Project #1 :听

The term(s) to begin the project: Fall 2021

Project Title: Continuous Assessment of Instrument Movement During Surgery

Project Description:听Psychomotor skills education is transitioning to competency-based quantifiable frameworks in which trainees are provided with opportunities to develop critical bimanual skills before operating on patients. Virtual reality (VR) surgical simulators provided with advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technologies lend themselves as intelligent tutoring platforms for accurate assessment, quantitation, and teaching of technical skills involving instrument movements including total tool movement distance, tool velocity, acceleration, deceleration, and device separation on realistically simulated operative tasks.^1,2 These systems provide trainees with repetitive self-learning opportunities for experiential learning (learning by doing) in patient risk-free environments. However, linking neurosurgical psychomotor bimanual skill performance in VR simulators scenarios to learner specific training in operating room environments continues to be challenging. There is a need to develop and assess models which can accurately quantitate both technical psychomotor skills and operative results in realistic operative setting with comparable VR simulator learner evaluations on similar VR scenarios. The Neurosurgical Simulation and Artificial Intelligence Learning Centre has extensive experience in developing quantifiable metrics and evaluating VR simulators and scenarios utilizing AI technology (see ) and has developed ex vivo calf brain model which is a reliable substitute for the human brain for purposes of evaluating brain tumor and epilepsy surgery.³

The specific aim of these investigations is to development an AI powered system for continuous assessment of instrument movement during surgery on the ex vivo brain model which can also be applied to similar human procedures performed in the operating room. The information provided by this study will allow surgical educators to develop more focused formative educational paradigms to expedite neurosurgical trainee performance, thus aiding learners in improving their development of safe and efficient bimanual operative technical skills in surgery.

1. Winkler-Schwartz, A. et al. Machine Learning Identification of Surgical and Operative Factors Associated with Surgical Expertise in Virtual Reality Simulation. JAMA Network Open 2, e198363-e198363, doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.8363 (2019).
2. Mirchi, N. et al. The Virtual Operative Assistant: An explainable artificial intelligence tool for simulation-based training in surgery and medicine. PLOS ONE 15, e0229596, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0229596 (2020).
3. Winkler-Schwartz A, Creating a Comprehensive Research Platform for Surgical Technique and Operative Outcome in Primary Brain Tumor World Neurosurg 144: e62-e71 (2020)

Contact Email: Dr. Rolando Del Maestro,听rolando.del_maestro [at] mcgill.ca

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Project #2 :听

The term(s) to begin the project: Fall 2021

Gawri Lab Research Program Description:

Gawri lab research program focuses on osteoimmunology and the role of immunocompetent cells specially mast cells in fracture healing and elucidating effective mechanisms to recruit these cells to the fracture site to facilitate accelerated healing. The laboratory is situated in the Montreal General Hospital.

The project will involve animal handling, cell cultures, qPCR, mitochondrial DNA analysis, immunoblotting. ELISA. The prospective student will have ample opportunities for personal and professional advancements and chance to work with a multidisciplinary collaborative team.

Contact Email: Dr. Rahul Gawri, rahul.gawri [at] mcgill.ca,听Dr. Paul Martineau, paul.martineau [at] mcgill.ca

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Project #3 :听

The term(s) to begin the project: Fall 2021

Project Title: AI in medicine: Can AI be an accurate diagnostic aid to help physicians detect acute otitis media during clinical examination?

Project Description:听The purpose of the project is to collect data to validate an existing AI program for the classification of otitis media in the pediatric population. The student will be responsible for a background literature review of the pathology/disease being examined, helping in organizing study design, and application to the IRB for approval. Once the study is started, the student will be hands on in a clinical setting helping to acquire data directly along side the physicians and meeting with patients and their families to obtain consent. No prior knowledge of AI or coding required.

Contact Email: Dr. James Lee and Dr. Esli Osmanlliu,听esli.osmanlliu [at] mcgill.ca

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Project #4 :听

The term(s) to begin the project: Fall 2021

Project Title: AI in medicine: Can AI be an accurate diagnostic aid to help physicians detect acute strep pharyngitis?

Project Description:听The purpose of the project is to collect data to validate an existing AI program for the classification of pharyngitis in the pediatric population. The student will be responsible for a background literature review of the pathology/disease being examined, helping in organizing study design, and application to the IRB for approval. Once the study is started, the student will be hands on in a clinical setting helping to acquire data directly along side the physicians and meeting with patients and their families to obtain consent. No prior knowledge of AI or coding required.

Contact Email: Dr. James Lee and Dr. Esli Osmanlliu,听esli.osmanlliu [at] mcgill.ca

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Project #5 :听

The term(s) to begin the project: Winter 2024/Fall 2024

Loganathan Lab at the Cancer Research Program, RI-MUHC: The project involves developing head and neck cancer (HNSCC) mouse models to study oncological mechanisms, CRISPR-Cas9 screening in mouse models of HNSCC, genome profiling techniques etc.
For more information,

Students can enter the PhD graduate program currently through Surgical and Interventional Sciences. Interested student should apply directly to sampath.loganathan [at] mcgill.ca by sending their CV, a cover letter explaining why they are interested in the lab and names of 3 references.

The position will be funded for 5 years but the trainees will be expected to apply for external studentships.

Contact Email: Dr. Sampath Kumar Loganathan, sampath.loganathan [at] mcgill.ca

* Candidates with a PhD in biomedical sciences can apply for Post-Doctoral Position in the lab.

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Project #6 :听

The term(s) to begin the project: Fall 2021

Project Title: Financial Toxicity in Breast Cancer Patients in Canada: A Systematic Review

Project Description:听Click here to read project proposal.

Contact Email: Dr. Ipshita Prakash,听ipshita.prakash [at] mcgill.ca

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