April KITE Trainee Innovations Showcase

The Trainee Innovations Showcase is an opportunity for trainees to share their work with members of the public, showcase that research in simple terms, and recruit participants for UHN Research studies.

This month's edition of the series will highlight the work of the following trainees:

Aisha Raji

Reimagining Upper Extremity Rehab: Integrating Everyday Objects into Robotic Therapy

Many individuals with stroke experience difficulty using their arms and hands, making everyday tasks like reaching for a phone or grasping a mug challenging. While robotic rehabilitation has shown promise in improving arm movement, these improvements do not always translate into meaningful gains in everyday activities.

To address this gap, we have developed a novel robotic rehabilitation system that helps people practice these movements using real, 3D-printed everyday objects —like a mug, phone, or sponge—instead of virtual tasks on a screen. Our system uses a robotic arm to measure a participant’s reach and then presents the items in different positions and orientations within and slightly beyond their reach. It supports the practice of different grasp types and may be combined with therapies such as functional electrical stimulation to further enhance recovery. 

This innovation showcase will feature our interactive prototype, and attendees will be able to learn how the system works, try it out, and share their thoughts. We will also share information about future opportunities to participate in testing and development.

Alexia Cumal

Designing and Delivering a Nurse-Led Walking Intervention for Older People with Cognitive Impairment

Older adults with cognitive impairment, such as dementia, who go to the hospital and then transfer to transitional care units, do worse than those without cognitive impairment. In order to help these patients, a Nurse-led Walking Intervention, called the OASIS Walking Intervention (which stands for Older Adults with cognitive impairment performing Sit to Stands and Walking Intervention) was designed. Attendees of the showcase will be invited to learn more about the design of this intervention and to see how parts of it were delivered - Come and try out the calibrated wheel that was used in the study, see a template of the patient-centred communication care plan, and more!

Ali Barzegar Khanghah

Novel Approaches for Smart Infection Prevention in Healthcare Settings

Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI) are a critical global health concern, resulting in significant morbidity, mortality, and economic burden. These infections, occurring in both high- and low-income countries, pose severe threats to patients and healthcare workers (HCWs). The recent COVID-19 pandemic underscored the urgent need for effective infection prevention strategies, as future pandemics may bring even greater challenges. HAIs are largely preventable through Hand Hygiene (HH), yet compliance among HCWs remains suboptimal, with rates often as low as 50%. Despite efforts by public health authorities and healthcare institutions, challenges such as high workload, lack of awareness, and limited access to HH facilities continue to hinder HH adherence. Digital technologies, including electronic HH monitoring systems (EHHMS), hold promise for enhancing compliance by providing real-time tracking and feedback. My research aims to address these issues through the integration of acquired data from an EHHMS, AI-driven recommendations, user-centered design, and advanced data analytics.