News Releases

UWI Students to learn about Robotic-Assisted Surgery and Low-Cost AI-Cancer Detection in UK

For Release Upon Receipt - May 16, 2025

St. Augustine


St. Augustine, May 16th 2025 – Three top students from The University of the West Indies (UWI) will head to the UK for the summer to take part in a cutting-edge surgical robotics research programme at the University of Leeds. The newly launched CariSurg Summer Surgical Robotics Research Programme presents a bold step toward transforming healthcare innovation in the Caribbean through international collaboration and mentorship.

 Founded by St. Lucian-born researcher Nikita Greenidge at the University of Leeds, in partnership with The UWI, the summer programme is designed to create direct pathways for Caribbean students to contribute to, and eventually lead the next generation of breakthroughs in surgical robotics and AI in medicine.

 Selected from a pool of over 130 applicants across all The UWI campuses, Ms. Samiya Allen (Cave Hill), Mr. Justin Sooknanan (St. Augustine) and Mr. Abishua Johnson (Mona) will spend two months immersed in the internationally renowned Science and Technology of Robotics in Medicine (STORM) Lab led by Professor Pietro Valdastri. They will conduct research in areas such as robotic-assisted surgery and the development of low-cost AI-driven technologies for cancer detection.

 

 Mr Justin Sooknanan, The UWI St. Augustine campus, selected participant for the CariSurg Summer Surgical Robotics Research Programme.

 

 Ms. Samiya Allen, The UWI Cave Hill campus, selected participant for the CariSurg Summer Surgical Robotics Research Programme.

 

 Mr. Abishua Johnson, The UWI Mona campus, selected participant for the CariSurg Summer Surgical Robotics Research Programme.

 

 “This programme is about preparing our brightest minds to shape the future of healthcare,” said Greenidge. “We must be part of the solution if we are ever to lead it. By creating access

to these spaces, we’re building a foundation for innovation that’s rooted in our region’s context and clinical needs while strengthened by meaningful global collaboration.”

 This all-expense paid programme goes far beyond the lab as students will also benefit from professional development workshops to support graduate school applications, tailored career mentorship, cultural exchange activities and networking with leading researchers from around the world. From exploring the UK to connecting with Caribbean clinical mentors, every aspect of the experience is curated to build a pipeline of globally-minded, locally-grounded innovators.

 This CariSurg initiative has been made possible through generous support from Emergent Ventures, a prestigious global fellowship that invests in high-impact ideas. It is also supported by the Caribbean College of Surgeons and the Caribbean Society of Endoscopic Surgeons, who will provide clinical mentorship to ensure the students' research is firmly grounded in regional healthcare realities.

 “This is a powerful example of what can happen when our universities work together with a shared vision,” said Dr. Carl Beckford, one of the programme’s champions. “We are not only creating a unique opportunity for these students, but building the foundation for a research ecosystem that can serve the Caribbean for generations to come.”

 Students will be supervised by faculty from both institutions, including Dr. Carl Beckford, Dr. Sean Miller, and Ms. Sasha-Gay Wright from The UWI, and Nikita Greenidge, Joshua Davy, Andrea Yanez Trujillo and Gerardo Loza from the University of Leeds.

 This summer marks the pilot year of the programme, but the vision doesn’t stop here. Plans are already underway to make CariSurg an annual initiative with increased student participation, deeper research partnerships and ultimately, the creation of a world-class surgical robotics and AI research institute based in the Caribbean. The success of CariSurg depends on the support of visionary partners who believe in the power of Caribbean talent and the urgency of health innovation.

 End

Contact