Media
Quest to develop fully autonomous surgical robot attracts award up to $12 million from ARPA-H
Sep. 24, 2024—A surgical robot capable of performing an entire surgery without human intervention: That’s the goal of a landmark, multi-institution project being led by a Vanderbilt engineer that recently received an award up to $12 million in funding from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H).
Robotic System Aims to Democratize Colonoscopy
Apr. 25, 2024—In the second installment of Discoveries in Medicine’s two-part interview with Keith L. Obstein, M.D., co-developer of a robotic colonoscopy system, he maps the path to the marketplace.
VISE affiliate James Weimer receives NSF CAREER Award to improve safety and efficacy of machine learning, AI systems
Feb. 2, 2024—James Weimer, assistant professor of computer science and noted medical-device entrepreneur, has received a National Science Foundation CAREER Award to improve the safety and efficacy of systems that use advanced machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques.
VISE affiliate Keith Obstein receives inaugural Brock Family Center Innovator of the Year Award
Nov. 22, 2023—Keith Obstein, MD, MPH, professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and professor of Mechanical Engineering at Vanderbilt University, has received the inaugural Innovator of the Year Award from the Brock Family Center for Applied Innovation in recognition of his achievements in developing and commercializing a magnetic, flexible colonoscopy system with the potential to...
Audrey Bowden talks about how mentoring makes a vital impact on scientific progress
Oct. 26, 2023—There was a time when Audrey Bowden, Dorothy J. Wingfield Phillips Chancellor’s Faculty Fellow and associate professor of biomedical and electrical engineering, questioned whether to pursue a doctorate. The desire was there, she just needed some guidance. “Nobody in my family had a Ph.D., and I didn’t have any role models of how to do that,”...
VISE affiliate Robert Webster helps develop innovative robotic technology to fight lung cancer
Sep. 21, 2023—Robert J. Webster III, Richard A. Schroeder Professor of Mechanical Engineering and associate professor of medicine and urology at Vanderbilt University, is part of a cross-disciplinary team that has developed novel robotic technology using bronchoscopic steerable needles that could aid in early detection of lung cancer.
VISE Fall Seminar – Summer Fellows Presentations 8.24.23
Aug. 21, 2023—VISE Fall Seminar featuring the 2023 VISE Summer Fellows Date: August 24, 2023 Time: 11:45 am Lunch, Noon start Location: Stevenson Center 5326 Rohan Rashingkar, computer science major, BIEN Lab Research project: Deep Learning Classification of Consciousness-Impairing Seizures in Focal Epilepsy Jiayi Kelly Xu, computer science and mathematics major, MAPLE Lab Research project: Development of an Augmented...
VISE Affiliate Robert Webster’s company makes successful first-in-human clinical study using novel device for endoscopic surgery
Jul. 27, 2023—A medical device company co-founded by a Vanderbilt engineering professor recently announced the completion of a successful first-in-human clinical study using its innovative technology that radically improves minimally invasive endoscopic surgery. Robert J. Webster III, Richard A. Schroeder Professor of Mechanical Engineering and associate professor of medicine and urology at Vanderbilt University, is co-founder and...
Q&A: Vanderbilt Institute for Surgery and Engineering hosts discussion on intersectionality, gender dynamics and identity
Jun. 16, 2023—The group Women of VISE hosted a discussion on intersectional experiences, gender dynamics in academia and other facets of identity in a “fishbowl” conversation on April 18.
Bennett A. Landman appointed as the next Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Medical Imaging
May. 18, 2023—On 1 January 2024, Bennett A. Landman, Vanderbilt University, will become the new Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Medical Imaging (JMI). Landman, a professor and the department chair of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Vanderbilt, succeeds the journal’s current Editor-in-Chief, Maryellen Giger, who inaugurated the role in 2014.
VISE affiliate Robert Webster III featured in IEEE Pulse article: Robots to Improve Surgery for All
Mar. 8, 2023—Smaller tools with better maneuverability and more precise control, new imaging approaches, and advanced software applications will improve patient outcomes
Catie Chang is inaugural Sally and Dave Hopkins Faculty Fellow in the School of Engineering
Feb. 28, 2023—Catie Chang, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, computer science, and biomedical engineering, has been named the inaugural Sally and Dave Hopkins Faculty Fellow in the Vanderbilt School of Engineering in recognition of her highly collaborative and interdisciplinary research.
Brett Byram named inaugural Hoy Family Faculty Fellow in engineering school
Feb. 28, 2023—Brett Byram, associate professor of biomedical engineering, has been named the inaugural Hoy Family Faculty Fellow in recognition of his advances in medical ultrasound imaging.
Team of VISE experts selected to develop low-cost training tools aimed at expanding global access to minimally invasive surgeries
Feb. 7, 2023—A multidisciplinary team from the Vanderbilt Institute for Surgery and Engineering has received a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract to develop a low-cost simulation tool to train medical personnel in Kenya to perform minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures.
