DEPARTMENT 02 // ROBOTIC, LAPAROSCOPIC AND OPEN

Research and Innovation.

RSIG's main research question compares robotic, laparoscopic and open surgery. Most of this work is done through retrospective cohort studies and meta-analyses, with students supervised by faculty.

Department programsResearch and publications

FIG. 01 // DEPARTMENT REMIT

How this team contributes.

What the department is responsible for, one entry in the folio for each duty.

Three ways in.

RSIG's research question compares open, laparoscopic and robotic surgery. Scroll to move from one to the next, or choose one.

An ink study, to one scale: a scalpel and a needle holder for open surgery, a straight laparoscopic grasper through its trocar, and the end of a robotic patient-side arm: its links, the instrument drive, the instrument housing, the shaft through the cannula and the wristed tip.
01 // Open02 // Laparoscopic03 // Robotic
STUDY // THREE WAYS IN, TO ONE SCALE

Open surgery

Incision
One long incision, wide enough for the surgeon's hands.
Motion
Free: the surgeon's own hands and wrists work directly in the body.
In training
89% of recent graduates reported high autonomy in open cases.

Laparoscopic surgery

Incision
A few small cuts, each with a port; a long, rigid instrument passes through each one.
Motion
Straight: the shaft pivots at the port, and the tip has no wrist.
In training
84% of recent graduates reported high autonomy in laparoscopic cases.

Robotic surgery

Incision
A few small cuts, each with a port; the robot's arms hold the camera and the instruments.
Motion
Wristed: the tip bends inside the body, and the surgeon moves it from the console.
In training
37% of the same graduates reported high autonomy in robotic cases.

Autonomy: a national survey of 76 recent US general surgery graduates from 16 programmes (Reddington H, et al. J Surg Educ 2025;82(11):103702).

FIG. 02 // DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP

Current leadership.

Research and Innovation is led by two student heads and has two OTCoE Research Coordinators. Names are shown here as they are confirmed.

The second head is being recruited now. When applications open, they are posted on the Get Involved page.

See what is open

FIG. 03 // PROGRAMS

Programs led by this department.

Each program is marked Active, Coming soon or Planned. Open a program to read its details.

Dates are added here as soon as they are set.

View all programs

RESEARCH APPLICATIONS // OPEN

Apply for research with RSIG.

The form opens here, on this page. Research applications are for Alfaisal medical students.

Apply for research (opens the form on this page)Research and publications

FIG. 04 // DEPARTMENT EVENTS

Events led by Research and Innovation.

The full list, with search and filters, is on the Events page.

Complete event archive

FIG. 05FIG. 04 // THE OTHER TEAMS

The other teams.