University of Melbourne, Sony Group to develop technology-driven health professionals training

The University of Melbourne and Sony Group Corporation have joined forces for a project which is aiming to address the increasing demand for surgical procedures.

Study in Australia: University of Melbourne and Sony Group have come together to develop innovative surgical training which will be tech-driven. The joint research agreement aims to empower health professionals in performing minor operations. The project will address the increasing global demand for surgical procedures.

By using their sophisticated high-definition 3D-video technologies, haptic and real-time simulation, Sony will develop advanced robotics. The University of Melbourne's academics will provide procedural, and medical knowledge and anatomical to support Sony in developing a surgical training platform.

While expressing his excitement, Professor Jane Gunn AO said, “Our strong partnerships and location within one of the world’s leading biomedical precincts enables us to leverage international expertise in surgical training and research. Collaborating with Sony, a global leader in technology research and development, means we can all make a real impact on the future of surgery globally.”

Senior Vice President in charge of the Business Incubation Platform (Engineering) of Sony Group Corporation, Hisashi Tamai, said, “We are engaged in the development of innovative technologies and actively collaborate with academia and companies around the world. I believe this joint project with the University of Melbourne, a leading educational institution in health and medicine, accelerates the implementation of our robotics and digital technology in this field, unlocking the potential of technology to advance the industry.”

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Initially, the technology will focus on training essential surgical skills including suturing, incisions and the removal of lesions. Later on, it aims to train health workers to perform relatively non-invasive surgeries.

Professor Jennifer Wilkinson-Berka, Head of the School of Biomedical Sciences and the Melbourne Academy of Surgical Anatomy at the University of Melbourne said, “Currently those wanting to undertake surgical training are required to attend on-site at hospitals or universities, which limits our ability to respond to growing demand for high-quality surgical training."

“The technology developed through this collaboration will enable us to transform how and where we deliver this training, allowing trainees and health professionals to develop their skills as much as required to obtain competence and confidence. It will also reduce pressure on surgery departments in the hospital system by empowering nurses and general practitioners to perform minor surgeries," added Professor Jennifer Wilkinson-Berka.

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