October 15, 2023 – On Thursday November 9th, at Politecnico di Milano – Polo di Lecco, we will launch Athar – East to West, an initiative led by Matteo Parsani, an Italian professor at the KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology) University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia (KAUST).
- On December 17th, 2023, Prof. Parsani, who lives with an L1 incomplete spinal cord injury, will embark on an extraordinary journey, a first-of-its-kind hand-cycle tour across Saudi Arabia, from East to West, covering over 3000 kilometers (almost 150 per day) of challenging terrains.
- During Prof. Parsani’s journey, his health and physical status will be monitored thanks to a helmet, jacket, and t-shirt equipped with biosensors developed by researchers at KAUST. Day by day, these tools will send data to the Villa Beretta Rehabilitation Research Innovation Institute (VBRRII), where the Clinical Director Franco Molteni and his team will analyze and translate them into scientific paradigms. Once again, our research institute will focus on the synergy between biology and technology, to ensure the human functioning at its best.
- Athar is an Arabic word that means “to leave a mark or impression”. Indeed, this project will be a powerful platform to raise awareness about the capabilities of people with physical disabilities, encourage inclusion, and emphasize the significance of scientific research and technological innovation.
In collaboration with our PR and communication agency, DMTC Public Relations, who is supervising the project, we will publish regular updates. In the meantime, if you would like to attend the official presentation, please send an email to publicrelations@vbrriit.it.
