The International Institute for Prosthetic Rehabilitation of landmine Survivors was founded in April 1998 to contribute to the international efforts of amputee rehabilitation, especially rehabilitation of civilians, many of whom are children. The uniqueness of the Institute's mission is in its efforts to assist amputees who would otherwise be unable to receive adequate prosthesis due to stump complications.

To accomplish its goal, the IPRLS designed a special program, designated the "US-Russian Prosthetic Rehabilitation Bridge." This program provides highly qualified personnel in Russia with US manufactured advanced prosthetic components and technologies to improve the outcomes of medical and prosthetic rehabilitations of landmine survivors. The program accomplishes this at a significantly lower cost than if the same care was provided in the US.

The Founder and Director of IPRLS is Mark Pitkin, Ph.D., who is also a Research Associate Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, and Director of Center for Human Performance at the New England Sinai Hospital and Rehabilitation Center in Stoughton, MA.