Bonnie Yuqing Wang, a second year MScBMC student, received a research grant from the Vesalius Trust to support her creation and development of an interactive educational tool for patients with peripheral nerve injury.
Congratulations Bonnie Yuqing Wang on being awarded a 2025 Vesalius Trust Research Grant.
A second-year student in the Master of Science in Biomedical Communications program at the University of Toronto, Bonnie received the grant for her master's research project NerveUs: developing an interactive educational tool for patients with peripheral nerve injury.
Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) occurs when nerves outside the central nervous system–for example, those in the arms and legs–are compressed or crushed. PNI can result in a loss of sensation or motor function.
Bonnie is developing an online interactive educational platform for patients with PNI. "Many patients have difficulty visualizing how nerves work, so they do not understand how PNI can impact their daily life until it happens to them," Bonnie says.
NerveUs will help patients understand the science behind PNI and various aspects of their treatment, such as the healthcare professionals they will see or the diagnostic tests they might undergo.
NerveUs will consist of a series of online modules that users can navigate sequentially or by going to a specific section, depending on their needs. Bonnie is designing and creating illustrations and animations, and writing text that is accessible to a general audience. Some modules will also feature interactive 3D models that patients will be able to explore from different perspectives.
Bonnie intends NerveUs to be a comprehensive resource that patients can revisit at different stages of their treatments for information and understanding.
The Vesalius Trust awards scholarships and research grants to students who have completed one year of curriculum in accredited medical illustration programs. These competitive awards are based on scholastic achievement and research project merit.
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Vesalius Trust web site: https://vesaliustrust.org
Bonnie’s online presence:
Web site: https://www.bonniewang.ca
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visualsbywang/