AI-enhanced virtual reality tool to support remote emergency brain surgery training in Tanzania
Official title: SURVIVRS+: Formative evaluation of an AI-enhanced virtual reality tool for remote task sharing and training for emergency traumatic brain injury surgical care in Tanzania.
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11625286 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new AI-powered virtual reality tool helps non-experts in low-resource areas get real-time remote guidance for emergency traumatic brain injury surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $30,337 |
| NIH project number | 3R21TW012965-01A1S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11625286 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients with traumatic brain injury in low-resource or rural healthcare settings where remote guidance can be used to support local surgical teams.
✕Less likely to help
Patients in settings with access to timely, in-person emergency brain surgery or where remote guidance cannot be implemented may not benefit.
What this research studies
This grant aims to test an immersive XR system that creates a virtual operating room for remote surgical guidance and training in settings with limited resources. The project will pair 2D videoconferencing with AI and VR features to improve situational awareness during emergency TBI procedures. By enabling task-sharing between expert surgeons and local teams, it seeks to shorten delays and improve outcomes in rural areas of Tanzania and similar contexts.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the tool could shorten time to essential surgical care and improve survival and recovery for TBI patients in resource-limited settings.
How similar studies have gone: Previous 2D remote guidance approaches have shown potential; this project explores a more immersive XR-based method to enhance uptake and performance.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nickenig Vissoci, Joao Ricardo — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Nickenig Vissoci, Joao Ricardo
Related research
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AI-powered VR tool to train and guide emergency brain surgery in Tanzania
A Duke-led project will test an AI-assisted virtual reality system to remotely guide and train surgeons performing emergency traumatic brain injury care in low-resource settings like Tanzania.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.