AP News: Vanderbilt professors’ firm develops ‘breakthrough device’
Jan. 17, 2023—NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A company co-founded by Vanderbilt University professors has received a special designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a breakthrough device.
A multidisciplinary team of VISE affiliates has advanced its work to develop new tools for intraoperative imaging during ophthalmic surgery
Jan. 10, 2023—Technology driven by deep-learning model delivers 4D video-rate imaging, improves precision
Company co-founded by VISE affiliate receives distinguished FDA breakthrough device designation for minimally invasive surgical tool
Jan. 10, 2023—A company co-founded by Robert J. Webster III, Richard A. Schroeder Professor of Mechanical Engineering and associate professor of medicine and urology at Vanderbilt University, has received a breakthrough device designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that could open the door for new diagnostic and therapeutic applications of flexible endoscopy.
VISE affiliate James Weimer and one other Vanderbilt faculty member win ‘TIME’ Best Inventions of 2022
Dec. 5, 2022—Two Vanderbilt faculty who conducted translational research have received the distinction of Best Invention of 2022 from TIME magazine. “These winning innovations exemplify the transformative potential of university research when it aims to solve society’s most urgent problems, and when universities partner with the broader innovation ecosystem to bring new solutions to market faster,” Vanderbilt Chancellor Daniel...
VISE affiliate’s research selected as one of TIME’s 200 best inventions of 2022
Nov. 11, 2022—James Weimer’s group research, licensed to Neuralert, was selected as one of TIME magazine’s 200 best inventions of 2022.
Young researchers gain skills in new workshops offered by VISE Summer Fellows program
Oct. 7, 2022—Twelve exceptional undergraduates have benefited from the addition of new workshops to a 10-week Summer Fellows program that gives students first-hand experience in research laboratories and provides financial support.
VISE affiliate to use portion of $2.3 million grant on robot technology to help patients avoid invasive colectomies
Aug. 25, 2022—Robert Webster, Richard A. Schroeder Professor of Mechanical Engineering and associate professor of medicine and urology at Vanderbilt University, is part of a collaborative team that has received a more than $2.3 million grant to further develop technology that seeks to prevent patients from having invasive colectomies by using steerable robot-like instruments
Taking the Wear-and-Tear out of Endoscopy for Patients – and Doctors
Apr. 26, 2022—Proprioceptive technology uses magnetic coupling to draw endoscopes forward, sparing patient and clinician injuries.
Engineering’s Nabil Simaan named ASME Fellow
Nov. 3, 2021—Nabil Simaan, professor of mechanical engineering, has been elected a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, a distinction awarded to ASME members who have made significant engineering achievements.
School of Engineering announces 14 faculty appointments
Sep. 17, 2021—The Vanderbilt University School of Engineering announces the appointment of 14 faculty members to its full-time teaching staff, which includes 10 new computer science faculty members appointed during the first year of the Destination Vanderbilt: Computer Science initiative, part of a $100 million university excellence initiative to recruit new faculty.
Team awarded $2.3 million NIH grant to evaluate new, more accurate ultrasound methods
Sep. 9, 2021—New acquisition and reconstruction solutions for ultrasound imaging developed by a Vanderbilt team aim to fundamentally improve the ability to obtain high quality, clinically relevant images, especially in cases of heart disease.
New departments answer growing demand in computer science, computational science, electrical engineering
Aug. 19, 2021—The School of Engineering has created two new departments from the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science to encourage innovation, accommodate enrollment growth, and focus on areas of strategic excellence.
MASI Lab in the news! Q&A with Leon Y. Cai, Kurt G. Schilling, and Bennett A. Landman
Aug. 5, 2021—This MRM Highlights Pick interview is with Leon Y. Cai, Kurt G. Schilling, and Bennett A. Landman, researchers at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. Their paper is entitled “PreQual: An automated pipeline for integrated preprocessing and quality assurance of diffusion weighted MRI images”. It was chosen not only because the authors share their pipeline code with their paper,...
Five receive Graduate Leadership Anchor Awards
Jun. 24, 2021—The Vanderbilt Graduate Student Council has announced the winners of its inaugural Graduate Leadership Anchor Awards. The awards were designed by the Graduate Student Council to identify and honor the hard work and leadership of graduate students at Vanderbilt.
SPIE and Vanderbilt University announce $1 million optical engineering faculty fellowship
Jun. 23, 2021—The SPIE Faculty Fellowship will support a Vanderbilt University faculty member who is working in optics and photonics. Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering Yuankai “Kenny” Tao has been selected as the recipient of the first gift.
A Novel Clinically Immersive Pre-doctoral Training Program for Engineering in Surgery and Intervention
Jun. 8, 2021—A novel pre-doctoral program is presented that combines (1) immersive observation in the surgical/interventional theatre and (2) thought-provoking exposition activities focused on answering clinically provocative questions.