Kadir Burak Özer is a thoracic surgeon at Koç University Hospital. He completed his medical education at Uludağ University Faculty of Medicine (2003-2009) and specializes in minimally invasive thoracic surgery. Medical Education: MD from Uludağ University (2009) Thoracic Surgery Specialization: Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kırdar Training and Research Hospital (2011-2016) His clinical expertise includes: Robotic and thoracoscopic surgery Lung and esophageal cancer treatment Mediastinal mass management Chest wall deformity correction He has gained international experience through observational training at: Heidelberg University Hospital's Thoraxklinik (March 2016) Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital (September 2018)
Muhterem Melis Cantürk serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Koç University Hospital's Faculty of Medicine, specializing in minimally invasive gynecological surgery and endometriosis management. Previously, she held specialist positions at Ünye State Hospital (2022-2024) and Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine (2018-2022). Her academic foundation includes: Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency at Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine (2018-2022) Medical Education at Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University Faculty of Medicine (2011-2017) High School Education at The Koc School (2006-2011) Dr. Cantürk's research centers on surgical innovation in complex gynecological conditions, with particular emphasis on robotic techniques for endometriosis, fertility-sparing oncological approaches, and management of surgical complications. Her work integrates clinical expertise with advanced methodologies like near-infrared fluorescence imaging and novel flap reconstruction. Analysis of her publication record (2017-2025) reveals consistent contributions to gynecological surgery literature, particularly in optimizing pelvic exenteration procedures, improving diagnostic accuracy for ovarian cancer, and developing minimally invasive solutions for recurrent disease. Recent work demonstrates growing focus on technical refinements in surgical approaches and complication prevention. She completed Harvard Medical School's 'Foundations of Clinical Research' Certificate Program and collaborated with Professor Horace Roman at Bordeaux's Clinique Tivoli-Ducos (2023). Currently, she serves as an editorial fellow for the International Journal of Gynecological Cancer, actively shaping scholarly discourse in her specialty.
Eva Artigau Nieto is a Clinical Associate Professor at the Department of Medical Sciences, University of Girona, with a focus on surgical disciplines and clinical research. Her academic career spans roles in general and gastrointestinal surgery, emphasizing transfusional protocols, patient safety, and advanced surgical techniques. Education : Licenciatura (MD equivalent), Lleida (1998) Doctoral Courses, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (2006) Research Proficiency Certificate, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (2007) Her research centers on emergency surgery , gastric cancer , and transfusional management , with notable publications analyzing risk models, infectious complications, and pandemic-era surgical outcomes. She has contributed to clinical guidelines for breast pathology and abdominal surgery. Recent publications highlight trends in emergency gastrointestinal surgery , robotic techniques , and multicenter protocol implementation . Her work bridges clinical practice and quality improvement, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Scientific Awards : Grant for Multicenter Transfusional Protocol Implementation in Esophago-Gastric Cancer (Societat Catalana de Cirurgia, 2016) Eva has undertaken extensive continuing education in clinical research, critical article analysis, and patient safety, and has been active in surgical training programs since 2003. She contributes to laparoscopic and endoscopic surgical literature and participates in national conferences on breast cancer and liver surgery.
Savvas Omorphos is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Nicosia Medical School and Consultant Urological Surgeon at Hippocrateon Private Hospital. His clinical expertise focuses on minimally invasive/robotic surgery, urological cancer surgery, and complex stone procedures. Academically, he leads surgical training for second-year MBBS students and co-leads the MED-504 Nephrology, Urology, and Transplant Surgery course in the MD program. Education: MBBS from University of Manchester; MSc in Urology from University College London His research emphasizes penile cancer management, particularly the groundbreaking DSLN biopsy technique that redefined micro-metastasis treatment protocols. He maintains clinical excellence while mentoring future physicians through character development and professional ethics training. Awards: Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England Teaching & Clinical Leadership: Oversees surgical training at Hippocrateon Private Hospital, integrates clinical practice with academic rigor, and contributes to curriculum development in urological surgery.
Hyowon Lee is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Director of the Center for Implantable Devices at Purdue University. Their research focuses on biomedical engineering innovations, particularly in implantable medical devices, biosensors, and anti-biofouling strategies. Lee leads interdisciplinary teams to develop cutting-edge technologies for healthcare applications, including neurostimulation systems, anti-biofouling catheters, and wearable health monitoring devices. Key research areas include: Design of implantable microscale sensors and actuators BioMEMS (Biomedical Microelectromechanical Systems) Anti-biofouling material development for long-term device use Neurostimulation and vagus nerve interface technologies Catheter and drainage system innovations Lee's work bridges engineering and medicine, addressing challenges in chronic disease management, neonatal care, and surgical device reliability. Their lab develops solutions for biofouling prevention, energy-efficient stimulation, and wearable health monitoring systems. Recent projects include self-clearing catheters for hemorrhagic stroke treatment and magnetic microactuators for implantable devices. Advising and grants: Hyowon Lee has supervised numerous graduate students in biomedical engineering and holds grants supporting device prototyping and clinical translation. The Center for Implantable Devices (CID) under their leadership focuses on rapid prototyping of robotic materials and smart bioelectronics. Lab/Teams: The CID lab collaborates with industry partners and medical institutions to accelerate device commercialization. Current initiatives involve shape-memory polymers for aneurysm therapy and multi-functional flexible electronics.
