Exceed Research Network Online Anniversary Forum

To mark the end of its tenth year, the Exceed Research Network (ERN) has compiled and published a Tenth Anniversary Online Forum. The Forum features presentations from ERN members and other leading researchers and is aimed at researchers, students and the general public. The short presentations feature important disability, especially physical rehabilitation, issues in lower resource settings and show how ethical, applied research is being used to assess and address these issues.

ERB would like to thank the presenters and research teams who carried out the featured research and who kindly shared their methods and findings on our Anniversary Forum. The Forum can be viewed on YouTube here:

ERN is an international research consortium involving universities, NGOs, businesses and public sector organisations from across the globe. It carries out applied, ethical research in lower resource settings, focusing on the disability and prosthetic and orthotic sectors. Find out more about ERN, including its members and publications at www.exceedresearch.net

Strategic Planning in Cambodia

A week of strategic thinking, discussion and planning about the future development of Exceed and the Prosthetic and Orthotic sector in Southeast Asia has taken place in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Dr David Boone, Chair Exceed Board of Trustees and Board members Dan Blocka and Stephen Blatchford joined members of Exceed's management team, from the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and the UK, to review short- and long-term challenges and opportunities around international development and the sustainable development of Prosthetic and Orthotic education and services.

The programme included engagement with key partners including Cambodia's Ministry of Health; Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation; the International Committee of the Red Cross; Mine-Ex Stiftung of Switzerland and ACCESS 2, a programme supported by the Australian Government focused on improving access to quality and inclusive services for persons with disabilities and survivors of gender-based violence in Cambodia.

The international development world has changed. Many wealthy, western hemisphere countries have reduced support for lower income countries, making it much harder for development organisations - like Exceed - to get the funds needed to do their job. However, this strategic planning event proved its value by developing a well-defined path forward for Exceed, demonstrating that well-intentioned discussion, partnership, cooperation and innovation can overcome challenges, to ensure that people with disabilities continue to receive the high quality support services they need.

Join us to mark International Prosthetics and Orthotics Day

This year, International Prosthetics and Orthotics Day takes place on 5th November and we invite the global community to join Exceed and the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO) to celebrate the transformative impact of prosthetic and orthotic (P&O) products and the professionals who design, make, fit and maintain these devices.

The theme for 2025 is ‘Products – Advancing Access, Innovation and Quality’, to emphasise the diversity, creativity and human-centred design behind P&O technologies designed to restore mobility and promote dignity and independence.

Exceed is a leader in P&O education in lower resource settings and our specialist P&O school in Cambodia, based at the National Institute for Social Affairs has trained P&O clinicians and technicians from 30 lower and middle income countries, enabling these professionals to bring much-needed services to countries and regions in which millions struggle to access high quality P&O services.

Access and sustainability are key issues for P&O, especially in resource-limited settings, and Exceed works with Governments and other partners in the public and private sectors to develop service delivery models and create the resources needed to provide services which are sustainable and accessible to everyone who needs the lifelong support provided by P&O professionals.

Regional Leaders’ Conference for Prosthetic and Orthotic Schools Ends in Sri Lanka

The third annual meeting of Regional Leaders of Prosthetic and Orthotic Schools in South and South East Asia - taking place in Sri Lanka - concluded on 24th October, with a closing ceremony hosted by the Sri Lankan School of Prosthetics and Orthotics.

These annual events are designed to promote and develop cooperation between major Prosthetic and Orthotic (P&O) Schools, to enhance the delivery of P&O education and promote the P&O profession in South and Southeast Asia and other regions.

Mr Ryo Takaoka represented Mr Isomata Akio, Ambassador of Japan.

Dr Samantha Ranasinghe represented the Sri Lankan Ministry of Health.

The Sri Lankan Government was represented by Dr. Samantha Ranasinghe, Director of Training, Ministry of Health who, with other dignitaries, including the Deputy Director of Ragama Rehabilitation Hospital and leading medical practitioners, spoke at the ceremony.

Mr Ryo Takaoka, Second Secretary for Economic and Development Cooperation, Embassy of Japan, gave a special address on behalf of Mr. Isomata Akio, Ambassador of Japan and a number of guest international speakers made important contributions.

Sisary Kheng, Cambodia Country Director of Exceed Worldwide, spoke about about 'Enhancing Regional Cooperation'; Professor Malcolm Granat, University of Salford(UK) talked about postgraduate studies and career pathways to the P&O profession and Professor M.S. Wong, from Hong Kong Polytechnic University - who provided clinical training at the event - spoke about scoliosis training.

Sisary Kheng, Exceed Worldwide Country Director for Cambodia emphasised the importance of international collaboration.

After contributions from other speakers, Professor Paul Flemming, Exceed Worldwide Trustee, thanked the Sri Lankan Government and Ministry of Health for hosting the event and acknowledged the vital and long-term support of The Nippon Foundation which makes these important collaboration conferences possible.

H P U Mihiran, Clinic Manager of Exceed Lanka, Exceed P&O’s clinic in Sri Lanka.

Regional Prosthetics and Orthotics Faculty Leaders' Conference In Sri Lanka

The Regional Prosthetics and Orthotics Faculty Leaders' Conference is taking place at the Sri Lankan School of Prosthetics and Orthotics this week.

Professor Paul Flemming, Exceed Worldwide Trustee, speaking at the opening ceremony of the Conference.

This important event brings regional P&O leaders together to discuss cooperation between P&O Schools in South and Southeast Asia, to promote and develop the P&O profession .

Australian government representatives visit Exceed and the ACCESS2 project

Representatives from the Australian government including Fiona Phillips MP, H.E. Steve Georganas, MP and Senator Maria Kovacic this week visited Phnom Penh and Siem Reap in Cambodia. The group visited a number of Exceed-managed projects which from part of the ACCESS2 programme, funded by the Australian Government, including the Children’s National Hospital, the National Paediatric Hospital and Exceed’s Central Fabrication Unit for prosthetic and orthotic devices.