Meet our
TEAM
RESEARCHERS
Merel
PhD and Principal researcher: 3D printed prostheses for low- and middle-income countries
In 2018 Merel started a feasibility study on how a 3D printing could be of added value in a resource-limited healthcare setting and has been leading the project since. In 2020 she graduated doing researching into 3D printed lower leg prostheses. At the moment, she is doing further research into 3D-printing prosthetic aids as a PhD Student.
Throy
Physiotherapists
Trhoy is the resident physiotherapist at Masanga hospital. He helps people learn to use their prostheses again though walking exercises. Together with Idrissah, he also does follow-ups with the patients.
Idrissah
Physiotherapists
Idrissah is just like Throy a physiotherapist at Masanga Hospital but also focusses on research.
SUPPORT TEAM
Lars Brouwers
Surgical resident and founder 3D lab Siërra Leone and Co-founder medical 3D lab ETZ
Thomas Maal
Professor, 3D Technology in Healthcare & Director of 3D Lab Radboudumc
Martin Grobusch
Head of Center for Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center and Head of Masanga Medical Research Unit
Ruud Leijendekkers
Physical Therapist/Researcher at Radboudumc
Wouter Nolet (1987 – 2019) ✟
In memoriam of Wouter Nolet, Doctor International Healthcare and Tropical Medicine.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
In autumn 2019, M. van der Stelt and L. Brouwers conducted a successful crowdfunding campaign in collaboration with the Dutch Albert Schweitzer Fund (NASF); collecting 15,000 Euros. With this amount, we financed an MPP Solar off-grid inverter combined with two batteries to prevent power changes and outages of the printer. We support local employees with a small salary contribution for their indispensable work, and we donated a car to the Masanga Medical Research Unit.
We obtained an internship allowance for students from the University of Twente and Delft to cover the cost of ethical approval and transport.
Ultimaker (Ultimaker BV, Geldermalsen, the Netherlands) gifted the 3D-printer as well as printing materials. Shining 3D (Einscanner Pro Plus, Shining 3D Technology, Hangzhou, China) gifted a 3D-scanner. To both companies, we express our gratitude.
We would like to thank all the participants and the Masanga staff who helped manufacture the prostheses!