MnRI Colloquium Speaker - Andrew H. Hansen

Title: RECOVER – Development and Translation of Rehabilitation Technologies to Promote Activities and Participation of Veterans

Abstract: The Rehabilitation & Engineering Center for Optimizing Veteran Engagement & Reintegration (RECOVER) is a new VA-funded Rehabilitation Research Development and Translation Center at the Minneapolis VA that includes faculty from the University of Minnesota. An interdisciplinary team of clinicians, engineers, and other support staff at RECOVER work together to invent, develop, and commercialize new technologies that promote participation of Veterans in important life activities and events after amputations or spinal cord injuries. Several products will be presented including prosthetic ankle-foot systems, wheelchairs, and exercise equipment. Practical considerations in product development will also be shared including considerations for reimbursement and industry collaboration.

Bio: Andrew Hansen grew up on a farm in northern Iowa. After high school, he went on to earn degrees in biomedical engineering from the University of Iowa (BSE in 1995) and Northwestern University (MS in 1998, PhD in 2002). Andrew has worked for the VA since 2006, and at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System since 2009. His research and development interests are broad and include development and evaluation of rehabilitation technologies for Veterans with amputations and Veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders. Andrew is the Director of RECOVER and a Research Biomedical Engineer at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. He is also a Professor of Rehabilitation Science and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Minnesota.