Rapid Adoption of Robotic Surgery and its Risks, Benefits, and Unintended Consequences
Official title: Rapid Adoption of Robotic Surgery: Risks, Benefits, and Unintended Consequences
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11447021 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant looks at how robotic surgery is used in the U.S., who benefits, and where it might cause more harm or cost, with a focus on real-world outcomes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | January 21, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $630,098 |
| NIH project number | 2R01DK131584-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11447021 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients undergoing robotic or non-robotic surgical procedures, and clinicians involved in robotic surgery programs, across diverse care settings.
✕Less likely to help
Patients undergoing procedures where robotic assistance does not impact outcomes or where open or traditional methods are clearly superior may receive no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project examines why robotic surgery has become common in the United States, especially for complex operations, and why it may not always be better for simpler procedures. It combines observational data and randomized trials to understand real-world safety, effectiveness, and costs. The goal is to identify factors that lead to better patient outcomes and to uncover any unintended consequences of widespread adoption. Researchers may analyze surgeon experience, patient selection, and non-clinical influences that drive high-cost adoption.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could guide safer, more cost-effective use of robotic surgery and improve decision-making for patients and clinicians.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show mixed results: benefits in complex surgeries but not in simpler ones, indicating a nuanced effect across procedures.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sheetz, Kyle Hershey — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Sheetz, Kyle Hershey
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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BRIDGEX: Safer, clearer AI-guided robotic surgery through shared learning
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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.