For decades, the use of pediatric mobility devices has been limited by high costs, insurance barriers, and the need for specialized manufacturing. Now, the New Orleans nonprofit MakeGood, winner of the 2026 Design Innovation Award for Accessible Design, is using 3D printing to expand access to these devices for children with conditions that make independent movement difficult, writes Margaret Andersen(*).
Instead of producing a traditional manual wheelchair, the foundation created a colorful plastic wheelchair called the “Wheelchair-like Mobility Trainer,” which resembles a wheelchair and is designed for children ages one to eight years old who suffer from conditions such as cerebral palsy or spina bifida, or who have spent long periods in neonatal intensive care.
The “training” chair can be manufactured locally for a few hundred dollars using home 3D printers. It is assembled from dozens of small components using joinery techniques inspired by Japanese carpentry, and interlocking geometric structures to create a sturdy frame of desktop-sized prints.
The foundation runs an online platform called 3D-mobility.org that connects more than 1,000 volunteer device makers around the world with families who request them. Schools, creative workspaces, hospitals, and even grandparents who have recently purchased 3D printers are assembling these training devices near where children live.
“Good design combined with 3D printing gives us the ability to meet our needs without having to worry about insurance companies,” says Noam Platt, founder of Make Good. “If we need a mobility device, we can simply make it ourselves.”
The organization is currently expanding local production centers globally, especially in regions of Latin America, where demand is high, while access to 3D printers and materials remains limited.
A new international study has revealed a previously unknown genetic cause behind a rare group of developmental disorders, after researchers found that mutations in a gene known as NPTN disrupt the normal function of nerve cells. Which may lead to delayed growth, autism spectrum disorder, and in some cases epilepsy.
The results of the study were published in the journal Genome Medicine on July 1. The results indicate that this discovery may open the door to diagnosing similar cases that have remained for years without a clear explanation. For many families, this may mean the end of a long journey of searching for the cause of the child’s delayed development or suffering from neurological disorders without arriving at a specific diagnosis.
Although this case is rare; The researchers believe that determining the relationship between the NPTN gene and these disorders may help doctors identify other patients who carry similar mutations, and provide a basis for a better understanding of how these genetic changes affect brain development and neuronal function.
The story began with eight children from different countries, all of whom were suffering from developmental disorders that doctors could not explain despite undergoing extensive genetic and medical examinations.
When analyzing the DNA of these children, the researchers found that they all carried harmful changes in the NPTN gene. Most importantly, these mutations were not inherited from the parents, but rather appeared spontaneously during the early stages of fetal development.
All of the children suffered from developmental delays or intellectual disabilities, while seven of them were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Some of them also suffered from epilepsy or lost language skills they had previously acquired, in addition to movement and sleep disorders.
The NPTN gene was previously classified as a “candidate gene” that may be involved in developmental disorders, but this study provides the first strong evidence that mutations in it could be a direct cause of neurodevelopmental disorders and autism.
“Our results show that the protein Neuroplastin plays an essential role in the functioning of the brain,” says Dr. Dirk Montag, from the Leibniz Institute for Neuroscience in Germany and one of the lead authors of the study. If this protein changes or its quantity decreases, neurons become less able to process signals normally.
The NPTN gene carries the instructions to produce a protein known as neuroplastin, a protein that helps nerve cells regulate calcium levels within them. Calcium is an essential element for transmitting signals between nerve cells, but the success of this process depends on maintaining its levels within precise limits.
The study revealed that mutations in the neuroplastin protein impair the work of specialized pumps known as PMCA, which are responsible for getting rid of excess amounts of calcium inside cells. When these pumps become less efficient, calcium remains inside the cell longer than necessary; Which leads to disruption of the transmission of nerve signals and impedes the formation of normal neural networks during brain development.
This discovery provides a biological explanation for how a single gene mutation can affect learning, behavior and neurodevelopment.
To confirm the effect of these mutations; The researchers combined genetic analyzes with experiments conducted on human neurons, mice and fruit flies. Experiments showed a clear disturbance in calcium signals within nerve cells. Halving the level of neuroplastin in mice also led to a nearly 50 percent reduction in levels of PMCA pumps within the brain.
The researchers also noticed that the mice became less likely to interact socially, a behavior similar to some traits associated with autism spectrum disorder. Fruit fly experiments also confirmed that mutations in the NPTN gene lead to a weakening of the function of the neuroplastin protein. Which strengthened the validity of the results.
Montag said, “The strength of this study is that it directly links clinical symptoms in children to the molecular mechanisms that occur within neurons.”
Although researchers have so far documented only eight children with these mutations, they believe that there are other cases around the world that have not yet been diagnosed.
For families, knowing the genetic cause represents a critical step towards obtaining a final diagnosis, providing more accurate genetic counseling, and a better understanding of how the condition will develop in the future. The discovery also adds the NPTN gene to the list of genes associated with neurodevelopmental disorders and autism. This reinforces the importance of comprehensive genetic examinations for children who suffer from delayed growth or neurological disorders of unknown cause.
Researchers are currently working to study whether calcium signaling disorders can be targeted therapeutically and at what stage intervention may be most effective.
Although the development of new treatments still requires more studies, this discovery represents an important step towards understanding the molecular causes of rare developmental disorders. Rather than simply adding a new gene to the list of genes associated with disease, the study reveals a new biological pathway linking calcium dysregulation within neurons and brain development. This may pave the way in the future for developing treatments that target the underlying cause of the disease and not just its symptoms.
A Saudi design for smart Ihram clothes won the best design out of 3 designs selected from Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, in an evaluation by “Fast Company” magazine.
High temperatures make the annual Hajj to Mecca hotter than ever, as pilgrims may travel up to 30 miles (about 48 kilometers) in temperatures that can reach 123 degrees Fahrenheit (about 50.5 degrees Celsius), writes Hunter Schwartz(*).
Saudi Airlines (Saudi Arabia), which transports more pilgrims than any other airline, has designed a smart solution by integrating cooling technology into the Ihram clothes that pilgrims wear while performing rituals.
Dubbed the “Coolest Ihram,” this innovative garment can lower skin temperature by more than 3 degrees Fahrenheit (1.67 degrees Celsius). The uniform was designed as part of the company's transformation from a mere air carrier transporting passengers between two geographical points to an ambassador of hospitality and culture before, during and after the flight. This innovation won the “Innovation by Design” award in the “Sustainable Impact” category.
The challenge was to modify a uniform that had remained unchanged for centuries, and make it cooler, while fully adhering to strict religious regulations. “Saudi Arabia” had to take into account the thickness of the fabric, and ensure that the uniform was completely free of any stitching or precious metals.
Issam Akhoun Bey, Vice President of Marketing and Product Management at Saudi Airlines, says: “We could not just take a pre-existing fabric and use it; Rather, we had to create a completely new fabric.”
In cooperation with the brand consulting company Landor and the manufacturer of high-performance cooling fabrics Brrr°, Saudi Airlines developed this uniform and distributed it to more than 8,000 pilgrims in 2025. 12 of the largest companies organizing Hajj trips have adopted this uniform, and the Saudi Ministry of Hajj has requested its use in the “Hajj packages” it provides.
