Revolutionizing Cancer Treatment: Russo’s R01 Grant Allows for Promising Research Path

By Brendan Galvin, CISE Staff

Sheila Russo, a CISE and Hariri Affiliate Professor (ME, MSE), won a four-year R01 grant from the National Institute of Health (NIH). This grant will support her research on soft robotics, which will enhance the safety and precision of interventional bronchoscopies, specifically addressing cancer biopsies.

A lung cancer biopsy entails an extended metal instrument inserted in the mouth and threaded into the lungs in search of a tumor. According to Russo, approximately 80% of lung nodules form in the deeper peripheral areas of the lungs. However, many of the present-day tools professionals use cannot access these small and deeper lung areas because of these instruments’ large diameter and limited dexterity.

Typical bronchoscopes cause stress in the trachea and the bronchial tree, potentially causing inflammation, bleeding, and other adverse side effects. In contrast, the unique device that Russo and her team are developing under the R01 provides a soft feel and gentle tissue interaction. Additionally, it provides enhanced precision, providing more accurate diagnoses and finding tumors that may not have been found using current-day tools.

“By the end of the project, we’re anticipating that we will be able to prove that our soft robotic technology will have better navigational capabilities, more accurate instrument placement in the lungs, and hopefully also reduce procedure time times than current available endoscopic instruments,” says Russo.

Learn more about Russo’s work here.