‘Nanotechnology and virtual reality for safer surgery’

Visitors to the Hawkes Institute stall can explore advanced technologies in nano-sensors, nanomaterials, and digital platforms designed to make clinical surgeries safer. It’s a chance to engage directly with both engineers and clinicians, learn about the latest technology, and discover its impact on the future of surgery. 

About UCL Hawkes Institute

The UCL Hawkes Institute is an interdisciplinary research group bringing together engineering and health experts at UCL to improve healthcare technologies. 

The institute reflects UCL’s unique combination of excellence in computational, engineering, and medical sciences. 

The team at the Royal Society Summer Exhibition featured researchers from across UCL Engineering (including Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering), UCL Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Science, the UCL Queens Square Institute of Neurology, and UCL Population Health Sciences.

There’s a range of activities for visitors to try out: 

Feel the Future of Surgery – Smart Gloves for Smarter Hands 

Put your surgical skills to the test with sensorised surgical gloves that can measure the forces applied by surgeons. These technologies could be used for training surgeons more precisely, affordably, and safely. 

Immerse Yourself in a Surgical Environment using Virtual Reality Platform 

Ever wanted to see what it’s like inside an operating theatre? Now you can through the power of virtual reality. Our state-of-the-art VR Surgical Platform puts you in the heart of the action, letting you explore how surgeons train with cutting-edge robotics and immersive 3D environments. 

Maryam Javidan at the RS Exhibition
Maryam Javidan, a PhD student in the Nanoengineered Systems Lab

Goodbye Forever Chemicals – Hello Smart, Eco-Friendly Surfaces! 

Touch the future of clean, safe design with our fluorine-free, liquid-repellent coatings that protect without polluting.  

For everything from textiles and surgical tools to glass and metal, these ultra-thin, nano-textured surfaces (0.001% of the width of a human hair!) repel liquids and pathogens – all without harmful chemicals.  

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Plan your visit

The Royal Society Summer Exhibition is free to attend, and you do not need to book a ticket.

Learn more

Media coverage 

  • New Scientist interview with Dawn Parris, a Clinical Research Fellow in Maternal and Fetal Medicine (Instagram). 
  • Carmen Salvadores Fernandez, a Research Fellow in Mechanical Engineering, and Dawn Parris were interviewed by BBC Health Check. Listen here (from 18m45s)
  • Watch Professor Manish Tiwari’s talk, ‘Smart surgical gloves - precision at your fingertips’ on YouTube. 

Teams and credit: 

  • Professor Manish Tiwari’s Nanoengineered Systems Laboratory at UCL Hawkes Institute 
  • Professor Dimitrios Siassakos’ team at UCLH and UCL EGA Institute for Women’s Health 
  • Professor Rui Loureiro’s team at UCL Orthopaedics and MSK Science 
  • Mr. Hani Marcus’ team at UCL Queens Square Institute of Neurology 

Also at the Royal Society this week

Professor Mark Miodownik appointed Royal Society Professor for Public Engagement in Science

professor Mark Miodownik smiling, being surrounded by students

Professor Mark Miodownik has been appointed the new Royal Society Professor for Public Engagement in Science, with a mission to transform our understanding of how we make, reuse and recycle products.

Read more.

 

 

 

UCL-affiliated quantum hub at the Royal Society Summer Exhibition 

Team members in from of the quantum stand

Q-BIOMED Hub researchers have been highlighting their work as part of the ‘Quantum Zone’ at this year’s Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition. 

The Q-BIOMED Hub brings together expertise in quantum technologies and biomedicine from across six universities: University College London, University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, University of Warwick, Cardiff University and Heriot-Watt University. 

Researchers from the University of Warwick have been demonstrating their fibre-coupled diamond magnetometer which enables real-time, minimally invasive detection of magnetic tracers that are used during cancer surgery. As it is more sensitive and smaller compared to conventional magnetometers, it is hoped that this technology could broaden the use of magnetic tracers in healthcare, including minimally invasive surgery and for different cancer types.