Our Research

Emerging Research

An imaging approach known as Neural Connectivity, is being undertaken by Professor Grieve and colleagues, to explore imaging processes to better understand brain injury after cardiac surgery. New imaging technologies using MRI are now able to identify subtle brain injury not seen using other imaging technology. This is exciting, ground breaking work, recently published in British Journal of Anaesthesia, 2017: ‘Neural network imaging to characterize brain injury in cardiac procedures: the emerging utility of connectomics’.

In addition to this form of imaging, the use of computational modelling and augmented reality for surgical planning and teaching is now becoming part of tertiary-level practice. 3-D printing and bio-printing are proving to be important to research as is the understanding and production of biomaterials, currently being explored with our affiliate researcher, Dr Steve Wise.

Robotic training and its uses are being researched through the Institute of Academic Surgery and the Surgical Robotic Program. The use of artificial intelligence and nano-robotics makes this an exciting field to explore for their practical and research-based uses in heart and lung surgery.