Michiel Herteleer serves as Assistant Professor at the Department of Development and Regeneration within KU Leuven's Faculty of Medicine. He holds active memberships in both the Faculty of Medicine Council and Department Council as senior academic staff, and is clinically affiliated with the Unit Locomotor and Neurological Disorders at UZ Leuven (Herestraat 49, box 7003). His institutional roles include serving as Promotor for the "Improving the Diagnosis and Treatment of Fragility Fractures of the Pelvis Using Photon-Counting CT" project (2025-2029) and Co-promotor for the "INSPIRE" project on osteoporotic pelvic fractures in the elderly. Herteleer's research centers on orthopedic traumatology with specialized focus on geriatric fracture management, particularly pelvic and hip fractures in elderly populations. His methodological approaches integrate advanced imaging techniques (including photon-counting CT), statistical shape modeling for anatomical analysis, and quality improvement collaboratives for orthogeriatric care pathways. Key research domains include biomechanics of pelvic fractures, epidemiology of osteoporotic fractures in Belgium, minimally invasive fixation techniques, and multidisciplinary management of complex pelvic pathologies including urosymphyseal fistulas and pubic osteomyelitis. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals consistent emphasis on national epidemiological studies of fracture trends (2010-2021), surgical innovation for pelvic ring stabilization, and implementation of nurse-led orthogeriatric co-management models. His work demonstrates strong translational focus, bridging statistical modeling with clinical protocols to address Belgium's aging population challenges. Recurring themes include mortality predictors after pelvic fractures, hospitalization burden analysis, and specialized treatment pathways for complex post-oncological pelvic complications. Herteleer teaches 12 courses at KU Leuven including "Sportletsels: preventie, diagnose, behandeling en revalidatie" (L04H6A), multiple "Musculoskeletale revalidatie" modules (B3107O, L08C4B), and six sequential "Probleemoplossend vermogen in de heelkunde" surgical problem-solving courses. His research is supported by significant grants including the INSPIRE project examining osteoporotic pelvic fracture treatments and the Photon-Counting CT diagnostics initiative. Within the Unit Locomotor and Neurological Disorders, Herteleer contributes to interdisciplinary teams addressing pelvic fracture biomechanics, geriatric trauma pathways, and complex pelvic reconstruction. His collaborative work spans orthopedics, urology, oncology, and geriatrics, with particular focus on prostate cancer survivors experiencing pelvic complications and elderly patients requiring specialized fracture management.
Dr. Mehran Anvari is a Professor of Surgery at McMaster University and an Adjunct Scientist at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES). As a pioneer in surgical robotics, he founded the Centre for Minimal Access Surgery (CMAS) and leads the Ontario Bariatric Network (OBN) as Clinical Lead and Chair. He also serves as Scientific Director and CEO of the Centre for Surgical Invention and Innovation (CSii), which partnered with MDA to create Insight Medbotics Incorporated for commercializing robotic surgical systems. His work spans bariatric surgery, telesurgery, and medical innovation, with over 200 publications and multiple patents. Research Areas: Intelligent robotics in surgery Obesity and metabolic disorders Gastrointestinal surgical techniques Robotic surgical technologies Telesurgery applications Medical device innovation Scientific Awards: ORION Award for Leadership (2009-2010) Ontario Diamond Award for Innovation in Technology Canada Gold Medal for Telerobotic Surgery McMaster Innovator of the Year (2009, 2024) NASA-International Space Station Research Award (2015) Order of Ontario (2017) Order of Canada (2022) King Charles III Coronation Medal (2025) Articles Trends: His recent work focuses on bariatric surgery outcomes (diabetes remission, cancer risk reduction), robotic surgical systems, postoperative complications (ulcers, nutritional deficiencies), and telemedicine applications. Studies analyze population-level impacts of bariatric programs, technical innovations in gastric bypass, and multidisciplinary approaches to metabolic surgery. Leadership & Collaboration: He directs CSii, chairs OBN, and collaborates internationally with institutions like the European Institute of Telesurgery. His research bridges clinical practice, healthcare policy, and technology development, emphasizing long-term patient outcomes and system-level improvements in surgical care.
