There are about 100 million people globally who need prosthetic or orthotic (P&O) services and as populations age, more than two billion people are expected to require health-related assistive devices by 2030. In the UK the Disabled Living Foundation estimates that 6.5 million people live with mobility disablement, with many reliant on P&O services, including an estimated two million orthotic users.
The national Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in prosthetics and orthotics is funded by EPSRC in 2019. It combines leading expertise from the University of Salford, Imperial College London, the University of Strathclyde and the University of Southampton with more than 25 global industry partners and national facilities.
We have assembled a world-leading set of research organisations to address important global health challenges in the prosthetic, orthotic and wider healthcare technology sector. Our aim is to create a new generation of highly skilled multidisciplinary researchers who are able to deliver the technology and service innovations needed to meet the aspirations of prosthetic and orthotic users.
Our training enables students to work across the continuum of skills required in the sector, understanding how high-quality and interdisciplinary science and engineering research can improve the everyday lives of people through e.g. assistive technologies. The students will engage in a cutting-edge PhD project in the general fields of prosthetics and orthotics.
Further details about this CDT can be found at the CDT website. Southampton’s contribution and expertise can be found here. Further information can also be obtained by contacting Professor Liudi Jiang.