Bulletin No. 2, 2023

medical robotics industry, comments, “Robots help surgeons overcome their physical limitations and enhance their performance, producing better and more consistent surgical outcomes and opening up new, complex procedures. However, I know the gap between a research prototype and a commercial product is bigger than often imagined. This is particularly true for medical device development.” Attracted by the CUHK community’s embrace of interdisciplinary research, Professor Au returned to Hong Kong and joined the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering in 2016, and subsequently became the Co-Director of the MRC. “A medical robotics research team requires not only top-notch doctors to come up with innovative ideas for utilising technology to enhance surgical outcomes, but also excellent engineers to turn the doctors’ ideas into reality and ensure the stable performance of the robots,” says Professor Au. One-stop platform for development of useful medical products Positioned to enable translational research and productisation of novel surgical robotics technologies, “the MRC is a thriving med-tech innovation ecosystem where world-leading clinicians, engineers and industry collaborators work together to drive the development of medical robotics that could benefit patients with deeper reach, greater precision and lower costs,” says Professor Chiu. As part of the med-tech translation ecosystem, the MRC is within 15 minutes’ drive from Prince of Wales Hospital and CUHK Medical Centre, CUHK’s two teaching hospitals, and on-campus medical and engineering faculties. Located at Hong Kong Science Park, the 12,000-square-foot MRC covers a spectrum from basic research to prototype and product development, as well as preclinical trials and physician training, and clinical application in hospitals. How AI and robotics reshape the world 9 When medicine meets engineering