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.

On 10 May 2026, Prof. Ren Hongliang and his team from the Department of Electronic Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), visited Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University (CSU) in Changsha.

The meeting was hosted by Prof. Zhu Liyong, Xiangya School of Medicine. Activities included:

• A tour of the Xiangya History Museum

• Introductory presentations from both sides on their recent work

Prof. Ren’s team: research on continuum robotics, medical robotics, and minimally invasive interventions
The Xiangya team: clinical perspectives from cardiology, GI surgery, nutrition, dermatology, gynecology, laboratory medicine, and mechanical engineering
Discussions on potential collaboration, including joint research platforms, clinical validation of robotic systems, and exchange programmes for postdocs and students.

About Xiangya School of Medicine

Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, traces its origins to Xiangya Medical College, which was founded in 1914. As one of China’s earliest modern medical education institutions and the country’s first Chinese-foreign cooperatively run medical school, Xiangya has played a major role in the development of Western medical education in China and once earned the reputation of “South Xiangya and North Peking Union.” Now part of Central South University in Changsha, Hunan, it comprises schools covering basic medicine, public health, nursing, stomatology, pharmacy, and life sciences, and is supported by major affiliated hospitals including Xiangya Hospital, the Second Xiangya Hospital, the Third Xiangya Hospital, and Xiangya Stomatological Hospital. The school offers comprehensive undergraduate, master’s, doctoral, and professional medical training programs, and is recognized for its strengths in clinical medicine, medical research, and healthcare delivery.

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.

On the afternoon of April 24, 2026, Professor Hongliang Ren’s research team from The Chinese University of Hong Kong visited The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU Third Hospital) to hold an academic symposium and salon on Embodied Medical Robotics. The event was held in Conference Room 2006 of the Comprehensive Building, aiming to advance academic communication and potential research collaboration in medical robotics and intelligent healthcare.

The meeting was chaired by Dr. Liu Zifeng, Director of the Big Data and Artificial Intelligence Center of SYSU Third Hospital. Vice President Qintai Yang delivered a welcome speech, introducing the hospital’s clinical strengths and looking forward to close cooperation in medical robot research and translation.

Professor Hongliang Ren delivered a keynote report on minimally invasive flexible robotic systems and embodied intelligence in medicine. Members of his research team then presented recent advances in precision interventional tools, magnetic robotic systems, endoscopic intelligent navigation, autonomous surgical control, and medical image perception, showcasing the team’s innovative work in clinical-oriented medical robotics.

During the discussion session, clinicians and researchers from multiple departments of SYSU Third Hospital had in-depth exchanges on clinical demands, technical applications, and joint research plans. Both sides reached positive consensus on future cooperation in scientific research, talent development, and clinical translation.

At the end of the meeting, Vice President Qintai Yang delivered a concluding speech and spoke highly of this academic exchange. This symposium effectively bridged engineering research and clinical practice, and laid a solid foundation for the future development and application of embodied medical robotics.

About The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University

The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University was founded in 1971 and is a comprehensive Grade-A tertiary hospital directly administered by the National Health Commission of China. As a major clinical teaching base of Sun Yat-sen University, the hospital undertakes medical care, education, research, prevention, rehabilitation, and specialist training. It currently operates four campuses: Tianhe, Lingnan, Yuedong, and Zhaoqing. The hospital has developed distinctive strengths in liver disease, brain disorders, and immune-related diseases, supported by national key disciplines and national clinical key specialty programs. It is also recognized as a Guangdong High-level Hospital and serves as an output hospital for the development of national regional medical centers.

June 13, 2024 – Prof. Hongliang Ren of CUHK is invited to speak at the Artificial Intelligence and IoT for Healthcare 2024 workshop held at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). He gives an invited talk entitled “Compliant Surgical Motion Generation and Perception Towards Intelligent Minimally Invasive Robotic Procedures.”

Prof. Ren shares recent advances in compliant surgical motion generation and motion perception for intelligent image-guided minimally invasive robotic procedures. His talk highlights how procedure-specific telerobotic surgical systems can assist surgeons in dexterous manipulation through continuum motion generation mechanisms with variable stiffness and context awareness.

Prof. Ren also joins the afternoon panel discussion with other invited speakers and experts, exchanging views on the future development of AIoT technologies for smart healthcare and medical robotics.

This talk reflects Prof. Ren’s continuous efforts in medical robotics, soft continuum robots, multisensory perception, and intelligent systems for next-generation minimally invasive surgical procedures.