Advancing Surgical Innovation Through Research | CASIT at UCLA - CASIT

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Reimagining medicine with research-driven innovation

At CASIT, we collaborate with engineers, data scientists, and healthcare professionals to develop transformative technologies that redefine surgical education and patient care. Central to our mission is fostering industry partnerships to enhance impact and drive interdisciplinary innovation.

We work closely with industry leaders on every stage of development, from prototyping and clinical trials to system evaluation and scaling solutions within healthcare systems. Additionally, we pursue joint grant initiatives, such as SBIR, STTR, and ARPA-H, to translate research into scalable healthcare innovations. Our research efforts focus on key areas designed to drive meaningful advancements in healthcare.

Key innovation focus areas

: Enhanced haptic feedback sensors: Improving precision and control in robotic and minimally invasive surgeries.
AI-powered surgical training: Harnessing AI for video assessments, real-time feedback, and skill optimization to improve surgical dexterity and reduce stress.
Data-driven precision surgery: Leveraging big data and analytics to promote precision surgery and surgical health equity for diverse patient populations.
: Predictive analytics for chronic care: Enabling early detection and intervention in chronic illness management.
NLP-driven communication solutions: Facilitating seamless interaction between patients and providers through natural language processing.
Digital biomarker discovery: Leveraging AI and machine learning to identify novel digital biomarkers for early diagnosis, personalized treatment, and disease progression monitoring.
: Telehealth technologies: Supporting decentralized clinical trials, care coordination, remote patient monitoring, and delivering personalized care in home settings.
Advanced wearables: Actively monitoring post-surgical recovery indicators to provide actionable insights and improve outcomes.
Tele-rehabilitation platforms: Integrating wearables and virtual programs, including virtual assistants, to support at-home recovery and mobility.
: AI-enhanced education platforms: Leveraging advanced artificial intelligence to deliver personalized educational tools for patients and caregivers, ensuring they receive tailored information that enhances understanding, engagement, and long-term adherence to treatment plans.
Behavioral and psychological support: Integrating AI-driven solutions to promote treatment adherence, mental well-being, and overall quality of life through customized interventions, including gamified experiences, remote peer support networks, and real-time behavioral insights.
: Telemedicine for underserved populations: Expanding healthcare access to remote and resource-limited communities.
Inclusive digital health solutions: Developing affordable mobile apps and wearables for low-resource settings to support chronic and cognitive condition management.
Decentralized clinical trials: Promoting decentralized clinical trial models to enhance inclusion and diversity, ensuring broader representation in clinical research, and improving access for underrepresented populations.