Category: News

News

Eye-Surgery Robot Study at the U

Researchers at the University of Utah’s John A. Moran Eye Center and the John and Marcia Price College of Engineering have collaborated to create a new robotic surgery device that aims to give surgeons “superhuman” hands. The researchers successfully tested the robot using enucleated pig eyes, publishing their results in the journal Science Robotics. The study was led by Jake Abbott, a professor in Price Engineering’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and chair of the Robotics Center, and Moran Eye Center retinal specialist Paul S. Bernstein, MD, PhD. Coauthors include Abbott lab members Nicholas Posselli, PhD, and Robotics student Zachary Olson, Moran Eye Center...

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Neilsen Rehab Hospital Luke Arm

Dr. George Recognized with University Early Career Teaching Award

Excellence in Action: Each year, the University of Utah recognizes the achievements of exceptional faculty members in teaching, research, mentorship and service. Robotics Faculty Jacob A. George is a 2025 recipient of the Early Career Teaching Award. “Within Dr. George’s research lab, his mentorship demonstrates his innovative, student-centered approach. With his space being housed within the Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital, Dr. George leverages that and champions interdisciplinary collaboration across researchers and various healthcare professionals. This helps create an environment where diverse perspectives are sought out, ensuring that our research efforts are centered around patient needs.”     – excerpt from nomination...

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HGN Lab members at U Innovation Awards

HGN Lab Team Recognized by U Innovation Awards

The HGN Lab Team, led by Professor Tommaso Lenzi, received a U Innovation Award for Breakthrough of the Year in recognition of their work on The Utah Bionic Leg. The leg represents a revolutionary advancement in prosthetic technology. It is build for lower-limb amputees and uses motors, processors, and advanced artificial intelligence to give users greater power and control. This helps amputees achieve new levels of mobility through reduced physical strain. The Utah Bionic Leg was developed by Lenzi and a team of graduate students including: Lukas Gabert, Brendan Ortolano, Marissa Cowan, Liam Sullivan, Grace Hunt, Clare Severe, Vishnu...

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UWR Lab received an R03 grant ($150k) from NICHD

Professor Zhang’s UWR lab received a small research grant (R03) from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. This 2-year, $150K award will help build a new neck exoskeleton device for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using a carbon-based fabrication method. This project is expected to generate preliminary data to support clinical translation of the neck exoskeleton technology to homes of patients with limited head-neck mobility. This award will be used to support a graduate student to conduct the proposed research. The details regarding the project can be found here: https://reporter.nih.gov/search/mVjRrUYz1U-V3Fs-WAGBvg/project-details/10811000...

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