The University of Melbourne and Sony Group Corporation (Sony) have entered into a joint research agreement to develop tech-driven innovative surgical training. The project aims to meet growing global demand for surgical procedures by empowering a broader range of healthcare professionals to perform minor operations.

Sony will develop advanced robotics, utilising their sophisticated real-time simulation, haptic and high-definition 3D-video technologies. Academics from the University of Melbourne will provide anatomical, medical and procedural knowledge that will support Sony to develop the technology for the surgical training platform.

Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences Professor Jane Gunn was thrilled to announce the collaboration: "Our strong partnerships and location within one of the world's leading biomedical precincts enables us to leverage international expertise in surgical training and research. Collaborating with Sony, a global leader in technology research and development, means we can all make a real impact on the future of surgery globally."

Senior Vice President in charge of Business Incubation Platform (Engineering) of Sony Group Corporation, Hisashi Tamai said: "We are engaged in the development of innovative technologies and actively collaborate with academia and companies around the world. I believe this joint project with the University of Melbourne, a leading educational institution in health and medicine, accelerates the implementation of our robotics and digital technology in this field, unlocking the potential of technology to advance the industry."

The University will also provide expertise to establish best-practice assessment models to ensure the technology can be implemented into training programs for future surgeons, based on work that is being led by the Melbourne Academy of Surgical Anatomy. The technology will initially focus on the training of essential surgical procedure skills such as incisions, suturing, and the removal of lesions, with the aim of enabling a wider range of healthcare workers such as nurses, general practitioners and surgical trainees to perform relatively non-invasive surgeries.

"Currently those wanting to undertake surgical training are required to attend on-site at hospitals or universities, which limits our ability to respond to growing demand for high-quality surgical training," said Professor Jennifer Wilkinson-Berka, Head of the School of Biomedical Sciences and the Melbourne Academy of Surgical Anatomy at the University of Melbourne. "The technology developed through this collaboration will enable us to transform how and where we deliver this training, allowing trainees and health professionals to develop their skills as much as required to obtain competence and confidence. It will also reduce pressure on surgery departments in the hospital system by empowering nurses and general practitioners to perform minor surgeries."