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The Tej Kohli #FutureBionics program of the not-for-profit Tej Kohli Foundation has marked its one-year anniversary by delivering a new 3D-printed robotic Hero Arm to a teenage performer who has a big ambition to normalise disability in musical theatre. 

Opening Christmas presents will be a little different for Gracie McGonigal this year.

The 18-year-old, from Ealing, West London was born with a congenital limb deficiency, which means her left arm stops just below the elbow.

But just two weeks ago, she received a bionic arm, which can be controlled by her thoughts, just like her right arm.

Aspiring actress Gracie McGonigal got the best Christmas present she could wish for – a bionic arm to help her chase her dream roles.

Gracie, 18, was born with her left arm missing below the elbow – but has already starred in short films, TV ads and local theatre shows.

But she says her new £10,000 arm will enable her to go after roles she would not previously have been considered for.

The Tej Kohli Foundation is offering fresh support to the volunteer grassroots movements that have sprung up in response to Coronavirus to combat hunger within their local communities. The challenge now facing many of these groups is how to continue to serve their community when volunteers return to their jobs and food donations dwindle.

Leading the efforts are Luk Vandenberghe, PhD, Mass. Eye and Ear and Mason Freeman, MD, Mass General. The multi-institutional research project is working to develop and test a COVID-19 vaccine based on AAV gene transfer technology with the goal of entering clinical testing this year.

When rugby-mad Jacob Pickering got his bionic arm three months ago he never imagined that he would be using it to shake hands with the England team at Twickenham.

But Jacob, ten, put the arm to good use when he was invited to be a mascot at a Six Nations match.