Michelle Mattille is a researcher who has contributed to advancements in medical robotics and minimally invasive surgical technologies. As a co-author on multiple high-impact publications, she collaborates with leading experts including Bradley J. Nelson, Quentin Boehler, and Jonas Lussi. Her research focuses on: Magnetic endoscopy Autonomous navigation systems Laser surgery applications Recent work includes: Teleoperated Magnetic Endoscopy (2024) exploring robotic control in clinical settings. Autonomous Navigation in Endoscopic Image Mosaics (2024) enhancing AI-driven medical imaging. Laser Surgery for Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (2022) applying magnetic guidance to fetal treatments.
Christophe Chautems is a researcher in biomedical engineering and robotics, focusing on electromagnetic navigation systems for medical devices and biomaterials. His work spans Advanced Materials , Science Robotics , and other high-impact journals. Research interests include: Magnetic navigation for minimally invasive surgery Variable stiffness catheters and smart materials 4D robotic systems for medical applications Electromagnetic localization and workspace optimization His publications highlight collaborations with Bradley J. Nelson and other experts in medical robotics. Key trends involve magnetic actuation, compliance control, and phase-change polymers. His work has been referenced in patents and widely disseminated via Mendeley readers and news outlets.
Monali Malvankar, PhD, serves as Assistant Professor at Western University's Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry with dual appointments in the Department of Ophthalmology and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Her research bridges clinical ophthalmology with health economics, focusing on cost-effectiveness analysis and resource allocation for surgical interventions and public health programs. She earned her PhD in Management Science from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario, establishing her foundation in quantitative modeling and optimization techniques. Dr. Malvankar's research portfolio centers on Health Economics and Cost-effectiveness Analysis , with significant contributions to Health Policy development, HIV Prevention Resource Allocation , and Simulation Modeling . Her work employs systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and mathematical optimization to evaluate healthcare technologies and protocols, particularly in glaucoma management and cataract surgery. She integrates management science principles with clinical outcomes to inform evidence-based policy decisions. Analysis of her publication record reveals two dominant research trajectories: ophthalmic interventions (comprising 70% of her work) focusing on glaucoma devices and cataract surgical protocols, and HIV prevention resource allocation (30%) emphasizing incentive structures and multi-level optimization. Her ophthalmology research consistently demonstrates cost-benefit advantages of new technologies like iStent within Canadian healthcare frameworks, while her public health work develops novel allocation models for HIV prevention resources across diverse populations. Her scientific contributions have been recognized through: Translational Science Award from the Canadian Glaucoma Society (2015) Drance Award from the Canadian Ophthalmology Society (2013) TOP 10 Publication designation at the World Glaucoma Congress (2013) Dr. Malvankar has secured competitive research funding from multiple sources: Lawson Health Research Institute Internal Research Fund (2014) Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR-LRIR) Air Force Research Lab Mathematical Modeling Institute USDA NIFA National Robotics Initiative Canadian National Institute for the Blind Baker New Researcher Award (2011) Her collaborative research involves interdisciplinary teams across ophthalmology, epidemiology, and engineering departments at Western University, with strong partnerships at Lawson Health Research Institute. Current projects focus on expanding economic evaluations of emerging ophthalmic technologies and refining resource allocation models for infectious disease prevention within constrained healthcare budgets.
Joseph C Keenan is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota in the Department of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine. His research focuses on interventional pulmonology, particularly advancements in bronchoscopic techniques such as robotic bronchoscopy, endobronchial ultrasound, and intrabronchial valve applications. He has published extensively on topics including atelectasis management, lung transplantation complications, and sarcoidosis diagnosis through bronchoscopic interventions. Using Scopus research metrics , his work shows collaborations with colleagues like Dr. Ravi J. Cho and Dr. Harjit Murgu. His research aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals related to good health and well-being, particularly through innovations in lung disease diagnostics and treatment. Publications highlight trends in endobronchial ultrasound-guided procedures , robotic bronchoscopy , and airway management for conditions like anastomotic stenosis and sarcoidosis. His clinical research emphasizes single-center experiences and prospective studies to validate novel techniques.
Abbie Begnaud, MD is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Minnesota, affiliated with the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine. She serves as the IP Fellowship Program Director. Research focuses on lung cancer screening, tobacco cessation, and addressing health disparities in pulmonary care. Key contributions include studies on robotic bronchoscopy, digital social care referrals, and COPD management. Research Trends: Recent publications emphasize lung cancer screening implementation, smoking cessation integration with screening programs, and digital health solutions for vulnerable populations. Her work also explores incidental findings in CT scans and ethical considerations in genetic research among Indigenous communities. Professional Roles: No specific scientific awards or students are listed in the input text, but her leadership in fellowship training and interdisciplinary research is evident.
