Author: kkya

NANJING, May 16, 2026 – Prof. Hongliang Ren of The Chinese University of Hong Kong attended the 38th Chinese Control and Decision Conference (CCDC 2026), which opened at the Nanjing Fengda International Hotel and featured a forum titled “Knowledge and Data-Driven Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment“. The forum gathered leading experts in control theory, biomedical engineering, and artificial intelligence to explore how modern intelligent systems are reshaping the future of healthcare.

Chaired by Prof. Guanglin Li of the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the forum featured invited speakers (Profs. YT Zhang, Max QH Meng, L Meng, HL. Ren, HR. Li & Y Chen) sharing perspectives on how knowledge-driven models, data-driven methods, and intelligent control technologies can support the next generation of diagnosis, treatment, and clinical decision-making.

The forum’s central theme revolved around the integration of “knowledge-driven” and “data-driven” paradigms for intelligent diagnosis and treatment. Panelists deliberated on how cutting-edge technologies—including advanced AI theories, modern signal processing, and intelligent decision-making and feedback mechanisms—can be applied across the entire clinical workflow, ranging from model-based disease dynamic prediction and intelligent drug dosage regulation to personalized rehabilitation robots and closed-loop neuromodulation systems. This multi-disciplinary exchange aims to drive the transformation of diagnostic and therapeutic models from passive and static to active, dynamic, and closed-loop interventions.

Connecting Robotics Innovation with Intelligent Healthcare

Prof. Ren leads pioneering work in intelligent surgical robotics, soft continuum robots, and medical mechatronics, with a strong focus on translational biomedical engineering. His recent project, “Embodied Intelligence Systems for Fine Perception and Dexterous Manipulation in Flexible Endoscopy,” funded as a key national project, aims to develop perceptive, compliant, and intelligent surgical systems.

Following the talk, Prof. Ren received a Certificate of Appreciation from CCDC 2026 and was pictured with Forum Chair Prof. Guanglin Li.

Prof. Ren’s team’s developing miniature flexible robots capable of navigating narrow, tortuous lumen branches to perform multi-modal micro-biopsy and immune-sensing in the vicinity of small confined spaces.

The forum concluded with a forward-looking discussion on how the integration of AI, control theory, and robotics can address major clinical challenges, catalyze original technological breakthroughs, and provide strategic support for the development of intelligent healthcare system, bridging foundational robotics and mechatronics with clinical needs to create next-generation smart surgical systems.

On Tuesday, 12 May 2026, Prof. Guangzhong Yang visited Prof. Ren Hongliang’s laboratory.

During the visit, lab members presented ongoing research through a series of demonstrations. Dr. Yang Yang, Dr. Gao Huxin, Dr. Liu Tangyou, Botao, Haoxuan, and other members showcased recent work including:

• Sub‑mm continuum robots
• Endoscopy systems
• Sensing technologies for medical applications

The visit provided an opportunity for technical exchange and discussion on future directions in medical robotics and minimally invasive devices.

Short bio of Prof. Guangzhong Yang

Prof. Guangzhong Yang received his Bachelor’s degree from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and his Ph.D. from Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine. He was a Principal Scientist at Royal Brompton Hospital London and later served as Lecturer, Reader, and Full Professor at Imperial College London, where he founded and directed the Hamlyn Centre for Robotic Surgery. He is currently Chair Professor and Founding Dean of the Institute of Medical Robotics at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. His research focuses on medical imaging, sensing, and robotics. He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, IEEE, IET, AIMBE, IAMBE, MICCAI, and CGI, a recipient of the Royal Society Research Merit Award, the Founding Editor of Science Robotics, and was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s 2017 New Year Honours for contributions to biomedical engineering.

Changsha, China, May 9, 2026 — Professor Hongliang Ren from the Department of Electronic Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, was invited to speak at High-Level Talent Forum III during the 41st Youth Academic Annual Conference of Chinese Association of Automation (YAC2026).

At High-Level Talent Forum III, Professor Ren delivered an invited presentation titled “Flexible Robots and Embodied Intelligence for Minimally Invasive Intraluminal Procedures.” His talk focused on recent advances in dexterous robotic motion generation and motion perception for image-guided minimally invasive procedures. He discussed how flexible robotic systems, multi-sensory perception, and embodied intelligence can support more precise, adaptable, and repeatable robotic intervention in confined anatomical environments.

Professor Ren’s research spans medical embodied intelligence, biomedical and surgical robotics, intelligent control, medical mechatronics, soft continuum robots, soft sensors, and multi-sensory learning for medical robotics.

About YAC

YAC is a national annual academic conference organized by the Chinese Association of Automation and its Youth Working Committee. The 2026 conference was held in Changsha from May 8 to 10, 2026, and hosted by Hunan University. It brought together researchers, young scholars, graduate students, and professionals from automation, artificial intelligence, robotics, intelligent systems, and related disciplines. The conference provided a platform for presenting recent theoretical advances, emerging technologies, and interdisciplinary research outcomes.

May 6, 2026 – The research group of Prof. Hongliang Ren was pleased to host Prof. Pierre Dupont as part of the Faculty of Engineering Distinguished Lecture series.

Prof. Dupont is a Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School, Chief of Pediatric Cardiac Bioengineering at Boston Children’s Hospital, and an IEEE Fellow. In his talk titled “Continuum Robotics for Minimally Invasive Interventions: Design Tradeoffs for Clinical Applications,” he presented an engineering perspective grounded in real‑world clinical challenges.

Prof. Dupont discussed three complementary continuum robot architectures – concentric tube robots, magnetic ball chains, and tendon‑actuated systems – each involving distinct tradeoffs in stiffness, steerability, force capability, and hysteresis.

Key highlights from the lecture:

• Concentric tube robots enable precise intracardiac catheterization and bimanual neuroendoscopy.
• Magnetic ball chains offer outstanding steerability for cardiac ablation procedures.
• Tendon‑actuated systems provide a balanced tradeoff between stiffness and dexterity for transcatheter heart valve repair.

The lecture illustrated how tailoring robotic designs to specific clinical constraints can meaningfully expand the capabilities of minimally invasive interventions.

Short bio of Prof. Pierre Dupont

Prof. Dupont received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University, later a Professor of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering at Boston University, and is now Chief of Pediatric Cardiac Bioengineering at Boston Children’s Hospital and Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School. He is an IEEE Fellow, a former Senior Editor for IEEE Transactions on Robotics, and a member of the Advisory Board for Science Robotics.

Audience engagement

The lecture attracted faculty members and students from engineering and medical backgrounds, followed by a lively Q&A session. Attendees appreciated Prof. Dupont’s clinically driven approach to robotic design, and the discussion continued informally after the talk.