Florida International University is helping children with congenital upper limb deficiencies better manage everyday tasks and enjoy physical activities.
Amanda Thomas, a clinical assistant professor in the Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Florida International University (FIU), helped start an exercise program incorporating the use of a body-powered 3D-printed prosthetic hand.
Thomas, whose son Hayden was born without his right hand, developed the program along with her Doctor of Physical Therapy Students at FIU. The 3-D prosthetic, created at FIU's Miami Beach Urban Studios, has since helped Hayden play tennis with his sister.
An adult-sized hand was also modified by university biomedical engineers.
FIU is one of the top public colleges in the United States. Along with its innovation in nursing and health sciences, the university has garnered an esteemed reputation in other helpful causes.
In February, FIU received $2 million in funding through Gov. Ron DeSantis from the Casey DeSantis Florida Cancer Innovation Fund. The money was given to expand the university's personalized cancer treatment technology under FIU cancer researcher Diana Azzam.
“Dr. Azzam’s group is demonstrating that functional precision medicine is the future of health care,” FIU Interim President Jeanette Nunez said at the time. "Today’s investment, announced by Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis, will accelerate the process to make this technology available to cancer patients who need it the most.”
Notably, Gov. DeSantis pushed for Nunez, his former lieutenant governor, to become president at FIU in January. After becoming their interim leader, the school recently named Nunez as its sole finalist for president.
Other South Florida colleges have been awarded funding for science research. Last September, Miami Dade College received a $2 million grant to start a plan for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Entry Pathways.
