The MP for Eastleigh Mims Davies, has supported a team from Southampton University at a prestigious ‘STEM for Britain 2018’ event in the Houses of Parliament.
Boorley Green resident Dr Katie Meadmore, a Senior Research Fellow in Health Sciences, was shortlisted from hundreds of applicants, and represented an interdisciplinary research team funded by the Medical Research Council and led by Dr Kai Yang.
Mims said,
‘Dr. Meadmore and her team have done so well to be selected for this hugely competitive event – and with a vital project that is absolutely worth recognition and support from STEM for Britain.
‘I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Katie before – she is an inspiring young woman, currently pioneering practical and low-cost ways of rehabilitating stroke victims.
‘Paralysis of some kind is a common side-effect of suffering from a stroke that renders individuals frustrated and dependent. So many of us will have seen loved ones struggle with this – or we may have even experienced these difficulties for ourselves.
‘It is brilliant to know that some of our brightest minds are being funded by the Medical Research Council to investigate how technology can be used post-stroke to restore some mobility and independence to those suffering.’
On the opportunity to present this research in Parliament, Katie said,
‘STEM for Britain is an excellent platform from which to advocate the need for low cost solutions to rehabilitation and to showcase our research to address this, which was developed with stroke survivors. I hope that my day in Parliament will raise awareness amongst MPs of this need for rehabilitation, as well as the consequences of living with stroke more generally.’
The aim of STEM for BRITAIN (http://www.stemforbritain.org.uk/ ) is to encourage, support and promote Britain's early-stage and early-career technologists who are the "engine-room" of continued progress in and development of UK research and R&D, and ultimately of UK plc. Many will be Britain's future scientific and technological leaders and others will clearly be leaders in other fields. Such researchers are a vital asset and investment for the UK.
Dr. Meadmore is currently working on a MRC funded project investigating the development of a low-cost, wearable, electrical stimulation device for upper limb rehabilitation post stoke. Specifically, the research combines cutting edge printed smart fabrics, intelligent control and health care methods to achieve wearable electrical stimulation technology that will assist arm movement in stroke survivors both in clinical settings and at home.
More information about the research project and team can be found at www.smartmove.soton.ac.uk.