Creating a virtual simulator for bariatric endoscopic procedures
Official title: Development and Validation of a Virtual Bariatric Endoscopic (ViBE) simulator
Funded at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical Univ · NIH-10897220 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating a virtual reality training tool to help doctors learn how to perform a safe and effective weight-loss procedure called Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty, so they can get better at it without putting patients at risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Florida Agricultural and Mechanical Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tallahassee, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $537,161 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EB033674-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10897220 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals struggling with morbid obesity who may benefit from innovative endoscopic procedures like ESG.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not candidates for bariatric procedures or those who do not have access to trained healthcare providers may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a virtual reality simulator designed to train healthcare professionals in performing Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG), a minimally invasive procedure for treating obesity. The simulator will provide visual and haptic feedback to enhance the learning experience, making it easier for practitioners to gain the necessary skills without the risks associated with live procedures. By establishing a formal curriculum and competency standards, this project aims to improve the training process for ESG, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes. The simulator will be validated through rigorous testing to ensure its effectiveness in teaching these complex skills.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved training for healthcare providers, resulting in safer and more effective obesity treatments for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in using virtual reality for medical training, indicating that this approach has the potential to be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical Univ
Tallahassee, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: De, Suvranu — Florida Agricultural and Mechanical Univ
- Study coordinator: De, Suvranu
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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.