A Caribbean-led programme developing the region’s next generation of surgical robotics and healthcare AI researchers has completed its largest programme to date at the University of Leeds.
Students from the University of the West Indies spent eight weeks working alongside researchers in the University of Leeds’ STORM Lab, conducting research in surgical robotics.
The visit formed part of the CariSurg programme, founded by Saint Lucian Dr Nikita Greenidge, a Surgical Robotics Postdoctoral Fellow in the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences at Leeds.
Now in its second year, CariSurg has expanded from its original Leeds programme to include research at the University of the West Indies and a virtual Healthcare AI programme.
Students presented their work at an hybrid showcase event at the University of Leeds, which included live robot demonstrations.
The High Commissioners for Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines attended in person, while presentations and demonstrations were streamed to a wider audience including representatives from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the University of the West Indies.
Speaking at the event, His Excellency Anthony B. Severin, High Commissioner for Saint Lucia, said: “I continue to be impressed with the work coming out of the CariSurg. What I’m seeing here is not the present, it is the future.
“For me, the work coming out of this initiative is of tremendous promise for the future of health for our Caribbean. It continues to drive the best talent in our region and identifies the best people coming through to make that contribution.”
Projects ranged from using infrared imaging to help surgeons identify and avoid nerves during robotic surgery, to developing flexible spring- and vine-based magnetic robots designed to navigate inside the body for minimally invasive surgery.
Building a Caribbean research pipeline
Orville Daley, who recently completed a degree in Electronics and Computer Science at the University of the West Indies’ Mona campus in Jamaica, worked on integrating near-infrared imaging with the da Vinci surgical robot.
He said: “My project explored how near-infrared imaging could be integrated with the da Vinci robot to help surgeons identify nerves near the surgical instrument and potentially avoid damaging them during surgery.
“This project has taught me to cultivate my curiosity. I’ve had access to resources which have allowed me to explore and further ideas have happened as a result.”
Orville hopes to take the skills and connections gained through CariSurg back to Jamaica, where he is a coach for the national robotics team.
Renita Bharatsingh, a final-year Electrical and Computer Engineering student at the University of the West Indies, gained hands-on experience in computer-aided design and 3D printing, something she had never done before.
She said: “This is the furthest and the longest I’ve been away from home and I’ve really grown as an individual.
“This experience has opened up more opportunities, and I want to look at a master’s degree now after this. Research and development is a new realm to me which seems more feasible now — nothing is stopping me!”
Chioma Okafor, who recently completed a Biomedical Engineering degree at UWI Mona, said CariSurg gave her direct exposure to surgical robotics for the first time.
She said: “I was aware of surgical robotics, but I wasn’t directly exposed to it before this programme because we don’t have surgical robots in Jamaica.
“By completing this programme in person, I’ve been able to interact with robots in the lab. Learning more from the people working on them has been a great experience and now I can use these skills in the future.
“I’ve always wanted to do research and now I feel more empowered and inspired to do so. I want to have impact and bring something back to the Caribbean.”
Creating pathways into research
All three CariSurg programmes run for 12 weeks. Students begin with four weeks online, learning how to read and write research papers and develop research proposals alongside scholars from the other programmes.
Students are guided by their assigned supervisors throughout, giving University of Leeds PhD researchers opportunities to develop their academic and research leadership skills. The eight-week in-person Leeds programme is managed by Gerardo Loza, a Surgical Data Science Researcher at the University.
CariSurg also hosts a public MedTech Talks series featuring researchers and industry professionals in healthcare technology, AI and robotics. Several speakers are senior members of the Caribbean diaspora, giving students access to technical insight and visible career pathways.
Students also travelled to London to observe live robotic surgery and meet the High Commissioner for Jamaica.
Dr Greenidge said: “CariSurg brings research, training and product development together to strengthen healthcare innovation in the Caribbean.
“We want students to see how research can translate into solutions for Caribbean healthcare and open pathways into postgraduate study, research and MedTech careers. We want to ensure that Caribbean talent is powering the future of surgery and AI.”
Expanding across the Caribbean
CariSurg launched a virtual Healthcare AI programme this year involving students from eight Caribbean countries and a majority female cohort. The programme widened access for students from islands without a University of the West Indies campus, including Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
In partnership with the Department of Public Health at the University of the West Indies St Augustine Campus and 10 Academy, students explored how AI and wearable technologies could address challenges facing Caribbean emergency departments, including workforce shortages, overcrowding and limited resources.
The virtual programme was managed by Justin Sooknanan, a participant in the inaugural CariSurg programme, giving returning scholars opportunities to progress into leadership roles within the initiative.
CariSurg also established a research pathway at UWI Mona in Jamaica with the support of AKTO, the Virtual Centre of Excellence for Frugal Innovation and Design. AKTO was founded by Professor Lisa-Dionne Morris, Director of Internationalisation in the School of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Leeds.
Together, CariSurg programmes now reach more than 40 scholars across eight Caribbean countries.
Further information
For more information, please contact Rebecca Hurrey at r.hurrey@leeds.ac.uk in the University of Leeds press office.
For programme enquiries, or to explore partnership and funding opportunities with CariSurg, please contact Dr Nikita Greenidge at info@carisurg.com.
Find out more at www.carisurg.com and follow @carisurg on Instagram and CariSurg on LinkedIn.
Picture credit: Photos by Imaan Samson for ReCreators Agency.