Three students from The UWI will head to the UK this summer to take part in a cutting-edge surgical robotics research programme at the University of Leeds (UL). The newly launched CariSurg Summer Surgical Robotics Research Programme presents a bold step toward healthcare innovation in the Caribbean through international collaboration and mentorship.
Founded by St Lucian-born researcher Nikita Greenidge at UL, in partnership with The UWI, the programme is designed to create direct pathways for Caribbean students to contribute to, and eventually lead, 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 at the internationally renowned Science and Technology of Robotics in Medicine (STORM) Lab. They will conduct research in areas such as robotic-assisted surgery and the development of low-cost AI-driven technologies for cancer detection.
“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.”
The all-expense-paid programme will also include professional development workshops to support graduate school applications, career mentorship, cultural exchange activities and networking with leading researchers from around the world.
This CariSurg initiative has been made possible through support from Emergent Ventures, a 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.
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.
For more information on CariSurg and future opportunities, please visit www.carisurg.com.
