University of Queensland researcher Ryan Stafford has won the 2009 Delsys Prize for his work on a novel electrode to record activity from muscles of the pelvic floor in men.
Mr Stafford is the first PhD student to win the Delsys Prize, which consists of a plaque and EMG equipment valued at USD$20,000.
Mr Stafford's work was chosen from a group of 63 candidates from all over the world by a committee of five scientific experts from academia and industry.
He is working under the direction of Professor Paul Hodges in UQ's School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences on the topic of neurophysiological mechanisms underlying continence function in both healthy men and men who have undergone surgery for prostate cancer.
Mr. Stafford said he was "humbled" to win this prestigious award.
"The Delsys Prize is associated with research excellence in the field of electromyography and I am extremely honoured that my work has been recognised at this level," he said.
"Initiatives like this inspire us to push the boundaries of research to further understand the function of the neuromuscular system."
Professor Hodges said that the "novel catheter electrode that we have developed records activity from the muscles that surround the urethra and keep men dry."
"The electrode has the potential to answer questions about continence function and dysfunction in men that were previously impossible to resolve.
"The equipment donated by Delsys will not only benefit Ryan's work but also the work of many other students in my lab investigating a wide range of topics in motor control and neuroscience."
CEO and President of Delsys Inc. Dr. Carlo De Luca said that the transurethral surface EMG device developed by Mr Stafford was an ingenious tool for detecting and treating urinary incontinence and no such technology existed today in the commercial market place.
"This technology has the potential to shape new treatment protocols affecting urinary incontinence in men," he said.
About the Delsys Prize
Awarded annually, the prize was established in 2003 by Dr. Carlo J. De Luca, CEO of Delsys Inc. to recognize work that demonstrates raw innovation, unique applications, and significant contributions toward advancing the Electromyography technology. To learn more about the prize, current and previous winners, please visit www.delsys.com
About Delsys, Inc
Delsys designs, manufactures, and markets a variety of products used to detect and measure electrical signals that originate in a muscle when it contracts. Associated products include EKG sensors, Accelerometers, Foot sensors, Goniometers and a range of other Biosignal sensors.
Over 1500 centers all over the world use Delsys technology. It is used in laboratories for exploring the workings of the neuromuscular system; in clinics for assessing the extent of neuromuscular injury or disability and for monitoring the progress of rehabilitation; in sports applications for enhancing human neuromuscular performance; in ergonomics for providing quantitative evaluations of workers performing tasks or for improving the interaction between the human body and machines; and in biofeedback applications for reducing muscle stress, relearning movement patterns, and enhancing skilled performance.
About The University of Queensland
The University of Queensland (UQ) is one of Australia's premier learning and research institutions. The University is a founding member of the national Group of Eight (Go8), an alliance of research-intensive universities, which collectively conduct 70 percent of all university research in the country. It is a pacesetter in discovery and translational research across a broad spectrum of exciting disciplines, ranging from bioscience and nanotechnology to mining, engineering, social science and humanities. UQ has also won more national teaching awards than any other university in Australia. It is among the top ranked Australian universities in international rankings of world universities. Its seven internationally significant research institutes are drawcards for an ever-expanding community of scientists, researchers and commercialisation experts. UQ is noted for supporting early- and mid-career researchers, as seen in its commitment to research training; in 2008 UQ celebrated its 5000th PhD graduation. The University is involved in a further 118 centres throughout Queensland, and has one of the highest participation levels of any academic institutes in Australia in the Cooperative Research Centres program.
Media contacts: Ryan Stafford, telephone 07 3346 7751, Jan King 0413 601 248 or Devi Bheemappa 617-236-0599 x 231, delsys@delsys.com
