Saturday, 18th October 2025

The Faculty of Rehabilitation & Allied Health Sciences (FRAHS), Riphah International University, successfully organized the International Symposium on Stroke Rehabilitation (ISSR) 2025 in collaboration with the Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).

The two-day symposium, held from October 17–18, 2025, at Riphah International University, Islamabad, and the Pakistan Railway General Hospital, Rawalpindi, brought together leading international and national experts in stroke rehabilitation, neuro-engineering, and assistive technologies under the theme: “Advancing Recovery, Restoring Lives: Bridging Technology, Neuroscience, and Compassionate Rehabilitation.”

The event was graced by Prof. Dr. Anis Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, Riphah International University, as Chief Guest; Prof. Dr. Omer Awab Khan, Director Hospitals, Riphah Health Care System, as Guest of Honor; and Mr. Asadullah Khan, Executive Director, IIMCT, among others.

In his keynote address, Prof. Dr. Anis Ahmad emphasized ethical scholarship, compassion, and the integration of technology in healthcare — commending the Riphah–CUHK partnership as a model for global academic collaboration.

Renowned speakers, including Prof. Raymond Kai-Yu Tong (CUHK), Dr. Shahid Bashir (King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Saudi Arabia), Prof. Uğur Cavlak (Biruni University, Turkey), and Dr. Turki Abualait (Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Saudi Arabia), presented pioneering work in wearable robotics, neuromodulation, AI-driven neurorehabilitation, and virtual reality-based rehabilitation.

A panel discussion on “Advancing Stroke Recovery – From Barriers to Breakthrough” facilitated cross-disciplinary dialogue on challenges and innovations in clinical practice.

Pre-symposium workshops provided participants with hands-on training in key rehabilitation domains such as brain stimulation, cognitive rehabilitation, balance and gait assessment, spasticity management, and AR/VR-assisted recovery techniques. Experts from Riphah and CUHK led these sessions, emphasizing practical skill enhancement and research-based approaches.

Souvenirs were exchanged between Riphah and CUHK representatives, symbolizing the institutions’ shared commitment to advancing global research and education in neurorehabilitation.

The ISSR 2025 symposium served as a vibrant hub for interdisciplinary exchange, innovation, and international collaboration. It reflected Riphah International University’s ongoing dedication to integrating compassion, technology, and ethics in healthcare education and research.