Life-changing AI project connects Salford students to Ugandan amputees

Immersive technologies including digital simulation and artificial intelligence (AI) are at the heart of a groundbreaking collaboration between the University of Salford and healthcare professionals in Uganda, which aims to revolutionise prosthetic care.

The initiative, led by staff at the University of Salford (Sarah Kirkwood, Lecturer in Prosthetics and Orthotics, Professor Louise Ackers, Chair in Global Social Justice, Dr Leah Greene, Head of Simulation) and the clinical team at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital, has provided life-changing upper limb prosthetics to three Ugandan women.

The project was initiated through the charity Knowledge for Change (K4C), which identified the urgent need for prosthetics support in Uganda, where facilities and components for above-elbow prosthetics are severely limited.

The University of Salford’s Prosthetic and Orthotics (P&O) team took on the project, offering second-year students on their course, which is the only full-time BSc (Hons) 3-year degree programme in England, a unique opportunity to apply their learning to real-world challenges.

Using a combination of AI and virtual reality, the team developed a hyper-realistic simulation for the students to explore. AI-generated avatars, 360° environments, and voice profiles were co-created and developed, based on the stories of real service users. Ugandan colleagues provided input throughout to ensure cultural authenticity and sensitivity.

Students used the simulation to help them to understand the needs of the Ugandan patients, before designing and manufacturing custom prosthetic sockets using donated components from the University and functional hands and cosmetic gloves generously provided by Opcare/AM Healthcare Group.

The sockets have now been shipped to Uganda, where final fitting and adjustments were carried out by the team, supported remotely by the students in Salford via a video call.

Sarah Kirkwood, Lecturer in Prosthetics and Orthotics at the University of Salford, said: “There is a huge demand for prosthetics in Uganda, where sadly, many people lose limbs in road accidents or as a horrific result of domestic violence and rely on charity donations for parts. Above elbow prosthetic parts are rare and hard to come by, as is the clinical expertise to fit them.

“This project has enabled our students to make a huge difference by enriching the lives of these patients through prosthetic provision, while also gaining valuable real-life experience via a two-way knowledge exchange with Ugandan clinical staff. It highlighted to the learners the steps of the patient journey and the holistic and critical thinking required in supporting a service user in the real world.”

Students welcomed the initiative, with 92% saying they felt better prepared to treat service users after the experience.

One student shared: “It has been a privilege being involved in the Uganda project. It’s taught me things I might not have learnt otherwise, especially considering the very different resources and environment in Uganda.”

Dr Leah Greene, Head of Simulation in the School of Health and Society at the University of Salford said: “This pioneering project has not only enhanced student learning but also sparked critical conversations around global citizenship and healthcare inequality. Together, we’ve co-created an innovative, immersive simulation experience that places learners in realistic virtual settings—from schools and villages to Ugandan healthcare environments. It allows learners to engage meaningfully with service users’ narratives, gaining insight from diverse global perspectives. Early feedback has been overwhelmingly positive with service users expressing satisfaction with the appearance of their prosthetics.”