Research

Upcoming Atlas Publication

One of the many educational projects currently underway by members of CAST is a multi-media project titled Video Atlas of Advanced Minimally Invasive Surgery (2nded). The project will detail minimally invasive (laparoscopic or robotic) techniques for approximately 40 general surgery operations, each authored by experts in their fields. It will include a full-sized, hardcover color atlas with over 200 illustrations and 200 intra-operative photographs. In addition, each chapter will have an accompanying video of the procedure, including narration. The project is meant to be a reference for medical students and junior residents to use to prepare for cases, and will be published in 2023.

Clinical Outcomes Research

UNMC CAST researchers analyze health outcomes data from a variety of sources to improve surgical practice. We identify research and analytical strategies, improve minimally invasive and bariatric surgical outcomes, provide statistical capability and analysis, and identify effective interventions. CAST continually seeks areas of new investigation in general and bariatric surgery with existing, as well as newly obtained, datasets. There are many opportunities to help identify previously unexplored areas of study for analysis. CAST has access to large databases that can help identify previously undiscovered relationships between medical interventions and outcomes.

Robotic Surgical Education Training

The tools developed in our education training program provide intuitive, ergonomic, and information-rich user interaction, robotic control, multifunctionality, and dexterous motion that help overcome all the major limitations currently shackling the progress of surgical intervention technology. 

Research Interests

Advanced surgical technology
Bariatrics
Biomedical sensors
Computational simulation of surgery
Computer-assisted surgery
Critical care physiology
Educational surgical training programming
Endoscopic surgical techniques
Gastrointestinal surgery
Hip and knee reconstruction
Human movement variability and coordination           
Infant motor development
Material characterization
Mechatronics
Minimally invasive surgery
Modular design
Motor control
Motor learning
Optimal design
Orthopedic implant simulation and testing
Pathological gait analysis
Robotic surgery
Space robotics
Surgical applications
Surgical simulation
Telemedicine
Usability and ergonomic evaluation
User-centered design
Vascular device design
3D Reconstruction of human anatomy