Dr. Chi T. Viet is an Associate Professor in both the School of Dentistry (Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery) and the School of Medicine (Department of Medicine) at Loma Linda University. She holds a DDS, PhD, and MD, and is a diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (ABOMS). Her clinical expertise includes head and neck oncology, microvascular reconstruction, oral cancer surgery, and management of maxillofacial trauma. MD: New York University PhD: University of California, San Francisco DDS: University of California, San Francisco Dr. Viet's research focuses on the epigenetic mechanisms of oral cancer pain, carcinogenesis, and opioid tolerance. Her work integrates translational models with clinical data to develop biomarkers for early cancer detection and personalized pain management. She has pioneered studies on DNA methylation in saliva, mu-opioid receptor regulation, and the role of neurotrophins in perineural invasion. Recent publications highlight the use of artificial intelligence in multi-omics analysis of oral cancer, STING pathway activation for analgesia, and the development of epigenetic risk scores like the REASON score. Her work spans molecular oncology, pain neuroscience, and surgical innovation, often combining epigenetics, bioinformatics, and clinical outcomes. National Merit Scholarship Phi Beta Kappa ASCO Career Development Award NIH Loan Repayment Program (multiple awards) Oral Maxillofacial Surgery Foundation Research Recognition Award American Pain Society Young Investigator Award AADR Hatton Award Dr. Viet is a principal investigator on multiple NIH-funded grants (R01, K23), ASCO, IASP, and OMSF awards, totaling over $10 million. She mentors a multidisciplinary research team and collaborates with institutions nationwide. Her lab investigates epigenetic modulation, neuro-immune interactions, and novel therapeutics for cancer pain and recurrence. She also contributes to clinical guidelines and surgical education, particularly in reconstructive techniques and opioid stewardship. Her laboratory is actively involved in developing non-invasive diagnostic tools, targeting pain pathways to reduce opioid dependence, and understanding the tumor microenvironment in head and neck cancer.
David Gracias is a Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Johns Hopkins University, with secondary appointments in Chemistry, Materials Science and Engineering, and the Laboratory for Computational Sensing and Robotics (LCSR). He also holds affiliations at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, including the Department of Oncology, the Center for Microphysiological Systems (MPS), and the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center (SKCCC). His research focuses on the intersection of engineered and living systems, leveraging micro/nanotechnology, self-folding materials, and physical intelligence to create bioinspired and bionic structures. Key projects include autonomous grippers for drug delivery, thermoresponsive soft robots, and organoid intelligence (OI) for advancing biocomputing. Gracias’ recent publications highlight innovations in 3D spatiotemporal chemistry, neural organoid modeling, and DNA-programmable gels. His work spans biomedical engineering, robotics, and nanotechnology, with applications in diagnostics, drug delivery, and neural interface design. Scientific accolades include being named a 2024 National Academy of Inventors (NAI) Fellow, along with prestigious awards such as the NSF Career Award, NIH Director’s New Innovator Award, and the Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Award. He is also an elected Fellow of APS, RSC, AAAS, AIMBE, and IEEE. Gracias has co-founded a startup, holds 36 issued patents, and has translated his research into commercial practices. His lab collaborates with interdisciplinary teams and utilizes advanced fabrication and characterization techniques, including lithography, spectroscopy, and finite element modeling.
Farahnaz Fahimipour serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Periodontology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry since 2022. She holds a PhD in Dental Materials from Tehran University of Medical Sciences (2020) and clinical certifications in Periodontology (UNC Chapel Hill, 2022). PhD in Dental Materials, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (2020) MS in Dental Clinical Sciences, UNC Chapel Hill (2022) Clinical Certificate in Periodontology, UNC Chapel Hill (2022) Her research bridges biomedical engineering and dentistry , focusing on innovative biomaterials for tissue regeneration. Key areas include: microneedle drug delivery systems for periodontal inflammation, mechanically adaptive hydrogels mimicking biological tissues, and 3D-printed nanocomposite scaffolds enhancing stem cell osteogenesis. Notably, she explores epigenetic mechanisms in periodontal disease progression and its systemic implications. Recent publications demonstrate expertise in polymer science for injectable implants, microfluidic fabrication of growth factor delivery systems, and multi-scale materials characterization . Her work on periodontitis-renal disease interactions reveals persistent organ-level pathophysiological changes post-treatment. Teaching activities include mentoring graduate student theses (Ethan Madison, Lincoln Nguyen) and delivering specialized courses in Periodontal Case Conferences and Surgical Implants (2023-2024).
