Latest news with #ChinaDisabledPersons'Federation
Borneo Post
20 hours ago
- Health
- Borneo Post
Made-in-China brain tech sparks hope for children with autism
Photo taken on June 6, 2025 shows the therapeutic equipment developed by Chengdu Xinnao Technology Co Ltd in Chengdu. – Xinhua photo CHENGDU (June 15): In a sunlit therapy room at Chengdu Xinnao Technology Co Ltd in southwest China's Sichuan Province, a five-year-old boy surnamed Chen bursts into giggles as his favorite cartoon character waves back, a response triggered by brain signals decoded through his headset. A moment that might seem ordinary for most children feels like a miracle to Chen's family from Gansu Province, and a profound relief for Feng Rui, founder of the high-tech company dedicated to harnessing brain-computer interface (BCI) technology for autism intervention. China's 13 million people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as reported by the China Disabled Persons' Federation in 2023, face a harsh reality. Most receive little to no standardised therapy due to a shortage of specialists and the high cost of treatment. Feng, a 45-year-old bioengineer turned entrepreneur, is determined to change this equation. He likens the brain's neural networks to a sprawling highway system. 'In children with autism, some 'routes' are disconnected, others congested with excessive signals. This disrupts their ability to process social cues, language, and sensory inputs,' he explained. These biological roadblocks, long obscured by the brain's complexity, have confounded global efforts to address both early diagnosis and the development of effective, accessible treatment, Feng said. Worldwide, about 80 million people with ASD live with a condition where traditional therapies often require years of costly behavioral training, with results that frequently diminish over time, Feng noted, adding that his team is working to address the root cause by targeting irregular neural pathways in the brain. Co-developed with researchers from the Chengdu-based University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), their approach focuses on identifying autism-specific biomarkers in neural activity through noninvasive, AI-driven analysis. Key to this innovation is a diagnostic headset, the Quick-20r, equipped with 19 flexible electrodes that map brainwaves in real time. 'Unlike traditional wet EEG (electroencephalogram) systems requiring gel and clinical settings, our dry sensors capture neural 'traffic patterns' as children engage with tasks,' Feng said. These signals feed into algorithms combining deep learning and neuroimaging to detect disrupted circuits linked to social communication. The headset achieves 91.67 per cent diagnostic accuracy without the discomfort of traditional conductive gels, Feng said. 'For toddlers as young as two, this ease of use is critical.' A Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation device, resembling an infinity symbol, uses AI to map abnormal neural circuits before delivering targeted magnetic pulses to recalibrate those pathways. 'Think of it as performing precision road repairs on faulty neural highways. In the end, it's like tuning the brain to restore harmony in chaotic neural orchestras,' Feng said. The toolkit has already served over 2,000 children worldwide. 'After treatment, we've observed significant changes in the amygdala structure on the right side of the children's brains, with alterations in functional networks as well,' Feng added. In addition to leveraging these technological devices, Feng's team integrates traditional treatment methods to develop a complete solution. Next to their instruments, the company has set up several therapy rooms where staff provide additional treatments using language, social interaction, and music for children with autism. Tech wins, love conquers Recalling his career, Feng said the turning point came during a 2021 charity event for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. At that time, his team offered a free month-long treatment to 30 children with autism, with many showing significant improvements in social interaction and communication halfway through the treatment cycle. However, the parents collectively voiced their concerns: 'If there are no fees, what will happen to future treatments?' and 'Will we be abandoned after this?' 'Their trust and concerns propelled us to industrialise the technology,' said Feng, who established his company in 2022 with government backing. Feng underlined that Chengdu's unique blend of academic resources – from UESTC's engineering prowess to renowned West China Hospital of Sichuan University's clinical expertise – has created fertile ground for BCI development. Municipal support goes beyond funding, with local governments actively linking innovators to healthcare institutions, while recent matchmaking events in Beijing have opened doors to national collaborations. Recognised as a national outstanding case of technology-assisted disability support by the China Disabled Persons' Federation, the BCI technology for autism intervention now operates in over 30 hospitals nationwide. With treatments effective for 80 per cent of patients, Feng aims to develop therapies for ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and depression next. At the same time, his devices are being shown alongside big tech companies' products at innovation events in Chengdu, highlighting their importance beyond just healthcare. 'Brain-computer interfaces could change how smart cities and education work,' he said, stressing that for now, the main focus is on improving autism treatment. 