National Medal Laureate Rory A. Cooper, PhD, PLY, the founding director of the Human Engineering Research Laboratories – a joint Institute of the University of Pittsburgh and US Department of Veterans Affairs – has been announced as the second keynote speaker for December’s VISTA 2025 Conference in Cairo, Egypt.
This year’s VISTA 2025 conference theme is “Developing Para Sport: Inclusion, Transformation, Health and Performance,” and US Army veteran and Paralympic medallist Cooper’s keynote is titled: “Technological Advances Transforming Paralympic Sport: Insights and Innovations that will changes the Paralympic Games”.
To register for VISTA 2025 which takes place between 7-10 December 2025 and take advantage of the early bird registration offer, please click here.
“Engineering, design, and human performance research are converging to shape future generations of the Paralympic Games, and this keynote will look into several innovations which are expanding performance potential, accessibility, and participation,” said Cooper, who is a VA Senior Research Career Scientist and the FISA Foundation – Paralysed Veterans of America Distinguished Professor at Pitt.
“Technological advances and social change are fostering the growth of emerging adaptive sports, enabling equipment and classification systems to support fair and inclusive competition. This can only benefit the Paralympic Movement” he added.
During his keynote, Cooper – who was awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation by President Biden and was inducted into the 50th class of the National Inventors Hall of Fame – will explore how engineering science is advancing transformation through novel approaches in adaptive sports equipment, including Kirigami-inspired designs that lower costs and optimise strength, flexibility, and customisation.
Cooper’s keynote will also cover how artificial intelligence is being integrated into technology development to enhance performance analytics, personalised training, and rapid iterative design. The talk will look at how breakthroughs in osseointegration for prosthetic limbs are enabling more efficient power transfer, improved comfort, and expanded competitive capabilities. In wheelchair sports, engineering is driving advancements in powered platforms for soccer, field hockey, and tennis, creating new opportunities for athletes with a wider range of impairments.
During his career, Cooper has authored or co-authored over 400 peer-reviewed journal publications and has over 30 patents awarded or pending. He is the author of two books: “Rehabilitation Engineering Applied to Mobility and Manipulation” and “Wheelchair Selection and Configuration”, and co-editor of “An Introduction to Rehabilitation Engineering”, “Warrior Transition Leader: Medical Rehabilitation Handbook” and the award-winning book “Care of the Combat Amputee”. Cooper is an elected member of the National Academy of Engineering and Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, as well as RESNA, IEEE, AIMBE and BMES.
Cooper is the second keynote speaker to be confirmed for VISTA 2025, following the announcement in mid-August that Professor Wayne Derman, one of the world’s leading medical specialists in sport and exercise medicine, would also be delivering a keynote. Professor Derman’s keynote will be on “Safeguarding the health of Paralympic Athletes: Insights and Innovations from Injury and Illness Surveillance over seven Paralympic Games”.
VISTA 2025 is the eleventh edition of the IPC’s scientific conference and serves as a unique platform for the exchange of cutting-edge research, cross-disciplinary dialogue, and strategic collaboration. It will feature keynote presentations, symposia, oral and poster sessions, and will host the prestigious IPC Scientific Award ceremony, an accolade Cooper received in 2013. The conference brings together experts from diverse fields—including sports science, medicine, technology, sociology, policy, education, and ethics and integrity—to collectively shape the future of Para sport.
Registration for VISTA 2025 is now open, and until 30 September attendees can benefit from an early-bird registration offer priced EUR 375, and EUR 180 for students. Register now.