Case Western Reserve, Vanderbilt Universities to Develop Incisionless Prostate Surgery Using MRI and Robotics

Newswise — CLEVELAND—Researchers at Case Western Reserve University and Vanderbilt University are pioneering a new approach to prostate cancer surgery by combining advanced robotics and “low-field” MRI technology.

The research aims to allow highly accurate, patient-tailored prostate cancer surgeries without the need for traditional incisions. This innovative research marks a major step in developing minimally invasive treatments for prostate cancer, with the potential to improve both safety and efficiency for patients.

The project is being funded by a new five-year, $3.7 million grant from the National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

William Grissom, the Medtronic Professor of Biomedical Discovery and Innovation at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine and Case School of Engineering, and Robert Webster, the Richard A. Schroeder Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Vanderbilt University, are leading the collaboration.

Together, they will work to adapt a robot from Virtuoso Surgical Inc. (a Vanderbilt startup company Webster founded) to remove prostate cancer lesions. They will integrate the robot with Promaxo Inc.’s low-field MRI scanner, which, unlike transrectal ultrasound, can image the prostate without blocking surgical access to the lesions. 

“Our goal is to eliminate the many complications associated with whole-gland prostate removal to treat prostate cancer,” Grissom said. “Targeted removal of localized prostate lesions could alleviate these complications but is challenging because cancerous tissue can appear identical to healthy tissue in endoscopic images, making accurate surgery difficult.”

Webster added, “The new robot will be able to carefully guide surgical instruments directly to prostate cancer lesions identified in high-field MR images. This will enable surgeons to focus treatment on specific cancerous lesions.” 

In addition to securing the NIH grant, Grissom was recently appointed the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine’s first Medtronic Professorship of Biomedical Discovery and Innovation for his transformative work in the field.

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Case Western Reserve University is one of the country's leading private research institutions. Located in Cleveland, we offer a unique combination of forward-thinking educational opportunities in an inspiring cultural setting. Our leading-edge faculty engage in teaching and research in a collaborative, hands-on environment. Our nationally recognized programs include arts and sciences, dental medicine, engineering, law, management, medicine, nursing and social work. About 6,000 undergraduate and 6,300 graduate students comprise our student body. Visit case.edu to see how Case Western Reserve thinks beyond the possible.

Founded in 1873 as an institution that would “contribute to strengthening the ties that should exist between all sections of our common country,” Vanderbilt University is globally renowned for its transformative education and pathbreaking research. The university’s 10 schools reside on a parklike campus set in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee, contributing to a collaborative culture that empowers leaders of tomorrow and prizes free expression, open inquiry and civil discourse. 

The Vanderbilt School of Engineering is internationally recognized for the superior quality of its inclusive research and education programs in numerous fields of engineering. The School prepares students to become leaders and innovators in addressing our grand societal challenges.