'We are also establishing the largest brain network database for age-appropriate children nationwide, which places us at the forefront in the industry,' he added. Looking back on the years of work, Feng said this spring has been the most memorable, filled with good news from the children receiving treatment. A Swedish boy who had shown little progress with European therapies spoke his first word – 'Mama' – after completing a treatment cycle developed by Feng's company. Another six-year-old Japanese boy moved from relying on sedation to sleeping naturally within weeks; meanwhile, a girl from Lanzhou in northwest China is now navigating friendships at elementary school, milestones that once seemed out of reach for children labeled 'untreatable'. 'Every brain's wiring is unique, but love and patience are always a way of connecting minds,' Feng said. – Xinhua autism China treatment Xinhua
Al Etihad
05-06-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination and China Disabled Persons' Federation sign Memorandum of Understanding
5 June 2025 17:23 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination (ZHO) has signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF) during an official visit by a delegation from ZHO to the Federation's headquarters in Beijing, as part of its ongoing efforts to expand international partnerships and enhance the exchange of expertise to serve and empower People of Determination. This step marks a significant milestone toward strengthening international cooperation in the field of supporting and empowering People of MoU was signed on behalf of ZHO by His Excellency Abdullah Abdulalee Al Humaidan, Secretary-General, and on behalf of the Chinese side by Zhou Changkui, Chairman of the China Disabled Persons' Federation. The signing ceremony took place at the Federation's headquarters in the presence of senior officials from both sides and members of the UAE diplomatic mission in Beijing. The atmosphere reflected the strong bilateral relations and the shared appreciation for the vital role played by support institutions for People of new MoU aims to broaden the scope of cooperation between the two entities and foster the exchange of expertise and knowledge in the fields of education, rehabilitation, employment, arts, culture, sports, and all services provided to People of Determination. It includes organising mutual visits for specialists and experts to share best practices, conducting joint workshops and training programmes for professionals in the field, and collaborating on research and innovations related to services and MoU also provides for the exchange of periodic reports on joint activities and performance enhancement through ongoing evaluation, all to further develop services for People of Determination in the UAE and the People's Republic of Excellency Abdullah Al Humaidan, Secretary-General of ZHO, welcomed the signing of the new MoU, and said: 'Renewing[AE1] this MoU reflects our deep belief in the importance of joint work and knowledge exchange in supporting and empowering People of Determination. Our relationship with the China Disabled Persons' Federation is strategic and has already produced successful projects, such as the Emirati-Chinese Sign Language Dictionary – the first bilingual sign language dictionary between the UAE and China. This initiative aims to enable the deaf communities in both countries to communicate, interact, and foster cultural and linguistic understanding.'He added that ZHO looks forward, through this MoU, to opening new avenues of cooperation aligned with the aspirations of our wise leadership and to improving the quality of life for People of Determination. He stressed that international cooperation and the sharing of successful experiences are essential pillars for developing services, especially amid rapid advancements in rehabilitation, employment, and social empowerment technologies. He noted that the MoU paves the way for new joint initiatives based on innovation and shared knowledge, enhancing the sustainability of ZHO's programmes and directly benefiting People of Determination in both Changkui, Chairman of the China Disabled Persons' Federation, affirmed that the MoU builds upon the constructive cooperation between the two parties.'We value the strong relations with Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination and look forward to further developing them to achieve our shared goals of delivering more inclusive and innovative services. The bilingual dictionary project has been one of the most prominent outcomes of this cooperation, and we look forward to many more achievements in the future.'The visit also featured several cultural activities, including a tour of the Imperial Palace Museum and a sensory experience within a specially designed exhibition for People of Determination. Through such international MoUs, Zayed Higher Organization continues to advance the vision of the United Arab Emirates and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in serving People of Determination. Zayed Higher Organization seeks to build bridges of cooperation and exchange expertise with all relevant entities locally, regionally, and globally, in pursuit of its mission to ensure the comprehensive empowerment and full inclusion of People of Determination in society. These strategic partnerships with leading international institutions help transfer and localise knowledge and foster innovation in services dedicated to this important segment of society.
