Ting-Chun Kuo, Department of Surgery
While pursuing her PhD at NTU, Dr. Ting-Chun Kuo began exploring how innovations such as 3D holography, fluorescence imaging, and extended reality (XR) could transform both the operating room and medical education.
Today, Dr. Kuo’s research bridges surgery and optoelectronics, a field that uses light-based technologies such as lasers and fluorescence imaging to enhance accuracy and safety. By integrating artificial intelligence (AI), real-time imaging, and virtual simulation, her team aims to make cancer surgery safer and less invasive.
A major focus of Dr. Kuo’s work is the use of Virtual and Extended Reality (VR/XR) in surgical planning and training. These immersive systems allow surgeons to rehearse operations in lifelike virtual spaces or overlay 3D medical images directly onto a patient’s body during surgery. Using mixed-reality headsets, experts can even join procedures remotely—offering live guidance from across the world.
Two key innovations have emerged from this research: imPRETS and OpVerse. The imPRETS platform uses XR-based neck models and Near-Infrared Autofluorescence (NIRAF) to help surgeons identify and protect delicate parathyroid glands during thyroid operations. Meanwhile, OpVerse, a VR training simulator for thoracic surgery, allows surgeons to practice complex procedures in a risk-free virtual environment.
Beyond VR and XR, Dr. Kuo’s team integrates 3D navigation systems, holographic imaging, and AI diagnostics to create a “GPS for surgery.” These tools help surgeons locate tumors precisely, preserve healthy tissue, and improve recovery outcomes. The group is also advancing minimally invasive techniques like natural orifice endoscopy and thermal ablation to reduce pain and shorten hospital stays.
Dr. Ting-Chun Kuo’s work represents the future of surgery—where human expertise meets intelligent technology, ensuring every operation is not only safer, more precise, but also more compassionate.