Research & Academic Work
My academic research focused on computer vision, medical imaging, and surgical simulation—laying the foundation for VirtaMed's mission to advance surgical training through realistic digital environments.
PhD Dissertation
Variable Anatomical Models for Surgical Training Simulators
Institution
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich
Period
2001–2004
Abstract
After the emergence of minimally invasive surgery, new training paradigms had to be incorporated into the teaching curriculum for an appropriate learning of this non-intuitive technique. Virtual reality was proposed as a novel enabling technology for realistic training of such interventions which implicitly excludes any risks for patients. This dissertation addresses the computational complexity of anatomical models required for effective surgical simulation training. It presents a novel statistical method and computational tumor growth models to enhance training effectiveness, establishing collaborations with clinical partners to validate approaches through clinical studies.
Key Contributions
- • Developed statistical methods for variable anatomical models applicable to diverse patient anatomies
- • Created computational tumor growth models to improve training realism
- • Established clinical validation framework for surgical simulators
- • Supervised 3 master's theses and 6 semester projects during PhD research
Preview, Reference & Figures
Full dissertation available at the ETH Research Collection: View on ETH Research Collection →
Master's Thesis
Non-rigid Registration of Diffusion Tensor Images
Institution
Harvard Medical School & Brigham and Women's Hospital
Period
2000–2001
Research Focus
Developed novel algorithms for non-rigid registration of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), an advanced MR imaging technology. The research focused on accurately aligning 3D medical images across different patients while preserving anatomical variability—a critical capability for surgical planning and training personalization.
Impact & Legacy
- • Algorithms and findings formed the basis for ongoing research in medical imaging
- • Methods incorporated into lectures and textbooks on medical imaging worldwide
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Academic Background
Master of Science
Electrical Engineering | ETH Zurich (1996–2001)
Extra-curricular coursework in marketing, business administration, economics, and supply chain management
Postdoctoral Research
Surgical Planning Laboratory, Boston (2005–2007)
Explored patient-specific training for minimally invasive brain surgeries
Computer Vision Laboratory, ETH Zurich (2004–2005)
System integration for hysteroscopy training simulator; prototype served as basis for VirtaMed
Publications & Collaborations
Published numerous peer-reviewed papers in computer vision, medical imaging, and surgical simulation, with research presented at leading international conferences and venues. Collaborated with clinical institutions including Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and ETH Zurich's computer vision and surgical planning laboratories.
This research continues to inform VirtaMed's development of evidence-based surgical training methodologies and digital twin technology for advancing surgical proficiency worldwide.
From 2017 to 2024 we partnered with ETH Zurich on a research project exploring model-driven medicine, focusing on digital twins and simulation. Find out more in this interview with Prof. Joachim Buhmann, go deep by reading this PhD thesis from Ivan Ovinikov, or get a glimpse of some exciting results in this post.
Since 2021 we are a leading partner in the Surgical Proficiency program together with leading hospitals and research institutions across Switzerland.