OPERF | Orthotic and Prosthetic Education and Research Foundation

OPERF Press

September 18, 2009

For Immediate Release

Contact:
Peter D. Rosenstein

Tel: 202-380-3663

OPERF 2009 Award Recipients Announced

The Orthotic and Prosthetic Education and Research Foundation (OPERF), Inc. was established in 2008 as an independent, non-profit foundation to promote research and education in O&P. This past year, OPERF established a unique Awards Program designed to encourage and stimulate research at all levels in the O&P profession. It included awards at three funding levels designed to support investigator-initiated research ($25,000), graduate fellow research ($5,000), and resident-conducted research ($1,000).

Researchers, physicians, students, and residents from around the country were among those who applied to this year's Award Program. The OPERF Board was very pleased with the diversity and quality of this year's submissions which demonstrate that O&P research is greatly needed.

Each Award Program application was carefully reviewed by volunteer expert reviewers from around the world for relevance, merit, and appropriateness in a thorough review process. Applicants were scored and ranked in a competitive evaluation to select those that would receive funding. Every applicant, regardless of funding, received detailed feedback regarding their submissions, including comments and considerations that may help to improve their research and stimulate new ideas.

OPERF is proud to announce the recipients
of the 2009 Award Program.

Small Grant Award
Joan Sanders, PhD
University of Washington

How Does Socket Volume
Affect Limb Volume in
Trans-Tibial Amputee
Patients?
Fellowship Award
Sara Koehler, MS
Northwestern University

Transfemoral Amputee
Gait as it Relates to Prosthetic Alignment.



Fellowship Award
Andrew Sawers, CPO
University of Washington

Estimation of the Axis of
Rotation Position in
Non-articulated Energy
Storage and Return Prosthetic
Foot-Ankle Mechanisms:
Implications for Prosthetic
Foot Efficiency and Motor
Control Strategies in
Unilateral Transtibial Amputees.
Resident Travel Award
Brian Ardnt
Suburban O&P




(no image available
at the time of release)


Case Study: Use of a Partial Foot Prosthesis Under Elevated Vacuum

OPERF congratulates this year's award recipients and thanks everyone who applied to the 2009 Awards Program. The Foundation is very encouraged at the excitement generated by our first research awards, and we look forward to the day when we are able to offer additional opportunities for funding, larger research awards, and targeted areas of research that address O&P's most pressing research needs. In the coming year OPERF will be adding Education awards.

To learn more about supporting the 2010 Award Program or for more information regarding this year's award recipients and projects, please see the OPERF website at www.operf.org.