Two McMaster innovators honoured with national Arthritis Ideator Awards

Image of five individuals and award recipients pumping a fist and holding up Arthritis Society award.

McMaster Engineering student Lianna Genovese and alumnus Matthew Rosato have received prestigious awards from the Arthritis Society for their innovative projects.


McMaster Engineering student Lianna Genovese and alumnus Matthew Rosato have received prestigious awards from the Arthritis Society for their innovative projects.

McMaster Engineering was well represented in the inaugural Arthritis Ideator Awards. Out of 21 submissions and 8 finalists, two innovations made by members of our Fireball Family were among the winners. PROVA Innovations received the Arthritis Ideator Award and Guided Hands was chosen as the People’s Choice Award winner!

This award will have a significant impact on the future of their work as they each received a $50,000 grant. Additionally, they’ll also have access to expert advice from the Arthritis society and people living with arthritis who can assist with beta testing.

Matthew Rosato's LinkedIn post on the win

“Unlike anything else on the market, our innovative approach works in real time, outside of the clinic, whether a patient is walking, running or climbing stairs. And on any surface, our cueing learns and adapts,” as mentioned by Matthew in the Arthritis Society press release.

Tweet about Lianna's win

“I graduate from Biomedical Engineering at McMaster University next week and I am extremely excited to lead our team full-time and introduce Guided Hands to millions, we are ready to move mountains!” shares Lianna in a LinkedIn post about the win.

Genovese also won the 2021 National James Dyson Award and the Young Trailblazer Award from this year’s YWCA Women of Distinction Awards.

You can read more about their innovations in this recent article from The Hamilton Spectator

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