biomedical Sciences

Chun was awarded the 2023 Asan Award in basic medicine for his contributions to molecular mechanisms of osteoarthritis pathogenesis.