£700k to fund new facility in Salford for monitoring patient mobility and fall prevention
The University of Salford has been awarded a major grant from the Wolfson Foundation, which will help fund equipment for a new centre dedicated to research into human movement.
The £700,000 grant will go towards specialist equipment in the university’s new Rehabilitation and Movement Evaluation and Development Centre (REMEDY). It is the largest grant the university has ever received from the Wolfson Foundation.
The award builds on the university’s reputation for world-leading research in gait analysis, as well as its internationally recognised expertise in thoroughly testing prosthetics, tools and techniques which provide effective solutions for people with mobility challenges.
REMEDY will be a purpose-built facility within the University of Salford’s new £54 million health and wellbeing building, which is currently under construction and is set to open around Autumn 2026.
The centre will offer a dedicated lab and clinic space where clinicians will address critical needs such as fall prevention, support for people with diabetes and amputee rehabilitation. They will monitor patient mobility, evaluate rehabilitation progress and assess outcomes over extended periods – leading to improved patient care and outcomes.
Professor Nic Beech, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Salford comments: “We are delighted that the Wolfson Foundation has chosen to support REMEDY, and this award is a fantastic endorsement of the University’s strong track record of internationally respected research into human movement and rehabilitation. One of our overarching objectives as an institution is to enrich lives, and the excellent work our teams are already doing in this field will be hugely increased through the work of the new Centre.”
Paul Ramsbottom, Chief Executive of the Wolfson Foundation, said: “Designing and testing the next generation of orthotic and prosthetic devices is a critical challenge for healthcare, impacting a large and diverse range of patients not just regionally but across the globe. The University of Salford’s team of researchers are well placed to be at the forefront of this exciting work, and we are delighted to support them with state-of-the-art new equipment at the REMEDY Centre.”
Vicky Halliwell, Interim Pro Vice Chancellor and Dean of the School of Health and Society, adds: “The REMEDY Centre perfectly illustrates how we wish to use our new Health and Wellbeing Building to translate forensic analysis and measurement into person-centred benefit which has real impact in the outside world. It is wonderful to announce the Wolfson Foundation as one of our first funders for research within the building and we extend our heartfelt thanks for their support.”
The University of Salford’s Prosthetics and Orthotics experts have been delivering undergraduate and postgraduate training for over thirty years, providing a rich talent pipeline of skilled healthcare workers and talented prosthetic and orthotic experts. Many of them have gone on to work with some of the world’s most acclaimed Paralympians, as well as helping develop life-changing technologies for prosthetic users.
Within the school, a multi-disciplinary group already focuses on addressing health challenges which restrict mobility, cause pain and prevent independent living. The research extends across the world, with the University working with providers in Cambodia and Uganda to help improve prosthetics services and develop appropriate technologies in those territories.
REMEDY and the new Health and Wellbeing Building is part of the University of Salford’s School of Health and Society, comprising over 8000 students.
The Wolfson Foundation is an independent charity with a focus on research and education. Its aim is to support civil society by investing in excellent projects in science, health, heritage, humanities and the arts.
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