The Symposium also hosted the annual Surgical Robot Challenge, which launched last year and which offers applicants the chance to pitch their new surgical robot idea to a panel of experts. Congratulations are in order for Drs Campisano, Gramuglia, Dawson, Izmaylov, Morgan, Obstein and Valdastri who were the overall winners of the challenge with their idea for ultra-low-cost endoscopy for gastric cancer screening in low-income countries.
Professor Guang-Zhong Yang said “the Hamlyn Symposium provided an excellent platform to showcase the cutting-edge developments in robotic surgery that can help boost its usage and in turn, reshape the future of healthcare worldwide. The main advantage of robotic surgery is that it allows surgeons to operate through infinitely smaller incisions, resulting in significantly less pain, scarring and recovery time for patients. There is also less risk of infection, less blood loss and fewer transfusions which helps the patient get back on their feet to return to their daily activities. The Hamlyn Centre is delighted to be at the forefront of new technological innovations in healthcare and we very much look forward to the Symposium next year when we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Hamlyn Symposium and hear more about current advances in the robotics field”.
-- Jo Seed
